Mallory Robins and Elizabeth Bennett always felt interior design was both a calling and a passion. Kobel + Co. was initially launched by Mallory, but just a couple of years into its inception, a serendipitous reunion changed everything. Having known each other socially in college, the two bumped into each other after a decade. Right around the time Elizabeth was having her own beautifully styled home photographed, Mallory experienced a visceral "aha moment". Recognizing Elizabeth as the missing piece of her vision, Mallory took a giant leap and invited her to quit her job and join as a partner—a wild proposition that Elizabeth enthusiastically accepted.

Their partnership thrives on a deeply complementary dynamic, acting as a functional "yin and yang". While both share a core aesthetic foundation, Mallory gravitates toward floor plans, spatial structure, and operational efficiency, whereas Elizabeth brings storytelling, tactile texture, scent, and emotional atmosphere to the forefront. Through the early days of building their brand, navigating remote work during the pandemic, and scaling their firm, they have established a transparent, trust-filled dynamic where creative tension elevates every final layout.

Today, headquarter-based in Kansas City, Kobel + Co. executes large-scale residential renovations and new builds from coast to coast, including projects in California, Florida, and New England. Reflecting on their growth, Mallory and Elizabeth attribute their success to surrounding themselves with a specialized studio team, maintaining an open mindset to continuous learning, and prioritizing genuine relationships with clients and craftspeople.

See more of their work at: https://www.kobelandco.com/

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Pietro Estrada’s path into design was shaped early on by his parents, who lived in Italy for two years, got married there, and later established their architecture practice in Guatemala City. Growing up in an environment where architecture and custom furniture making seamlessly blended, Pietro, his sister, and the entire family absorbed a deeply creative mindset. After graduating from architecture school, Pietro pursued business school to complement his family's artistic strengths with strategic brand vision—a dual background that ultimately helped Piegato establish a corporate foothold in the United States and expand into European markets.

The brand name itself holds personal and linguistic history: originating from the Italian word piegato (meaning "bent"), it traces back to an intentional spelling variation and a playful nod to the Spanish words pie (foot) and gato (cat). At its heart, Piegato functions as a family design umbrella where each member leads a distinct pillar, naming signature pieces—such as the Uma chair or Pippo chair—after relatives and close friends.

A major milestone in the family's journey occurred when Piegato debuted as the first Guatemalan brand to present at Salone del Mobile in Milan, launching their Carved Landscapes collection. For Pietro’s parents, returning to Italy three decades after studying there represented a full-circle moment. Today, Pietro continues to scale the company's manufacturing footprint in Guatemala while honoring the timeless craftsmanship and family DNA that anchor the brand.

See more at Piegatto.com

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Danielle Chiprut’s path into residential interior design began in the world of commercial visual storytelling. Before founding her firm, she designed retail environments across the country for major brands like Urban Outfitters and Free People, as well as trade show booths for companies like S'well. This background gave her an acute understanding of spatial proportions, human movement, and how different commercial materials interact. However, the pivotal transition occurred when she and her husband moved to the suburbs and purchased a 1930s Tudor home. Channeling her visual merchandising expertise into her own renovation sparked a passion that led her to earn an interior design certificate at NYSID while still working her corporate role.

After her personal home renovation was featured on Apartment Therapy, Danielle experienced a surge in interest. As the COVID-19 pandemic hit, friends and city transplants relocating to Long Island sought her help to redesign their homes. Armed with what she calls a "design nest egg" of smaller photographed projects, Danielle built up enough momentum and confidence to step away from corporate life and establish Daniel Rose Design Company in 2019.

Overcoming the fear of stepping away from a secure corporate career required taking incremental steps and betting on herself. Losing her parents around that same period further grounded her perspective on what makes a house meaningful, driving her to build a firm that merges historical appreciation with modern family living. Today, Danielle leads a growing team in Long Island, having successfully built a distinct niche in transforming historic homes into functional, beautiful sanctuaries.

