We had the good fortune of connecting with Marlaina Teich and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Marlaina, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
I was the founder and past president of the Design & Builders Alliance of Long Island, a 501c3 charity, which brings together Long Island’s leading design professionals to foster relationships between design trades. Together we also raise money for worthy local causes, including my favorite charity Kids Need More.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Starting in fashion made for a natural segue into interior design because they have much in common. The glamour of the industry has always been an allure for me. But I am also a casual girl! I love my jeans and tee’s as much as I love getting full glam and putting on a pair of pumps. I bring that approach to my interior designs as well.

My sensibilities lie at the intersection of fashion, beauty, and interiors. I am always finding ways to combine them – and sometimes they find me. One of the largest growing categories of design in our firm is beauty salons and spas. They’ve become some of my favorite projects to work on. The way one feels fresh and fabulous when they walk out of a salon is exactly how I want my clients to feel in the spaces we design for them. MTDNY recently won an international design award, the IDA Award, for designing the Beautiful People Salon. They also just won the BLT Built Design Award for their Modern Farmhouse project.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?

My shoutout is dedicated to George Oliphant (NBC’s George to the Rescue), who’s been an incredible friend and mentor. He inspired me to use my platform to raise money from the design community for the organization Kids Needs More, helping kids battling life-threatening diseases.

Website: MTDNY.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marlainateich/

Image Credits
Dining Room Image by Ric Marder All other images by Patrick Cline

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