I was incredibly fortunate to find the designer Michele Morgan 3 years ago when I needed advice on paint color for the exterior of our family's house. I had already received paint suggestions from 2 local designers, but I didn't love the colors so decided on one more consult. Thanks goodness I did. I was impressed with her as soon as I opened the door. Michele is one of those people who immediately bring energy and style into a room. She listened carefully, asked a few questions about color palates I like and got to work. She assessed nearby homes' styles and exterior colors as well as the interior colors of our house and noted the midcentury vibe. She browsed and taped up the paint chips, and then narrowed the choices after studying them in the natural light She selected a total of seven colors with a gorgeous color scheme of tan, nuances of green, and grey with variations for the eaves, siding, trim, and walls. The new attractive façade sets our home apart from others in the neighborhood, making it look unique and interesting.
Since that initial project, we have continued to work together now on many different projects with a long-term goal of creating a beautiful space in every room. Michele has designed most of the two levels of our midcentury modern house including a luxurious living room, a fabulous garage with a sitting area, 2 cozy guest bedrooms, an inviting guest bathroom, a relaxing and theater-themed home library, a functional and artsy rehearsal/workout room, and a brand-new sitting room with refurbished chairs with custom paint and upholstery to make them feel personal to the new space, and a gorgeous art wall leading up the staircase. Her spaces are filled with brilliant and joyous color schemes, bold patterns, beauty, and a sense of celebration. She embraces color, wallpaper, and details as part of her style and the furnishings she selects encompass modern and traditional. She has spread around color and contrast which allows the eye to enjoy bold punctuation on the walls in one room, then on the floor in the next, and on the ceiling in another room. The color story makes sense: there are touches of blue and greens from room to room to create a sense of fluidity such as the hue of an accent wall or a piece of art. Every room feels connected to the next and the colors flow and transition throughout the home. The rooms feels fresh and modern but are also filled with the memories that they have collected over time. She has mixed and matched intriguing patterns and textures that work together and then layered each room with finishing touches that feel purposeful and full of personality. Details match the original character of the house. She has a treasure-hunt mind-set and has selected interesting table settings and porcelain, one-of-a kind items which are, more often that you might think, inexpensive at estate sales and vintage shops around town. She has also refreshed other rooms in the house and decorated the house for the changing of the seasons as well as for holidays including Day of the Dead and Christmas.
Throughout our work together, her top priority has been to create a warm and welcoming environment that reflects and highlights our lifestyle and makes the house a place where people want to gather. Michele personalizes each project so that it reflects not only the home's location and architecture, but also my personality. She has tackled many a design dilemma with creativity and ingenuity. Over the years, she has come to know me and what I like as well as balance that with her own instincts in design to create rooms that are exactly what I hoped for that work with the entire look of the house. There is a uniqueness to her process that draws from her eclectic personality. She is an artist and brings a gorgeous aesthetic to the work. I have paintings by Michele in the house as well as an exquisite mural she painted in the living room. Her optimism, confidence, and commitment to her own aesthetic combined with the client's vision are her greatest strengths. Creating beautiful rooms for Michele is about finding the right color, artistic touches and attending to the details. Decorating appointments with Michele has become one of the happiest times. Most people gasp when they enter the house and tell me how beautiful it is. That feels good. We are living with style and joy in a beautiful, happy decorated home. read more