“Design is intuition for me. I wish I had a printer connected to my brain because I can see a space exactly the way it should be. I love figuring the best use for a space, balancing form, color, and mood while also being delightfully unpredictable.”

 

Michelle began her design career in the custom drapery and upholstery industry while attending Harrington Institute of Interior Design on Michigan Avenue in Chicago. In 1993, she founded an interior design firm in nearby Libertyville, Illinois, which she built into one of the top firms in the region.

 

In 2010, after many visits to the beautiful and enchanting Central Coast, she sold her firm, took the leap and moved with her husband and young girls. Initially, she was content to settle in to a new life and laid-back Cali lifestyle. After a couple years and several remodeling projects for friends, she stepped back into the design arena and opened Michelle Pelech Interiors in downtown Arroyo Grande.

 

Michelle is a positive force of work ethic, creative talent and design intuition. She navigates the sometimes cringe-y taste differences between Mr. & Mrs. with great skill and charm. Michelle makes you smile and especially happy to be home. 

“I love delivering what the client wants, but also adding in a surprise or two that they adore and never knew they needed!”

 

Dana’s love of textures, colors and patterns are driven by her passion for travel. She first found design inspiration on a Spanish language studies trip to Mexico, where she was mesmerized by a performance of the Ballet Folklorico — the ornate costumes and rich, vibrant colors. Since then, Dana has soaked in the vibes and ancient design influences of ruins, cathedrals and temples during trips to France, Italy and South America and Japan, as well as many big US cities.

 

Dana is especially drawn to the textures of stone and wood and intricacies in carvings and embellished textiles and tiles. Her superpower is warming up stale or antiseptic environments while maintaining a sense of serenity. 

 

Dana has a background in communications and project management and a naturally empathetic personality. These qualities enable her to create spaces that reflect the client’s lifestyle and passions while respecting their budget. Dana has been part of the MPI team since 2017.

“I love that this job allows me to combine my left and right brain — numbers and order with creativity and creation of beauty. It’s a perfect balance.”
 

In March of 2020 we welcomed Heather Howland to our studio and team. Heather’s role spans bookkeeping, client proposals and invoicing, project management, and inventory and order management. In short, she is our Chief Officer of Operations.
 

What’s more, Heather has serious cred: She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Metaphysical Science (B.Msc.) from the University of Sedona; an Associate of Applied Science Degree: Business & Accounting; and a certification in Home Staging and Redesign. She’s also a Certified Professional Coach. Before joining us, Heather filled professional roles in finance, accounting, and strategic communications.

“Design has the ability to make a space feel more meaningful and I love being a part of that process.”

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Julianne brings more than 15+ years and a broad range of experience in architecture and interiors. She received her bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts, with an emphasis on design and architecture, from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. Throughout her career, Julianne has built a diverse project portfolio, which includes luxury resorts, boutique hotels, wineries, and custom homes.

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Julianne has a keen eye for space planning and utilizes her architectural background to design unique interiors with a high level of detail throughout a project. She has a well-trained eye that can bring together the interior architecture, finishes, and furniture for a cohesive and innovative space.

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Julianne creates a lovely and productive rapport with her clients, as well as the tradespeople with whom she collaborates. She has extensive experience seeing her projects from design concept to project completion under a variety of budgets, styles, and timeframes.

“My passion lies in elevating interiors to inspire. I take joy in crafting spaces that seamlessly blend style and comfort, where every detail tells a story of individual uniqueness.”

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Mariah was raised on the Central Coast and her passion for design started when she was 15 and watched her first episode of HGTV. A transformative year in Italy further fueled her creative inspiration.

Currently, Mariah is looking forward to graduating from the Cal Poly Architecture Program in June 2024