Hi there, I’m Marilyn, and I can’t wait to help you craft your dream home! Design has been a passion of mine from a young age and very much inspired by my mother who was a seamstress. I also used to spend Christmases decorating my grandparents’ home in Belize and found that my “happy place” has always been arranging furniture and choosing decór. When I was 18, I migrated from Belize to LA and eve
ntually moved to New York, where my interior design studio is today. From working in the Brooklyn DA’s office to the NYU School of Medicine, I have a diverse career background but always knew that interior design was my true calling—so I followed it! I first completed an interior decorating course while working for two major design firms in Staten Island before founding Jema Design in 2005. Having grown my clientele and connections, I felt it was time to further my education, and in 2014, I graduated with a BFA in Interior Design from the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), one of the most prestigious design schools in the world. My strong connections to local tradespeople, contractors, and vendors in Staten Island and beyond enables me to execute design journeys from beginning to end. Managing all communications with my partner network, I relieve my clients of the hassle of organizing an entire remodeling project. It’s my mission to create the best living experience for my clients through functional space design and compelling interior architecture. Along with my interior design team, I create modern homes and businesses that blend architecture, art, light, shadow, texture, and color to create an environment that reflects the unique lives of my clients.
