When Marlo met Kroft…
Who is Marlo and Kroft you ask?
He’s an architecture guy, she’s an interior design girl and together they believe that physical space and everything that goes in it actually can make an impact on people’s lives. Our main core value is to make positive changes in design a reality, not just a statement. We firmly believe that design of space or product should consider every aspect of a person’s interaction with it, and that the design should evoke a feeling, create connection, and inspire those who get to experience it. Our goal is to communicate and connect with people through our designs in a way that is relatable to all.
Every space has a soul, a personality, a story to be told. Marlo and Kroft’s approach to design is to discover a space’s personality that then forms the driving heartbeat of the design, and writes the spatial narrative for its loving owner to explore and enjoy. We believe space needs to look great and function brilliantly, but just as important, it needs to “feel” right. It’s through identifying that personality of the space and by working collaboratively with the client that we are able to create the story that gives the feeling that people are looking for.
Why the name Marlo and Kroft?
We wanted to develop personalities for the firm that would embody the ideals that we believe in. Marlo stands for the design identity, expressive personality, and maker mentality of the company. It represents the depth of the personality that shapes each design. Kroft stands for the creation, craft, and composed nature of the product and final design process that brings every project to life. It expresses the alignment of the company's efforts in both process of design and execution. Really, these are a lot of fancy words and thoughts that we put together to sound cool but it really boils down to this: Marlo is the creative personality and Kroft is the structured doer. They’re like peanut butter and jelly, a perfect pairing.
Maiata
·/my-yet-tuh/
Principal Interior Designer + Co-Founder
“Be better” is the everyday mantra for Maiata in all respects of her life and is the main driver of her untiring work ethic. Her drive and determination to better herself as a designer is what led her to move to NYC to learn, work, and be influenced by one of the most creative and highly competitive cities in the world.
During her time in the city she worked in high-end residential for a minute, then switched to commercial, then to hospitality, then back to commercial and now, here we are. Where is here?
Here is where she and Brett started Marlo and Kroft which has opened up a whole new chapter in her design career. She has been given the opportunity to work in a variety of background disciplines, but in a way that she has fully crafted. Her approach to creating a design based around a space’s personality and roots allows for clients to have a truly original space that creates an emotionally impactful experience.
Maiata loves working with people and designing spaces that make real changes in their lives. One of her favorite things about designing commercial space is having the ability to observe how people use the space she’s designed, but not in a creepy way. She truly enjoys studying and practicing how a design can make the lives better of the people who interact with it. It’s this “why” that is most important aspect of design for her to find. Once she has the why then it becomes “how”. How can I design this space or this product to improve the world.
Maiata has BFA’s from The Pennsylvania State University in Art History and Integrative Arts and an MFA from The New York School of Interior Design.
Maiata is an NCIDQ accredited designer.
Brett
·/bret/
Principal Architect + Co-Founder
Would we call him a modern Renaissance man? Absolutely.
Brett is the classic architect, fluent in working from concept level through completed construction at multiple scales, including ultra high-end residential. You might never guess it, but he’s had quite the colorful background from working in construction, to even dabbling in closet design. You name it, he’s probably done it.
Originally from New Orleans he and his family were misplaced by Hurricane Katrina which serendipitously pointed him in the direction to move north. This shift in his life path fatefully led him to Penn State University where he pursued his architectural degree and more importantly Maiata. If you ask him, he will deny it to this day and will argue she pursued him, sure Brett, sure.
After spending a few years working in commercial design firms in D.C. he made his way up to NYC where he was given the opportunity to design some show stopping homes for the world’s elite. At Marlo and Kroft, he brings his background of impeccable detailing, high-end product knowledge and clean modern aesthetic to every project. Using this honed skillset as his design basis he is able to create new and contemporary spaces that are exciting, yet relatable.
Even with over a decade of experience, he is still very eager to learn “how” things are made and sincerely enjoys finding ways to incorporate them into improving design ideas. He is always looking for new products that can help formulate new designs and develop better building practices that will in turn improve the lives of our clients.
Brett has a BARCH from the The Pennsylvania State University.
Brett is NCARB certified and a member of the AIA.
Lorraine and Sebastian
·/dog/
The true heart and soul of the team.