Design MACS

Our just-built home overlooking the Hudson River and Manhattan was like a fresh canvas waiting for a talented artist. Marissa was that artist. While she did a fantastic job designing our living room, dining room and home office, what stands out the most is our rooftop bar and outdoor entertainment area. Marissa instinctively knew the indoor/outdoor space was destined to be designed as an upscale coffee lounge by day and a relaxing bar lounge at night. She drew inspiration from commercial spaces to feature a pergola outdoors, rich emerald-green tile with brass accents indoors, and custom seating for about 40 people. Everyone is in love with this space. Each evening, we’re treated to a spectacular view that reflects a golden glow on the city’s iconic skyline. This place brings us so much joy and peace. It’s our own oasis. Why would we ever want to go on vacation with a home like this?

Marissa did a wonderful job renovating our 8,000-square-foot second home. She and Ariel were so thoughtful in their approach to this major project. They knew my husband and I were busy with our jobs and family so they limited the amount of planning meetings, always responded quickly to our questions and requests, and handled everything we wanted them to. Marissa and Lauren lovingly designed our space to reflect our interests, like adding rowing and nautical items and creating artwork from my favorite scarves. When we wanted a large TV in the living room, they fully redesigned the fireplace area below it, extending the hearth and mantle and updating the materials and the flooring to make it feel more balanced and centered. Design MACS is a family shop who treated us like family.

Marissa and her team were up for the challenge when we wanted to combine two apartments in a pre-war Manhattan building that’s more than 100 years old. Throughout this ambitious project, they proved to be optimistic problem solvers. They seamlessly worked with the engineer and contractor to install central air conditioning, navigated the demands of the building’s board, and met the ever-changing requirements of the city’s building department. Marissa assured our place would be different from everyone else’s by reflecting my eclectic style of mid-century modern, contemporary, industrial and LA glam. My wife and I share the core value of spending time with those we love. Because of Marissa’s creativity and attention to detail, our beautiful home is the perfect place to do that.

I appreciate how Marissa and her team not only make great design decisions but also explain the reasons behind them. Like why certain pieces look best together, how dimensions affect design, and even the scheduling process. Instead of getting furniture and accessories in a little at a time, everything was set up on one day for a fun and exciting grand reveal. Our calming primary bedroom is just our style and the custom cabinets with built-in bar and display cases make our lounge multi-functional. The Design MACS team were so accommodating and flexible as our project grew. It was a great experience. Laura

Marissa and her team were incredible! The unique design vision, reliability, professionalism, communication.. everything exceeded our expectations. We now have the home of our dreams and the entire process was a pleasure! Highly recommend for any design or building needs !

It took us several years to find the right lot at the right price but we knew the old home had to go. We lived two hours away so we needed a knowledgeable, trustworthy design team. That’s why we chose Design MACS. They fully managed the new build and everything that went into it. From the floorplan and finishings to all the furniture. There are so many special touches in our modern farmhouse home, like the dramatic, dark walls and runners on our staircases and the light oak coffered ceilings in our family room and kitchen. Our two young kids love having their own thoughtfully designed spaces. Marissa and her team were so easy to work with. They listened to what inspired us and made it happen.

We worked with Design MACS to change our basement into a spa oasis. We loved working with them and they were AMAZING to work with. They were so detailed every step of the way. They handled everything involved and made this large project as low-stress as possible. Would definitely recommend them and would work with them again if we need another design project.

I cannot begin to explain how much I love Marissa and design Macs! They transformed our 2 bedroom apartment into the most incredible home. We have loved living here. She creatively used every inch of space and was able to maximize storage for us. The ideas she thought of, we would have never thought of and I am so thankful for. Her attention to detail during all steps of the process is so appreciated. The best part is, all the work and designs have paid off in multiples. We recently put our place on the market and received 10+ offers within 5 days at ask and above. Everyone loved all the built ins (entertainment center, mudroom area, built in benches, desk are, storage column) all which were her ideas and vision. I cried happy tears! I cannot wait to work with her again!!

