Your advocate, every step of the way.

Studio MAK is a Chicago interior design studio founded by Marina Zelenkova, Ashley Manchester, and Kimberly Kappelman. With roots in real estate development, creative direction, project management, and finance, the studio brings a rare combination of business instinct and design sensibility to residential and commercial projects in Chicago and well beyond.

M.

Marina Zelenkova

FOUNDER · DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS & GROWTH

Marina's commercial real estate background gives every Studio MAK project something rare: someone who has lived every step of the process. From underwriting and deal structure to architecture, construction, and the sales and marketing of an asset. That depth, paired with extreme organization and a genuine understanding of what people want from a space, is what makes her invaluable to clients with serious projects.

Born in Eastern Europe and raised between there and Southern California, with years lived in Paris along the way, Marina honed her creative side in the fashion industry while earning a degree in criminology, law, and society — a dual track that shaped a mind which works both ways: creative and analytical.

A multifamily real estate investor in her own right, she's always reading, always learning, always drawn to the people behind the work. Fashion is a lifelong love, as are beautifully designed spaces — especially a boutique hotel you don't want to check out of. She's happiest in a big city that feels alive, and travel is where most of her inspiration comes from — the kind with crowded sidewalks and good restaurants. Mostly, though, her greatest joy is close to home: her friends, her daughter, her husband, and Roger, the dog and undisputed main man of the family.

Endlessly curious, never quite done learning, and always chasing the next restaurant worth talking about.

A.

Ashley Manchester

FOUNDER · creative director

Ashley has been drawn to design for as long as she can remember. As Co-Founder and Creative Director at Studio MAK, she's the in-house eye for everything visual: the way a room feels, the way a space tells a story, the details that make something go from beautiful to genuinely memorable.

Her background as a Creative Executive working alongside major developers gave her something most designers don't have: a real understanding of how design and market positioning work together. She knows what makes a space sell, and more importantly, what makes it worth selling. That blend of aesthetic instinct and commercial fluency is what she brings to every project.

Ashley's world outside of work isn't far from the one inside it. She's endlessly curious about food, entertaining, art, and culture, and she approaches her own home the same way she approaches a client's: with intention, a good eye, and a willingness to experiment. Her husband handles the drinks; she handles everything else.

Ashley’s hobbies include finding great restaurants, trying new recipes, and convincing everyone she doesn’t actually live in Miami.

K.

Kimberly Kappelman

FOUNDER · FINANCE & BUSINESS AFFAIRS DIRECTOR

Kimberly started her career at a Big Four accounting firm, and that foundation shows in everything she does at Studio MAK. She's the person who makes sure the creative vision and the financial reality are always in the same conversation. Clients with serious projects need someone who understands the numbers as well as the design, and that's exactly what Kim brings.

Her real estate experience goes well beyond the books. She's renovated and flipped over 30 properties, completed 3 custom home development projects in Tampa, and co-owns and manages 40 rental units with her husband. She's been on the owner side of these projects, which means she understands what's actually at stake when a client hands over a space.

Outside of work, she's usually somewhere in motion. Traveling with her family, cheering at a kids' sporting event, or at the stable with her horses. She has a way of being fully present wherever she is, which, if you've ever worked with her, tracks completely.

Kimberly can be found attending her kids' sporting events, traveling with her family, and discovering new destinations. She is also an avid horseback rider, often spending time at the stable, unwinding, and connecting with nature.

S.

Silvia Derivolcov

Associate Designer

Bio coming soon.

The usual questions

Everything you've been meaning to ask.

  • Studio MAK works on both residential and commercial projects, from full-scale renovations and new builds to smaller, focused scopes. Clients typically come with serious projects and high expectations. The studio is equally at home designing a private residence as it is working on a hospitality or commercial space.

  • It starts with a conversation. From there, the studio moves through discovery, concept development, and design, staying closely involved through procurement and installation. Every phase is managed with the kind of rigor you'd expect from a team with backgrounds in project management, real estate, and finance, not just design.

  • Most design firms bring creative vision. Studio MAK brings that and a deep understanding of how buildings actually work, how projects get built, and what makes a space perform well over time. With founders who have backgrounds in real estate development, finance, and creative direction, the studio thinks about design the way a developer would, and a designer would, at the same time.

  • Yes. While the studio is based in Chicago, Studio MAK takes on projects well beyond the city. If the project is the right fit, location is rarely the deciding factor.

  • It depends on the scope. A focused residential project might take several months, while a larger renovation or commercial build can run a year or more. The studio is transparent about timelines from the start and manages each phase closely to keep things moving.

  • Reach out and tell us about your project. The first step is a conversation to see if it's a good fit, what the scope looks like, and what you're hoping to achieve. From there, the studio will walk you through how they work and what comes next.

Let's take the next step together.

Tell us about your project, and we’ll guide you through the next steps.

Connect With Us