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A design for how you actually live.

INTERIOR DESIGN + ARCHITECTURAL ADVISORY:

FURNITURE DESIGN, ART ADVISORY, LIFESTYLE CURATION

HOME  /  ABOUT

About

We're a Black-owned creative studio of design strategists who build dream homes for clients who demand the best.

CONNECT WITH US
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Top 100 Architects & Designers in the US

LUXURY LIFESTYLE AWARDS

MANIFESTO

Our Studio

Founded by Marc Houston in 2011, Marc Houston Lifestyle + Interiors [MHLI] is a multidisciplinary creative agency specialized in immersive, haute couture homes. Working from NYC and Houston, we provide comprehensive, world-class interior design services nationwide for renovations, new construction, and full-home furnishing projects. 

We crave {magic} over mass appeal, {imagination} over imitation, {quality} over quick wins. Iconic is our only speed, so we take our craft damn seriously. Details don't just matter, they're our {discipline}. And {rarity} is our religion. We scour the globe, bypassing every conventional choice to secure the only option for you. We know we've succeeded when turning the key to your front door unlocks your wildest fantasy, revs your tallest ambitions, and ignites your highest self. 

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Our Vision

We view interior design as an art form of spatial storytelling that prioritizes atmosphere, longevity, and intent over trend. We dream of immersive, transportive experiences that stimulate the senses, summon emotion, and stand distinctly above the crowd. We're compelled to bring them to life. 

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Our Mission

Simply, to elevate your daily routines into anticipated rituals of ease and delight and to build homes so spectacularly unique that they're impossbile to replicate.

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Our DNA

We're undeterred by the constraints of tradition, possibility, and expectation. We don't dictate what should be—we invite what can be. We're compelled to chase the inconceivable, no matter how seemingly insurmountable the challenge. We detest mediocrity. Ignore the noise. Defy convention. And dare to do things differently.

RECOGNITION 

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Best Residential Stone Design

COVERINGS

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Rising Star

NEW YORK COTTAGES & GARDENS

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Top 100 Architects & Designers in the US

"My design process is one of excavation rather than insertion. I believe each individual space emits a singular resonance, and through the conscientious mining of inspirations, traditions, precedents, and perspectives it can be tuned to reveal the finest parts of itself."

MARC HOUSTON

Founder + Creative Director

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White oak millwork with custom bench seat and bronze tray in a modern Brooklyn townhouse.

We view interior design as an art form of spatial storytelling that prioritizes atmosphere, longevity, and intent over trend. We don't just shop fabrics and furniture, we shape immersive, evocative experiences that capture your wildest fantasy in the place you call home. 

Vision

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Large Raymond Hendler painting in the foyer of a luxury Manhattan highrise apartment.

Simply, to elevate your daily routines into anticipated rituals of ease and delight and to build homes so spectacularly unique that they're impossbile to replicate.

Mission

FOYER NEW GRADIENT BLACK.jpg
Powder room disguised by floor-to-ceiling glass panel in a Boston condominium with dramatic hallway entrance foyer.

We're undeterred by the constraints of tradition, possibility, and expectation. We don't dictate what should be—we invite what can be. We're compelled to chase the inconceivable, no matter how seemingly insurmountable the challenge. We detest mediocrity. Ignore the noise. Defy convention. And dare to do things differently.

 DNA

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"Marc is like your favorite therapist. Kind and patient when you're feeling hesitant but always pushing you toward that one-of-a-kind vision."

Inside the studio...

There's likely a mix of 90's hip hop, film scores, Motown, tango, Chopin, and Tori Amos playing. She's my personal Jesus. 

Marc Houston is well established in the luxury interiors world, bringing over two decades of hands-on experience across furniture design, lighting design, interior architecture, and project management. After working at esteemed firms in NYC and London, including Frank DeBiasi, Workshop/APD, and Fredrikson Stallard, Marc launched his studio in 2011 to provide a uniquely integrated service that leverages his diverse background and international perspective. Originally from Boston and now rooted in Houston after 12 years in NYC, he combines an innate spatial command and deft material orchestration with and a deep curiosity and unwavering rebellious streak to craft distinctive, unexpected homes around the country. When he's not researching new ideas or growing the business, you'll find him out on long-distance bike rides, bingeing historicl documentaries, or preparing elaborate dinner party meals. 

