A design for how you actually live.
INTERIOR DESIGN + ARCHITECTURAL ADVISORY:
FURNITURE DESIGN, ART ADVISORY, LIFESTYLE CURATION
HOME / ABOUT
About
QUALITY
over QUICK WINS
IMAGINATION
over IMITATION
WE CRAVE MAGIC
over mass appeal
Top 100 Architects & Designers in the US
LUXURY LIFESTYLE AWARDS
WHO WE ARE
WE CRAVE MAGIC
over mass appeal
IMAGINATION
over IMITATION
QUALITY
over QUICK WINS
Our Studio
Founded by Marc Houston in 2011, Marc Houston Lifestyle + Interiors [MHLI] is a multidisciplinary creative agency specialized in high-end residential interiors. We work from NYC and Houston to provide comprehensive, world-class design services nationwide for renovations, new builds, and full-home furnishing projects.
Details are our discipline.
Rarity is our religion.
Iconic is our only speed.
Our two favorite words: what if?
If you've seen it before, don't expect to find it here because we'll bypass every conventional choice to secure the only option for you.
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.
Our Vision
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.
Our Mission
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.
Our DNA
RECOGNITION
Prism Award
BUILDERS AND REMODELERS ASSOCIATION OF GREATER BOSTON
Best Residential Stone Design
COVERINGS
Rising Star
NEW YORK COTTAGES & GARDENS
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
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
.jpg)
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
Radical Individuality
Excellence on Every Level
Big Thinking
Perpetual Growth
Creative Partnership
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.
WHAT MAKES US TICK
There are a million design firms out there. Here's what makes us different from them and better for you.
not just different,
distinct
"MY DESIGN PROCESS IS ONE OF EXCAVATION RATHER THAN INSERTION. I BELIEVE THAT EACH INDIVIDUAL SPACE EMITS A SINGULAR RESONANCE AND THROUGH THE CONSCIENTIOUS MINING OF INSPIRATIONS, CURIOSITIES, PRECEDENTS AND PERSPECTIVES, IT CAN BE TUNED TO REVEAL THE FINEST PARTS OF ITSELF."
OUR FOUNDER
.jpg)
At the Helm
When I started this studio in 2011, I wanted to connect with homeowners tired of the rinse-and-repeat spaces that seemed to follow formula over any sense of experimentation or independent thought. I was there, working at firms churning out diluted, unoriginal, cut-and-paste projects to satisfy metrics, profits and publications.
Those days are over. I have no interest in maintaining the status quo. If you've seen it before, don't come looking for it here. I lead the design of each and every project to ensure that this studio will only deliver legendary, defiantly distinctive spaces that are impossible to replicate. I believe that radical individuality is the ultimate luxury.
Equally important is an exceptional experience that provides five-star concierge-level service and actively protects your time, your investment, and your peace of mind. I've built a proven process to establish trust from these earliest interactions and keep you firmly in the driver's seat so you won't ever have to wonder where we're headed, what you should expect, or what's happening next. That assurance is priceless. And that's my commitment to you.
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.
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
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
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.
distinct
NOT JUST DIFFERENT,
PRESS + RECOGNITION
Best Millwork Design
Builders and Remodelers Association of Boston Prism Award
October 2026
Beading is the Overlooked Interior Detailing
Livingetc
February 2025
Top 100 Designers in the US
Luxury Lifestyle Awards
November 2023
Best Interior Design Studio, New York
Luxury Lifestyle Awards
November 2023
MHLI featured in ADPro Directory
Architectural Digest
August 2023
1stDibs Introspective
September 2022
Press & Recognition
Talk of the Town
PRESS + RECOGNITION
.jpg)
[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.
.jpg)
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.
My email is:
Hello, my first name is:
Last name is:
My phone number is:
I'm interested in:
I'd also like you to know:
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.
LET'S
CHAT
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
.jpg)
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.
JOIN OUR UNIVERSE
Treat your inbox to our inspiration, latest projects, and insider advice.
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
Let's chat
Want to start your project, discuss a partnership, showcase our work, or join our team? Let us know below.