Find more at: daniellerosedesignco.com

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At its core, Karen Asprea’s design philosophy asserts that interior design is a living, continuous conversation between human beings and their physical surroundings. Rejecting the modern obsession with sterile perfection, Karen embraces patina, natural aging, and historical continuity. From sun fading wood floors to hand oils softening metal finishes, natural materials capture the history of a home. She views sustainable design not just as a technical checklist, but as the art of preserving and refinishing enduring natural elements—such as sanding down and re-oiling original solid teak wall paneling during a 40-story lobby renovation rather than sending it to a landfill.

The conversation delves into the deep emotional state behind real estate transactions. Recognizing that major life transitions—such as births, deaths, career changes, or divorces—drive people to buy or renovate homes, Karen positions emotional comfort as the ultimate goal of design. She deconstructs client requests to find the underlying feeling, translating a request for a blue sofa into a desire for safety and childhood nostalgia.

Ultimately, Karen believes that exceptional design should feel natural and almost invisible. When scale, proportion, light, and texture are correctly aligned, the design recedes into the background, allowing human life, family, and connection to take center stage. By replacing cold, high-contrast, sterile environments with rich natural textures, spaces foster genuine emotional peace and timeless elegance.

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Lucarelli and Dane. Dane’s connection to organic materials started early in life while working for his father, a cooking professor, before transitioning to a greenhouse in Virginia and eventually pursuing formal studies at the Los Angeles Institute of Architecture and Design. Macy, coming from a background as a real estate agent, used large trees as memorable closing gifts for clients to keep his services top-of-mind. During the COVID-19 pandemic, while working out together in the empty parking lot of the Hollywood Bowl, Macy noticed a local nursery with long queues and proposed launching a plant business—unaware that Dane had just registered Green Vibes Plant Co.

Combining forces under the memorable moniker "The Plant Daddies"—a nod to Macy’s history of planting passion fruit vines across Los Angeles—the duo set out to reshape the indoor plant industry. Early in their business, a pivotal moment occurred during an installation in West Hollywood. While unloading specimen plants, movers brought in an authentic Basquiat painting on loan from the Broad Museum. When the entire family gathered to admire the plants rather than the multi-million dollar art piece, Macy and Dane realized that curated greenery could serve as the primary design statement in high-end architecture.

Through a shared work ethic, constant experimentation, and a willingness to break traditional horticultural rules, Macy and Dane have cared for over 10,000 plants and trees. Supported by a third business partner, Kenny, who handles financial and administrative operations, the duo has expanded their practice into a multi-location design studio with locations in Los Angeles and Orange County.

Explore more at: theplantdaddies.com

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Brittany Farinas’s connection to design began at six years old while spending time in the furniture showroom where her mother worked. By age 21, while attending college and trying to chart a lucrative yet passionate path, she launched her own firm, House of One. Lacking formal experience at other firms, Brittany built her business through sheer drive, balancing a real estate license, waitressing at night, and working in a real estate office by day, all while managing clients in between. Her relentless work ethic earned her early word-of-mouth referrals, proving that credibility comes from delivering value rather than age.

Starting a firm at such a young age meant confronting industry biases, but Brittany Farinas channeled those challenges into sharpening her instincts as a leader. Over time, she shifted away from the initial "yes girl" mindset and hustle mentality that drove her early career. Early on, she felt the pressure to accept every project, hit external milestones, and constantly pitch new portfolio work. However, experiencing burnout and eventually becoming a mother transformed her approach, grounding her in intention, peace, and health.

Today, Brittany Farinas leads House of One with confidence, authenticity, and selective curation. Reflecting on her evolution, she embraces every past challenge as a necessary learning experience that shaped her strategic vision. Rather than measuring success by the volume of projects, she focuses on delivering a high-value, deeply considered service for clients who align with her firm's standards and values.

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