Marissa and team are the best! We hired Design MACS to help us design and finish our Master bath. The team was responsive and came up with a spectacular design. They even helped us find an excellent contractor. We would highly recommend them for any project.

After moving into our new house, my wife and I contacted Design Macs to help furnish and decorate our house. Marissa and her design team put together a detailed plan, including virtual design plans where we were able to see all their ideas and designs. The team presented us with various layouts for all the different areas of the house, and after selecting our preferred options the team went to work finding great furniture options for each room. We were presented multiple options for each piece of furniture and visuals to help us see how everything looked together. After making our selections, the team did a great job of keeping us updated on the status of all of our items. They arranged to have our items delivered to their warehouse to minimize the deliveries to our house, which worked out great. Once the majority of our items arrived, we scheduled a moving day where the team was on hand to make sure everything was delivered and placed exactly where it was supposed to go (and they made sure no items were damaged). Marissa and team did an amazing job transforming our new house into our home! The layouts and décor they put together for our home are amazing! We feel like we are now living in a home you’d see on HGTV. I would highly recommend Design Macs for any home projects and will definitely be using them again in the future for other projects!

I contacted Design Macs to help me update the living room, dining room, and bedroom in my new house after I moved in. After meeting me and touring the house they developed a detailed plan, worked with me to make furniture and design selections that fit my needs, and everything has started coming together. The team has overseen a number of contractors (painting, electric, wallpaper, and carpentry) and although it's taken a little longer than I would have anticipated due mainly to scheduling and supply chain issues I am excited to watch our vision get put into place. As someone that's never used a designer before, the Design Macs team has kept me fully informed about everything as it's happening as well as stopped over multiple times to check on shipments as well as oversee the contractors. There's been a ton of communication, which really makes the process easier and more tactical for me. I highly recommend them for any similar projects.

I had the pleasure to work with Design MACS on their latest project in North Caldwell. Most designers just glaze over technology, but they really got involved with our vision. This made it a joy to work with them, especially when designing the Home Theater. I was most impressed with Marisa’s interest and ability to comprehend and follow me when we got into technical discussions. I soon realized that she takes the same approach to all aspects of the job. Her professionalism and attention to detail really showed in the final product. By far the most pleasurable experience I’ve ever had working with an Interior Designer! Patrick L. Audio Video Specialist

The Design MACS team was nothing but professional and thorough while they helped us redesign our basement. The planning was meticulous and effort was herculean. I cannot comment on the cost as this was the first time doing this but my family loves the work, so that value is priceless.

