After moving to New York in 1990, traveling the world, living and working in both Japan and Berlin, Detroit born Marlon Orr finally resettled in New York and entered the design market in early 2001.

The last 23 years have been spent navigating through the design industry via groundbreaking THE APARTMENT on Crosby Street where he helped discover and create a platform for some of the city’s newest and most revolutionary players within contemporary design.

However, with a background in art, a passion for unique objects and with the mind and an eye of a collector, there is no surprise that Orr eventually gravitated to vintage furniture with a focus and passion for mid century design.

Q&A with Marlon

Q

What is your favorite time of day?

A.

Morning between 4:30 – 6 a.m. It’s the time that I have to myself to catch up on all things Marlon.

Q

Are you a dog or cat person?

A.

Definitely a dog person, since I was a child. Pungie, Danger, Bluto, Raven, Rocky, Yohji, Nadia, Mila and Kloe. Cats are ok, but I’m allergic, and they’re not that funny, and tear up things in the most sinister way possible.

Q

What might the design world look like in 15 years?

A.

If AI has its way, it will be pretty terrifying. With the way technology, social media and how people outside the realm of design tend to dictate trends, I fear that no one will have the courage to love what they love or dive into the fascinating history of design itself. But I do hope that I’m wrong.

Q

Biggest pet peeve?

A.

Oh man, there’s a few. But one that sticks out is when people walk or stand in the middle of a sidewalk. If everyone walked on the right side of the sidewalk the world would be a better place.

Q

Best gift you’ve ever received?

A.

Well, that would be him, a boy named rohe.

Q

How do you maintain a work/life balance?

A.

You have to love both, in which I do.

Q

Describe your childhood bedroom.

A.

My two brothers and I shared a childhood bedroom. which was upstairs, fully carpeted, beige speckled in color. It had light blue colored walls with a window at each end. A set of bunk beds on the left and a single twin bed on the right side for me because I was the oldest. The curtains match the bed linens which was a wild west theme. It was completely absurd. The highlight was sticking my head out the window when our neighbor Ms. Powe would come home from work, get out of her rose and burgundy 4 door 79′ Lincoln Continental, open her gate, and back in through the gates to park it, having maybe max 4-5 inches of space on each side, never scratching the car or rear view mirrors, ever. Then she would look up and give me a thumbs up because she knew I was always watching in amazement.