Designer Kitchen Magic
Beautiful on the Outside, Functional on the Inside
Maiata and Brett Carlton are the design–build duo behind Marlo and Kroft design firm. Brett, an architect, and Maiata, an interior designer, have worked across every corner of the industry—from high-end residential and luxury commercial projects to hospitality spaces. I first met Maiata through my podcast, and I instantly connected with her drive and passion. She and Brett share a clear, powerful vision: to make great design accessible to everyone.
Together, they embody warmth and hospitality, the kind that makes you feel like old friends within minutes. That same energy runs through every project they touch. Marlo and Kroft are, quite simply, the Swiss Army knife of design and construction—versatile, thoughtful, and endlessly capable.
01
Space Assessment
I was only supposed to organize their pantry closet—the one tucked around the corner from the kitchen—but I couldn’t just “organize” it. Real organization is about creating flow, not tidying one space. The pantry was too far from the kitchen to be practical, disrupting their daily rhythm. So, I expanded the project to include both spaces. The goal: a functional, intuitive system that fit how they actually lived.
02
Curation
Next came the purge. A crucial step. There’s no point organizing what you don’t use or love. We emptied every shelf to see it all clearly and make intentional choices. As we sorted, patterns emerged: daily essentials, rarely used items, and things that belonged elsewhere. The rarely used pieces were moved to the pantry closet—still accessible, but no longer crowding their everyday space.
BEFORE
AFTER
03
Implementation
The pantry closet made all the difference, creating a calmer, more efficient kitchen flow. By removing clutter, we built a curated setup focused on essentials. The main kitchen became home to daily-use items—plates, bowls, cookware, and utensils while the pantry closet handled overflow. Now everything’s visible, convenient, and ready to use. Heavier items stayed on mid and lower shelves for safety and ease.
04
The Result
Function and flow are vital in any space, but especially in a kitchen—the hub of daily life. Small inconveniences add up, creating friction over time. By reworking both the kitchen and pantry closet, we built a system that supports their daily routines and entertaining alike. The result: a kitchen that’s intuitive, effortless, and as functional as it is beautiful.