 

Marc has participated several times in Housing Works Design on a Dime benefit in support of the NYC HIV/AIDS community and is an active crisis volunteer with the Trevor Project. His work has appeared in AD, New York Magazine, and Boston, among others, as well as in the interior design book "It's A Mood." In 2019, New York Cottages & Gardens named him a Rising Star, and in 2022 he was added to Luxury Lifestyle Awards roster of Top 100 Architects and Designers in the World. 

OUR FOUNDER

AT THE HELM

I want to partner with clients who recognize quality instinctively, crave ingenuity, and insist not just on different but distinct. By forging a bond of mutual trust, we excavate their unique essence to build a solid foundation for homes that exceed their wildest imaginations.

Radical Individuality

Excellence on Every Level

Big Thinking

Perpetual Growth

Creative Partnership

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We're dogged defenders of original

design, fiercely anti-trend, and

perpetually averse to the obvious choice.

We champion the inherent value of the

genuine object over the expedience of

imitations, and we reject the use of

knockoffs, replicas, and facsimiles.

We take the time to do things right, even

the parts no one will see. We'll never

abandon quality for speed. Our high

standards are our investment in our

clients. We give our best to deliver the

best, and we expect the same of those in

our orbit.

Our next work is our best work. We

make something amazing, then we do it

better. Our ravenous curiosity about

the world of the past and the one 

around us inspires us to learn, evolve,

and improve. 

Trust is our fuel for every endeavor and 

we'll do what it takes to earn it. We're

ride-or-die partners committed to the

optimal outcome and equally to our

convictions. Even when we tell you

what you may not want to hear, we've

still got your back.

We always swing for the fences and

we're relentless in our pursuit of

territory beyond the known horizon. Our

instinct compels us to tackle the

inconceivable no matter how seemingly

insurmountable the challenge. In

impossibility we find our greatest

opportunity.

VALUES

WHAT MAKES US TICK

There are a million design firms out there. Here's what makes us different from them and better for you.

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SPACE TRANSFORMATION & LUXURY LIFESTYLE SPECIALIST

CLICK VIDEO TO HEAR FROM MARC

"Marc is like your favorite therapist. Kind and patient when you're feeling hesitant but always pushing you toward that one-of-a-kind vision."

I cut my teeth selling lighting to architects.

My first design job while attending the UofMD was at a lighting showroom in Washington, D.C. I'm still a lighting geek, so you'll have the coolest fixtures around.

My mother was my principal.

And I wore a tie to school grades 1-12. The takeaway: fastidious care (and grammar) are in my blood, and I'm equally at home in a Full Windsor and a hard hat.

As an ex-Evangelical and recovering cult member...

Not much phases me. Comparatively, gut renovations are a walk in the park.

Distance biking and weight training keep me sane.

I'm a speed junkie who enjoys my 30-mile loops around Manhattan and Houston and pilgrimages from Boston to Ptown. A Dolomites bike tour and a luxury gym project are on my bucket list.

Inside the studio...

There's likely a mix of 90's hip hop, film scores, Motown, tango, Chopin, and Tori Amos playing. She's my personal Jesus. 

I'm a proud Bostonian (less the accent) with severe wanderlust.

Among the cities in which I've lived, London solidified my affinity for Indian food and my Italophilia. On that note...

Italians do it better.

And by 'it', I mean everything. Italy is both heaven on earth and mecca of enduring style.  Expect Italian-designed furnishings to show up in your presentation.

Outside the studio...

I'm bingeing historical, biographical, and war documentaries or happily sweating over a stove. Select clients have been invited to my fabulous dinner parties. 

In another life...

I'd compose film scores or direct indie films. For now, designing iconic homes absolutely lights my fire. 