Design Macs should change its name to Design Miracles! If you want to work with a designer who listens and understands what you want, even if you don’t know what you want, and can translate that into a space that is incredibly special, practical and livable, Marissa is the one. What’s also great is that regardless of her own individual taste, she is incredibly talented at bringing out the look that is perfectly perfect for you. I so appreciated that Marissa was able to figure out what my style was and to translate that into a beautiful vision for my home. I knew I had eclectic tastes, but I didn’t have any idea what a starting point was for us to talk about the design of the many rooms we were renovating. I was so excited when Marissa looked through the magazine clips of colors, fashion, art, and “looks” I liked that I handed to her, then walked around my house, and said confidently that she knew exactly what my style was: “Hollywood regency.” I had no idea that was even a thing, but I knew she had totally nailed my style when she explained it’s a little art deco, a little glam, a little French, a little Palm Springs, and a little Chinoiserie. As another example of Marissa’s talent for knowing her clients’ taste, I was in search of a fun powder room wallpaper that was beautiful, happy, playful, and that would delight my future grandchildren. Of thousands of wallpaper samples, Marissa eyed one that she knew was exactly what I would want. She brought me a sample, and I didn’t have to peruse any others. Again, she nailed it! As further proof, a little girl recently came to our house and we told her to look at the powder room wallpaper. She entered the room and her jaw dropped with glee. Mission accomplished. Another fabulous talent of Marissa’s is her ability to suggest details that accomplish a finishing touch. Borders and bull nose on tiling, coordinating front and back of a chair fabric, fun trim on runners and window treatments, mixing crystal pulls and polished nickel on cabinetry, edging on counters, crown molding, just to name a few. I never would have been able to envision the exciting, refining details that truly work to make the space special. Another highlight is that Marissa also delivered on my requirement of practicality and livability. I wanted our home to be easy upkeep so we could create a beautiful sanctuary for my husband and myself as well as a magnet for kids and grandkids to spend time, hang out, cook together, relax and have fun. That being said, I never wanted to accomplish that at the expense of the glam/wow factor. It’s wow alright! A big spectacular wow! Marissa brought all the elements of all the rooms together into a beautiful cohesive whole. Everyone who sees the new spaces are blown away. From the kitchen cabinets, to the counterpoint color of the island, the counter tops, the lighting fixtures, hardware, sinks, faucets, vanities, mirrors, flooring, windows, backsplashes, floor tiling, wood floor, table, chairs, fabric, runners, doors, doorknobs, paint colors, wallpaper and more, I trusted Marissa to pinpoint and help me narrow down beautiful choices. I would have been in total overwhelm if I had to find and coordinate everything and figure out proportions and measurements needed for this renovation on my own. There were so many details that were not merely design but had architectural and important functionality attributes such as dealing with wall placement or removal, cabinet placement and the insides of cabinet configuration, and so much more. And I never would have been able to work with and give clear direction to contractors and subcontractors on my own, the way Marissa did. Instead of the renovation being a drag, working with Marissa, and also her husband Ariel, was fun! I love, love, love the results! I love, love, love my house. Princess Diane von Brainisfried

We were overseas and worked with Design MACS to renovate a guest bathroom. They were awesome! Met with the contractor, took measurements and then sent us this beautiful proposal package using 3D renderings and tile/hardware specifics. A lot of great suggestions for us to consider that were incorporated into the design. I love how their experience improved the looks and functionality of the bathroom. We had only imagined a renovated look but they gave us flow and feeling as well. Design MACS purchased all the material for us, oversaw the contractor and they the work they were doing, and even created a "design guide" that the contractor could follow that highlighted where the faucets/heads/racks/etc were to be located. And Design MACS finished the job with acquiring all the furnishings (waste bin, candle, soap dispenser, laundry basket, etc.). We came home to a stunning bathroom which was ready to use. And Design MACS did this all while we were overseas. The bathroom looks great and makes great use of the available space. The tiling choices work extremely well together and we love the colors. A fantastic experience! Now on to the next project with them! Alan

I have been in Showroom Sales for my years now, and have met a lot of designers along the way. Marissa stuck out from the moment I met her, she came into the showroom very focused on a mission for her client. She has a great knowledge of what her client’s taste is which makes it extremely easy to work with her while picking out fixtures. I have interacted with her clients and you can see how comfortable and relieved they are that they found a designer who is making their dreams come true. If you have a chance to work with Marissa of Design Macs you will not be disappointed with the results.

Had a wonderful time working with Design Macs creating a beautiful bathroom for our customer. Marissa and Ariel are very professional and knew exactly what the customer was looking for.

Marissa helped me figure out a great lighting solution for our office. Not only was I looking for sufficient lighting, but also fixtures that fit the space and vibe well. She helped me in all those aspects and did an amazing job. She took my ideas, suggested her own and came up some really nice solutions that look great. I recommend her to anyone looking for a great creative mind to help bring their vision to life!

Marissa was super helpful and provided me with GREAT ideas to make our new apartment gorgeous. We feel like we live in a model apartment right out of a magazine!

I very much enjoyed working with Marissa in designing my daughter’s nursery and updating our den. She was professional, responsive and extremely effective at helping me achieve my goals. I couldn’t be happier with the outcome. I have referred her to many friends who are also extremely happy with the results. She provided many options at various price points and was hands-on in following through to make sure everything was executed properly.

