The Hot Seat: Mary Catherine McGarvey & Anna Robinson

Welcome to the Hot Seat, where we interview folks involved in Brooklyn real estate, architecture, development and the like. This week we try a double interview with Mary Catherine McGarvey and Anna Robinson. The two founded McGarvey Robinson Design, a Dumbo-based Interior Design Firm. Check out their Facebook page here.

Brownstoner: What neighborhood do you live in, and how’d you end up there?
Mary Catherine McGarvey: I moved to Smith Street in Carroll Gardens a little over six years ago and have lived in the same apartment the entire time. Prior to that, I lived in the central part of the Village for three years. Before I moved to New York City from Boston in 2003, I had been introduced to Brooklyn by friends who were living on Dean Street off of Flatbush Ave and immediately fell in love with its grit and charm. So when I finally moved, the plan was to live in Brooklyn.

Anna Robinson: I moved to Carroll Gardens in February of 2011, not even a year ago. When I moved to Manhattan over 10 years ago I never thought I would move to Brooklyn, I was a city girl. But after spending more time in Brooklyn with work and visiting friends, I feel in love with the borough and couldn’t wait to get over here. I craved a neighborhood with brownstones and cafes and shops. Now, not only do I live here I get the pleasure of working here too.

BS: How did the two of you get together and start McGarvey Robinson design?
McGarvey Robinson Design: We have been close friends since we met at Parsons School of Design, nearly ten years ago. Almost immediately, we realized that we shared a design aesthetic and had very similar working styles. After school, we both went on to work for other design firms but never abandoned the idea of collaborating on a project. And as luck had it, the right opportunity presented itself about a year and half ago, when Anna was contacted by a couple with an apartment in the New Superior Ink Building in the West Village, looking to hire an Interior Designer. We interviewed for the project and got it.

After the jump, the pair talk about the Brooklyn aesthetic, finding design inspiration and the beauty of the Brooklyn Inn.

BS: Can you describe your working dynamic? What strengths do you each bring to the table?
MRD: Our working dynamic is extremely easy-going and amicable. It definitely helps that the two of us are almost always on the same page stylistically. Rarely do we disagree on the direction a project should take from a design standpoint, which is crucial when working in a creative field. We have also learned to play to our strengths: Anna has a ‘big picture’ approach to objectives, which makes her extremely good at problem-solving and dealing with clients. Mary Catherine immerses herself in the details which is key to the successful execution of a project. The result is a very balanced working relationship.

BS: What are your current projects? Anything specifically in Brooklyn?
MRD: So far, the majority of projects have been residential, however we are currently working on an office space in Manhattan, which is our first official commercial project as MRD! The business is an internet start-up company, so the design lends itself to this kind of edgy, playfulness which is indicative of the industry. As for our residential work, we have had a few projects in Manhattan, one in Boreum Hill, and even one in Toronto (yes, we are international!). Since relocating our office to DUMBO, we have become eager to generate more business within our own neighborhood, which is defined by it’s youthful-minded, style conscious, working professionals who have an appreciation for well designed spaces.

A Manhattan project from the firm

BS: Do you see a distinct aesthetic emerging in Brooklyn?
MRD: Brooklyn clients by and large are more adventurous when it comes to design. The interiors that we have experienced tend to be innovative, relaxed, accessible, environmentally conscious and always stylish. The Brooklyn client is more willing to work with what they have verses going out and buying new. Brooklyn is all about the patina while Manhattan is all about pristine.

Brooklyn living room design

BS: Where do you guys find your design inspiration?
MRD: Everywhere. We both draw inspiration from our backgrounds (Texas for Anna and Iowa for Mary Catherine), but our main source of inspiration is the client. Beginning with the first interaction, we really attempt to assess the person: who are they, what makes them tick, when do they feel most alive, are they extroverted, what are their values and ideals – all the while taking into account their practical needs. After get a feel for the individual(s), we begin to study the actual space and the context of its surroundings. For example, the apartment we designed in the West Village sits just above the tree line along the West Street and has panoramic views of the Hudson River. The client, a couple in their 60’s, wanted the interior to be a departure from their packed, traditional-style home in Virginia. So when we set out to design, we only had to look outdoors to set the tone and color palette for what would ultimately become a very serene home.

A Manhattan project

BS: Finally, favorites: favorite house/building in Brooklyn, favorite Brooklyn interior, and favorite BK neighborhood.
MRD: As for our favorite places in Brooklyn, we are naturally partial to the neighborhoods where we live and work. Like so many others, we never tire of looking at the gardens and gorgeous Brownstones in Carroll Gardens. And in DUMBO, the cobblestone streets bring us back to another period in time. As for a favorite Brooklyn interior, we have to go with the Brooklyn Inn in Boreum Hill with it’s double height ceilings, carved wood details and great old smells.