Meet Our Partners: SUITE NY's Maria Sepulveda Kirkel and Nick Taricco on Connection, Persistence and Taking Chances
Maria Sepulveda Kirkel and Nick Tarrico.
By Julia Gamolina
Maria Sepulveda Kirkel, Co-Founder, and Nick Taricco, Managing Partner, lead SUITE NY, a New York-based showroom specializing in modern and contemporary design. Since founding the company in 2006, Maria has helped establish SUITE NY as a trusted resource for international furnishings, while Nick, who joined the company in 2014, has helped guide its growth and evolution. Together, they continue to champion craftsmanship, design excellence, and the power of meaningful human connection through design.
JG: This is a big year for SUITE NY -- you are opening up your new showroom! What are you thinking about the most this year for the business, and what are your priorities for the year?
MSK: This year is especially meaningful because we are also celebrating SUITE NY’s twentieth anniversary. This milestone belongs not only to us, but to the designers, clients, manufacturers, and team members who have been part of the SUITE NY story along the way.
After twenty years, our priorities remain consistent: delivering exceptional service to our A&D community, strengthening the relationships that have supported us throughout the years, and thoughtfully growing our business in an increasingly competitive market. What motivates me most is that we get to do this work surrounded by beautifully crafted designs that enrich people’s lives.
NT: A lot has changed within the NYC design community since 2006; we’ve weathered many storms, alongside growing and expanding our reach. Continuing to share these timeless designs and stories for the next twenty years is what motivates us. The icing on the cake is that we get to celebrate this milestone in a brand-new penthouse showroom. We are ready…bring it on!
Nicholas Tarrico, Maria Sepulveda, and architect Dorte Mandrup.
How did you meet and begin to work together? How did SUITE NY come about?
MSK: Nick and I met in 2014 at an event that SUITE NY hosted. There was a natural professional chemistry between us. We share similar values, a strong work ethic, and a deep respect for integrity, which has created a strong foundation for our partnership. Nick also brought valuable digital expertise and a dynamic perspective to SUITE NY during a period of significant change and growth.
As for SUITE NY, the original roots dates back in the summer of 2006, when I started the business with my best friend Kris Fuchs. Kris and I met in NYC forty-five years ago, having too much fun as twenty-somethings back in the early 80’s during our fashion days! We became roommates and grew up together. She is like my sister, and Kris is so proud of where SUITE NY is after twenty years!
What did you and Nick both study and what did you want to do in the world? How did the world of design find you both?
MSK: I studied Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing at American University in Washington, DC. From an early age, I knew I wanted to live in New York City, and after graduating, I moved there with plans to work in fashion, but I found myself immersed in the world of design and quickly developed a passion for it.
I was also fortunate to grow up with parents who encouraged curiosity and exploration. Because of my father’s profession, I traveled internationally from a young age and was exposed to different cultures, art, and design perspectives that broadened my understanding of the world.
NT: My entrance into the NYC design community was through Dering Hall, one of the early online marketplaces for designers and makers to showcase their work. Dering Hall was a master class in understanding the NYC design community and I met all the key players and industry legends during that four-year period. SUITE NY happened to be one of Dering Hall’s early clients, and the first time I entered the SUITE NY showroom on Park Ave I immediately fell in love. After being introduced to Maria and Kris, I literally badgered them for the next several months until they finally broke down and offered me a position in their Operations Dept. Eight years later, I became a partner.
“Success comes from building a strong community where people share common values, support one another, and treat each other with respect. People thrive when they feel connected.”
What was some of the best advice you got early on that has informed your approach to your work and career?
MSK: One of the most valuable lessons I learned was to remain positive and open to people and experiences. In business, you do not always get to choose who you work with, but you can choose how you approach those relationships. Respect, kindness, and curiosity go a long way. Every day, we have the opportunity to bring positive energy into our interactions, and that mindset has enriched both my professional and personal life.
NT: Don’t wait for it. The secret to my success has been persistence. The idea of being “annoying” is something we create for ourselves most of the time. People are busy, juggling a multitude of responsibilities. I have found in my career that a persistent, respectful follow-up is what usually leads to the best results.
Tell me about your professional experiences before starting SUITE NY. What are the biggest lessons?
MSK: Early in my career, I had the privilege of working under the guidance of strong, hardworking professionals who set a high standard for excellence. Their work ethic left a lasting impression on me. The biggest lesson I learned was that success is built on integrity, perseverance, and respect for others. T
NT: I have a degree in theater and moved to NYC to break into the NYC theater community. All my prior experience has been in commercial theater, both on Broadway and in London’s West End, working across many different parts of the industry—casting, producing, editorial, sales.