At the Helm

MEET MARC

For 15 years I've helped homeowners excavate their unique essence to build homes that exceed their wildest imaginations. By learning what makes them tick, what excites them, and even what keeps them up at night—thats how we forge a bond of mutual trust that builds a solid foundation for truly unforgettable spaces. I want to partner with clients who recognize quality instinctively, crave ingenuity, and insist not just on different but distinct.

Marc Houston is well established in the luxury interiors world, bringing over two decades of hands-on experience across furniture design, lighting design, interior architecture, and project management. After working at esteemed firms in NYC and London, including Frank DeBiasi, Workshop/APD, and Fredrikson Stallard, Marc launched his studio in 2011 to provide a uniquely integrated service that leverages his diverse background and international perspective. Originally from Boston and now rooted in Houston after 12 years in NYC, he combines an innate spatial command and deft material orchestration with and a deep curiosity and unwavering rebellious streak to craft distinctive, unexpected homes around the country. When he's not researching new ideas or growing the business, you'll find him out on long-distance bike rides, bingeing historicl documentaries, or preparing elaborate dinner party meals. 

 

Marc has participated several times in Housing Works Design on a Dime benefit in support of the NYC HIV/AIDS community and is an active crisis volunteer with the Trevor Project. His work has appeared in AD, New York Magazine, and Boston, among others, as well as in the interior design book "It's A Mood." In 2019, New York Cottages & Gardens named him a Rising Star, and in 2022 he was added to Luxury Lifestyle Awards roster of Top 100 Architects and Designers in the World. 

LEARN MORE
BOREUM HILL FOYER black gradient.jpg
White oak millwork with custom bench seat and bronze tray in a modern Brooklyn townhouse.

We view interior design as an art form of spatial storytelling that prioritizes atmosphere, longevity, and intent over trend. We don't just shop fabrics and furniture, we shape immersive, evocative experiences that capture your wildest fantasy in the place you call home. 

Vision

COLUMBUS CIRCLE FOYER black gradient.jpg
Large Raymond Hendler painting in the foyer of a luxury Manhattan highrise apartment.

Simply, to elevate your daily routines into anticipated rituals of ease and delight and to build homes so spectacularly unique that they're impossbile to replicate.

Mission

FOYER NEW GRADIENT BLACK.jpg
Powder room disguised by floor-to-ceiling glass panel in a Boston condominium with dramatic hallway entrance foyer.

We're undeterred by the constraints of tradition, possibility, and expectation. We don't dictate what should be—we invite what can be. We're compelled to chase the inconceivable, no matter how seemingly insurmountable the challenge. We detest mediocrity. Ignore the noise. Defy convention. And dare to do things differently.

 DNA

VALUES

AT THE HELM

There are a million design firms out there. Here's what makes us different from them and better for you.

02

Our Values

01

03

04

1

Radical Individuality

We're dogged defenders of original design, fiercely anti-trend, and perpetually averse to the obvious choice. We champion the inherent value of the genuine object over the expedience of imitations, and we reject the use of knockoffs, replicas, and facsimiles. We don't repeat our past selections. You deserve better than a cut-and-paste home recycled from someone else's dream. 

2

Excellence at Every Level

We take the time to do things right, even the parts no one will see.  We'll never abandon quality for speed or artistry for convenience. Our exacting standards are our investment in our clients. We give our best to deliver the best, and we expect the same of those in our orbit. 

3

Big Thinking

We find our greatest opportunity in impossibility. We'll always swing for the fences and we're relentless in our pursuit of territory beyond the known horizon. Our instinct compels us to tackle the inconceivable no matter how seemingly insurmountable the challenge because we know the rewards discovered in the unknown far surpass results achieved through convention. On this ride, you can expect the thrill of cutting edge over the familiarity of tradition. 

4

05

Creative Partnership

Trust is our fuel for every endeavor, and we'll do what it takes to earn it. We're straight shooters and ride-or-die partners. We're committed to the optimal outcome and equally to our convictions. We've still got your back, even when we tell you what you may not want to hear.

