Meet Maria

Born in Philadelphia, Maria's family moved to a small rural neighborhood in the Pine Barrens of Southern New Jersey when she was 4 years old.  After graduating high school, the family moved to Delaware while she studied art history at the University of Delaware. After a few years, Maria furthered her education at the Art Institute of Philadelphia, studying interior design.

Maria now lives in Northern Delaware with her husband, Jeff, their three kids and fur-babies.

Combining her passion for design and desire to find solutions for her clients, Maria founded Maria Joan Design Group in 2020 and partners with high end furnishings and finishes manufacturers for commercial, healthcare, hospitality and education markets.

Our REach

Covering Eastern Pennsylvania, Southern New Jersey and Delaware.

maria kunkulis Malone, president

I have loved art, design and architecture my entire life. From the time I was a little girl and watched early versions of home-improvement shows with my Dad, I knew I wanted a career in architecture. I love all things that are an expression of creativity- cooking, music, movies…
The world is a vast representation of Humanity’s artistic nature and I want to experience as much of it as I can.

family

Raised by my mother’s loving nature and my father’s conviction, I grew up with the confidence and tenacity to chase life without regret. Now as a proud mother of a funny, smart and kind-hearted boy, my relationship with my son is the one that keeps me grounded and pushing forward. Everything I do, every challenge I face, I take on with the notion that I am an example to this amazing young man.

background

I started my career as an interior designer in the late 1990’s and worked for both commercial and residential design firms in Philadelphia and Delaware. In the late 2000’s, I entered the sales side of our industry by joining a small furniture dealership, leading me to other roles in the factory-direct and multi-line representative community and ultimately establishing my own company, Maria Joan Design Group.

Experience

I enjoy being an active participant in the design process, drawing on my years of experience to assist designers, dealers and end-users. Having experienced multiple positions in this industry, I have first-hand knowledge of the methods and challenges each of these roles play in the design process

Janice Mackenzie

Janice joins MJDG as a Sale Professional and lives in Sinking Spring, a Northwest suburb of Reading, PA with her husband, Scott and two college-aged boys, Alex and Dylan. Her territory includes Central and Northeastern Pennsylvania.
Janice joins the team with sales experience outside the industry from staffing services to real estate. Her last role as Sales and Marketing Director for a senior living community afforded her in-depth knowledge of a market sector critical to our manufacturer partners.  

Janice's hobbies

Janice is an avid equestrian and has rode horses since she was eight years old. Janice and her husband are members of their local country club where they network with fellow members and golf. She is the vice president of ABWA (American Business Women’s Association) Women Excelling Chapter in Berks County, PA. She also serves on the board of directors of Humane Pennsylvania, a non-profit organization promoting the welfare and adoption of all animals.

janice's Mantra

"Remember where you have been and know where you are going. Life is not a race, but a journey to be savored each step of the way." – Nikita Koloff

Territory

Represents quality and luxury architectural and interior products in Eastern Pennsylvania, Southern New Jersey and Delaware.

Our core Values


"We cannot direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails" - Bertha Calloway

There is a solution for every problem. It's not always the easiest or the one you wanted. But in the end, it always works out.

Partner with Us

Become a part of the Maria Joan Design Group collection of quality and inspiring manufactures.

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