“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.

“My whole life I have been fortunate enough to be surrounded by contractors, artists, and designers. Design comes naturally to me.”

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Peyton studied construction management at Cal Poly and has a strong interest in psychology. While attending school, she also taught preschool. Peyton’s love for helping others find joy, along with her passion for bold colors and unique patterns, drives her work as a designer.

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She takes great care in understanding each client’s needs and tastes, aiming to create spaces that not only reflect their personality but also enhance their everyday experience. Peyton believes that a thoughtfully designed space can inspire creativity, comfort, and connection. She enjoys blending aesthetics with practicality, ensuring that her designs are both beautiful and livable.

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Peyton’s approach is collaborative, always focused on understanding her clients' unique vision and translating it into a space that suits their needs.

“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.

“No two days are the same with this job, making it fun, challenging and rewarding. And watching Michelle and her talented design team in action is just an added perk.”

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Erin joined the design team in July 2024. A recent transplant from Philadelphia, PA, she, her husband and loyal canine drove across the country to start a new life on the Central Coast. Their love for the outdoors, easy lifestyle and endless adventures is what drew them west. 

Erin’s role includes bookkeeping, client proposals and invoicing, project management, and inventory and order management.

Erin’s background and experience is diverse and wide. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Rutgers University, is fluent in Swedish, and has traveled and lived abroad.  Before joining us, she worked as a client manager, assisting elderly with daily money management and administrative projects.