5

Perpetual Growth

Our next work is our best work. We make something amazing, then we do it better. Our ravenous curiosity about the world of the past and the one around us inspires us to learn, evolve, and improve.

Press & Recognition

Talk of the Town

MHLI featured for Boreum Hill Townhouse

It's A Mood: Your Home. Your Vibe | May 2025

8 Moody Bedrooms from ADPro Directory Designers

Architectural Digest | October 2024

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MHLI awarded Top 100 Designers in the US; Best Interior Design Studio 

Luxury Lifestyle Awards | November 2023

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How to (Tastefully) Buy Into Trends Without Selling Out

Architectural Digest | October 2023

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MHLI featured in ADPro Directory

Architectural Digest | August 2023

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Marc Houston Designed this Brooklyn Townhouse With a Focus on Art, Color and Whimsy

1stDibs Introspective | September 2022

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MHLI awarded Best Residential Stone Design

Coverings | August 2021

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A Loft Sized Cabinet of Curiosities Gets and Elegant Makeover

New York Magazine | October 2020

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Marc named a Rising Star

Cottages & Gardens | May 2019

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Rustic Urbanity

Bidsquare | September 2017

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NYC Designer Marc Houston Talks Art and Decor

Citizen Atelier | June 2016

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High Drama

Boston Magazine | December 2015

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Before & After: Ideas from a Chic Boston Apartment Makeover

Apartment Therapy | March 2016

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PRESS + RECOGNITION

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MHLI is an NYC interior design studio specializing historic preservations and moder in renovations of historic brownstones with modern luxury renovations

[hover to discover]

CONSTRUCTION SUPPORT

PROCUREMENT

PRODUCTION

FULL SPECTRUM SERVICE

Deluxe renovations without the stress. You grant approvals,

we handle the rest.

Production

No fretting about the wrong size sofa or keeping track of thousands of project details. We orchestrate all necessary third parties for custom furniture, lighting and millwork and oversee installations to ensure they meet design intent. 

Procurement

No waiting around for furniture deliveries that may arrive late or be canceled without notice, or spending hours on hold to remedy a damaged shipment. We manage the entire purchasing process, handle claims, and transport all goods to your home in a single delivery.

Construction Support

No 7am site meetings with contractors or mediating disputes between electricians and painters.  We administer the entire bidding process for our clients and act as their liaison for construction matters related to spaces we design.

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After a flood, we helped them rebuild with a design for good luck.

In Chinese culture, monkeys are talismans of good fortune and success. While some might call it 'woo woo,' we call it relationship. Our design is an investment in our clients' lives, families, and futures, and we only want to see them win. 

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FEATURED PROJECT

The Heights


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FAQ

TALK TO US

CONNECT WITH YOUR EXPERTS

Want to start your project, discuss a partnership, showcase our work, or join our team? Let us know below.

MHLI is a full-service, Black-owned creative agency specialized in luxury residential renovations, new construction planning, and custom interior design.  

MHLI © 2026. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

The intellectual property rights to all the photos, designs and other materials on this Site belong to Marc Houston Lifestyle + Interiors, LLC. 

LIFESTYLE + INTERIORS

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Schedule a 

Private Consultation

Entrust your home to someone who understands its significance. 

It's All Up From Here.

Just browsing Sotheby's? Perusing options from your broker? Already working with an architect or builder? Contemplating upgrades to your forever home? In whatever stage you find yourself, let's talk it through. 

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MHLI © 2026. All rights reserved.

Radical individuality is the ultimate luxury.

MHLI is a full-service, Black-owned boutique specialized in luxury interior renovations, new builds and comprehensive furnishing projects. Read more

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FEATURED PROJECT

The Heights

EMAIL              look@marchouston.com

EMAIL        look@marchouston.com

I'd also like you to know: 

Hello, my first name is: 

Last name is: 

Email is:

Phone number is: 

I'm interested in:

You should also know:


*

CONNECT WITH US

Want to start your project, discuss a partnership, showcase our work, or join our team? Let us know below.

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