BLACKBARN Dumbo Shop was created by husband and wife team Mark and Kristen Zeff. Mark is the founder of MARKZEFF, an interior design firm with more than 30 years' experience designing hotels, restaurants and residences. Kristen is a former management consultant with a love for design and travel. For this project, Mark updated a landmarked, 1800’s paper factory to create the emporium-meets-atelier in Brooklyn’s highly sought after DUMBO neighborhood. Inside the shop, Mark and Kristen utilize items found on their extensive travels as the baseline for the collection on display, and have commissioned artists and artisans both locally and from places such as Morocco, Bali, South Africa, Spain, Portugal and Italy to create pieces for the shop. From Mark’s native South Africa, there are antique Cape Dutch farmhouse furniture and objects, as well as handwoven baskets made by the Cape Town Society for the Blind. Balinese ceremonial necklaces made of cowry shells are displayed as objet d’art. Pieces from Morocco include antique, handmade kilim rugs, baskets, and blankets. From Italy, there are handcrafted ceramic lamps in white and bronze. BLACKBARN Shop is co-located with the offices of MARKZEFF, which allows Mark and Kristen to also provide custom design services.