Little did Robin Heller and Jen Levy know as kids growing up on the same street in Baltimore, they’d one day helm a design firm together. Initial pursuits took them on separate paths to L.A. and New York—Heller in marketing/retail and Levy in visual merchandising.

Heller discovered her decorating prowess by revamping her family’s homes in California and, after moving back East, Baltimore. Word soon spread of her bright, exuberant style and job requests followed. She began looking for a business partner.

“Jen had moved back to Baltimore. I found her on Instagram,” Heller recalls. “We instantly connected and the rest is history.”

The designers, who launched their firm in 2022, now have projects underway in the DMV, New York and California. Their ethos: to celebrate color and whimsy as a way to channel joy into clients’ everyday lives. “It’s been eye-opening to see how much of a need and desire there is among young families who want aesthetic homes, but need to balance that with the demands of kids and pets,” Levy notes.

Though their portfolio displays a bold spectrum, the duo reels in clients to avoid overload. “We often use color in a very neutral way,” says Levy.

“The concept of making spaces not too precious, but still really beautiful, is what clients come to us for,” adds Heller. “It’s such a rewarding thing.”

Interior Design: Robin Heller and Jen Levy, Surrounded by Color, Baltimore, Maryland.