Marissa has been nothing short of amazing while working on my apartment. I wish there were more than 5 stars to be able to give her...but I'll try and explain. She has been professional and always has gone above and beyond. She keeps me posted on the current project and if I am not home, I trust her enough to come in and handle what she needs to handle. I presented her a vision...and she has not only met expectations, but far exceeded them. Any time people come over, their jaws hit the ground. It is stunning and NOT even done yet. I can't wait to see the finished product. My complex even shows my unit to future tenants because they believe it will help sell them! If you need an expert interior decorator/designer, Marissa and her company Design MACS are a must!

We love Marissa! She did a phenomenal job with our house almost top to bottom. She understood the vision we had, helped keep us on budget, helped us understand what we liked and made it all come together beautifully. Highly recommend!

Marissa from Design Macs helped transform my kitchen into a beauty. Everyone who walks into my house comments on how great my house is because of my kitchen. Her creative and space maximizing designs made my kitchen look like a million bucks! I would highly recommend her to everyone!

Design Macs did an excellent job on my bathroom renovation. Marissa, the interior designer, was very creative in redefining the space. She was professional and her design increased my property value. I will be using her services again for my next projects!

Marissa went above and beyond for our bathroom needs. She completely redid the design of our master bath doubling it in size without taking down walls! I did not think this could be done! She also assisted in coordinating with the contractor and made sure everything from the location of the vanity to the location of the toilet paper holder were perfectly measured and functional! I was 9 months pregnant during the end of our construction and her organizational skills helped minimize my stress level throughout the whole project. Marissa is not your ordinary designer she puts love and care into each of her projects and clients! I am looking forward to working with Marissa again!

Marissa is a fantastic designer and is so pleasant to work with. She has transformed our living space and I am so happy with all of the details and vision that Marissa brought to life. I wasn't even sure what my design style was before we started working together but it all came together through each step along the way. I highly recommend Marissa, you won't be disappointed! You will be amazed at the possibilities that she presents to you and makes your space uniquely your own.

Marissa was committed to excellence from the first day of our project to its completion only six short weeks later. She was extremely attentive to each and every detail, including professional management of our timeline and budget. She brings a wealth of design knowledge and experience to her clients.

Marissa is absolutely amazing! I was looking for a designer to help update some pretty challenging spaces - a dual 2 y/o girl and 3 m/o boy nursery and a den that needed to serve as an office/guest room/playroom and she knocked the designs out of the park. I would've never thought of the ideas she came up with and my den is probably my favorite room in the house and definitely the most functional. She worked within my budget and was able to perfectly incorporate existing furniture and a few accents I wanted to keep. Next house - we would absolutely work with her again! :)

Marissa has helped me with a few projects. she has a real eye for making a room come together. everything is well thought out and feels so comfortable now

Not only did Design MACS help me transform my new home into a beautiful space, but they helped me maximize the use of my space and did so under budget. Thanks again!!

As an owner/developer Marissa brought a truly unique perspective to our project. Through her extensive experience working with clients on various projects, she knew exactly what would appeal to potential buyers the most during the sale process. Marissa went above and beyond what was expected of her and spent a considerable amount of time selecting products/finishes that blended cost/function/aesthetics, and ultimately improved our profit margin as investors. I would highly recommend working with Marissa to any developer that is looking to maximize their return on investment.

Marissa is amazing! We have used her on 2 projects now and she has provided great design and project management. She has been able to stay within budget and provide an amazing finished project! Im ready to get our next project started!

Marissa is great to work with. She listens to your needs and caters her designs to suit the client's needs. Her attention to detail is commendable. Her suggestions are great without being overpowering. I would work with her again in a heart beat.

Working with Marissa of Design MACS was easy and fun. She was accommodating and creative. I would highly recommend her. In fact I have recommended her to 2 others so far and they have been quite satisfied.

Loved working with Marissa. She has great ideas, professional, was on time, stayed within budget. I would definitely work with her again. I get tons of complements on my decor. Highly recommend her for any project big or small.