His mother, Dorothy Eckstrom, was an interior designer. His life took a different path, through magazine publishing in New York to marketing and sales development for a Fortune 100 food company in Omaha.

Like many, though, the COVID-19 pandemic changed that trajectory. He and partner Mikal Eckstrom now run a design firm called Studio Eckström.

“I think we all began to assess our larger selves and what makes us truly happy,” Mark Eckstrom said. “And for me, it was decorating.”

One of their projects has been to re-imagine the interior of their Regency townhome.

The transformation happened organically, with the design changing to reflect how they were living in the house. The art, furniture and objects, often collected on their varied travels, worked together to tell a unique story.

“Every day we get to pinch ourselves that we created a magical environment for ourselves, our doggies and our family and friends,” Eckstrom said. “We love that our home inspires entertaining. The rooms are structured ‘salon style’ to encourage multiple conversation groupings. Even our dressing room draws a crowd. It’s not uncommon during a party to find a group of people gathered around the island in our closet.”

There were plenty of rabbit holes and false starts, too. Their home became a decorating laboratory, Eckstrom said, and ultimately a success.

In what they call a dream come true, their townhome was recently featured in an Architectural Digest web-exclusive home tour. Around the same time, they learned they had been selected as AD PRO interior designers, a list of editor approved designers.

“So professionally, it has established our career,” Eckstrom said. “AD has put us on the radar for many residential and commercial jobs.”

They credit the beautiful work of Rhode Island photographer Read McKendree for helping them earn the notice of Architectural Digest. He was recommended by New York-based stylist Mieke ten Have, whom they met through Sophie Dow Donelson, who spoke at the Lauritzen Gardens Antiques Show.

McKendree visited Omaha last summer and spent two days photographing their home, finishing with 20 photos the Eckstroms planned to use on their website and to promote their work.

McKendree said the Eckstroms have a unique and varied collection of pieces that have blended together to create a beautiful and comfortable home.

“That they are doing this type of work far away from the design world of New York or LA really speaks volumes to their talent and passion,” he said.

The Eckstroms were blown away by the proofs and ten Have helped connect them to Architectural Digest. She said they are daring, original designers with a strong sense of color and a compelling point of view.

The magazine receives thousands of submissions from interior designers from around the world, and the Eckstroms didn’t want to get their hopes too high.

Then they got the call saying that AD was assigning a writer, John Wogan.

“We were literally screaming for joy,” Mark Eckstrom said.

Since the article, their professional pipeline through Studio Eckström has continued to grow.

Hiring an interior designer, they say, is no different than any other professional whether it be a doctor, lawyer or accountant.

You’re paying for creativity, education, ability and talent, Eckstrom said. Part of their expertise is interpreting client stories and creating spaces that reflect those varied lives.

“World-class interior design not only takes expertise and elevated creativity and taste; it also requires a bit of chameleon-like cosplaying and ESP,” Eckstrom said. “We’re constantly putting ourselves inside someone else’s head and home.”