The theater community was quite an antiquated industry at that time, and on the precipice of change in terms of how the digital landscape would change almost all aspects of the industry. Because I have always approached every opportunity as a learning opportunity, I was able to help usher an outdated industry into the 21st century. This experience in digital is what brought me to Dering Hall, and ultimately to SUITE NY. Lesson here: every experience matters and is part of the fabric that is one’s career.
Maria with her longtime friends at the SUITE NY showroom.
Looking back at it all, what have been the biggest challenges? How did you both manage through perceived disappointments or setbacks?
MSK: Challenges are part of life and certainly part of running a business. Over the years, I have learned that setbacks often create opportunities we cannot yet see. What may initially feel like a disappointment can become a turning point if you remain open to new possibilities. Rather than focusing on what did not go as planned, I try to focus on how to move forward and on what I learned.
NT: We are both big believers in everything happens for a reason. All we can do is be in the present and look towards the future. Whenever I am feeling frustrated or doubtful all I have to do is look around me at all the incredibly iconic designs that we are lucky to be surrounded by. Knowing that we play a small role in keeping these designs, and the storytelling behind them, relevant and passed on to the next generation is always the perfect reminder of why we do what we do.
Who were your mentors through it all?
MSK: My greatest mentor was my father. He was brilliant, highly educated, successful, and deeply kind. Most importantly, he taught me the value of humility. He introduced me to travel, culture, and the arts, and showed me the importance of family. At the same time, I witnessed my mother’s strength, love, and unwavering support. Together, they provided an example that continues to inspire me every day.
NT: I consider the iconic modern designers my mentors. Through their work I have learned not only about design, but about the ingenuity of the human spirit. The way these icons pushed the boundaries of what was possible at that time is a great motivator and a reminder to not follow the crowd, and that taking chances and doing things differently is where you find the magic.
“Every experience matters and is part of the fabric that is one’s career.”
Who are you admiring now and why?
MSK: Architecture and design have historically been male-dominated fields, which makes the accomplishments of pioneering women all the more inspiring. I have long admired designers such as Greta Grossman, Grete Jalk, and Bodil Kjær, whose vision, determination, and contributions helped shape modern design.
Today, I am encouraged by the number of talented women leading the profession and expanding what is possible in architecture and design. Among those I particularly admire are Patricia Urquiola, Signe Bindslev Henriksen of Space Copenhagen, Stine Gam of GamFratesi, and Dorte Mandrup. Each has developed a distinct design voice while creating work that is both thoughtful and highly relevant to contemporary life.
NT: Brooklyn-based weaver and textile artist, William Storms, is my current obsession. I am also obsessed with the continually evolving collection from A Petersen, a small Danish manufacturer working in the grand tradition of Danish design, with a focus on craftsmanship, a respect for material, and a level of integrity across their entire ethos.
Koyori is a new Japanese brand with such a synergy with Scandinavian design, their collection feels like it fits in with the iconic 20th designs that we all know and love. We also have a very special relationships with more established brands: Danish heritage brand, Fritz Hansen, and lifestyle brand, GUBI. Both brands are a part of SUITE NY’s DNA, and they continue to push the boundaries of design evolving and responding to a changing design landscape with the same integrity and passion that we share.
What is the impact you’d like to have on the world? What is your core mission? And, what does success in that look like to you?
MSK: If I can continue sharing my love for design through SUITE NY, help create more beautiful environments, spark curiosity, and bring a sense of joy and humor into people’s lives, then I will feel I have made a meaningful contribution. Making people happy is a worthwhile mission.
Success comes from building a strong community where people share common values, support one another, and treat each other with respect. People thrive when they feel connected.
NT: Human connection has always been at the core of why we do what we do. Humanity. Period. We are all here for such a short time on this planet. I really believe that human connection, storytelling, and keeping the past alive to inform the future is where all our efforts should be at this time. As we head into the unknown realities of AI—good, bad, and indifferent—keeping a focus on human connection needs to be at the forefront of everything we do. I focus on integrity, inclusion, character…success is really made up from the sum of these small efforts.
Finally, what advice do you have for those starting their career? For those wanting to start their own brand and business?
MSK: Gain experience, build relationships, and stay open to opportunities. Sometimes the most important opportunities arrive when you feel least prepared or already overwhelmed. Do not be afraid to say yes to new challenges. They often lead to growth in ways you could never anticipate. Certain opportunities don’t present themselves twice, and the universe may be testing you to see if you really want this.
Most importantly, do not let fear hold you back. Building a business requires risk, resilience, and determination. Trust yourself, stay curious, and be willing to take the leap.
NT: Love what you do and find your tribe. Remove gossip from your vocabulary and treat everyone with the same level of respect. Even though we are a global industry, its players are a very small cast. Our industry is so subjective but knowing that everyone is in it for the same reason you are is a great reminder to keep and open and supportive mind as you find your place in it.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.