Today I am thrilled to share the story and work of decorator Michelle Smith. I always love to hear how people got their start in design. More often than not, he or she recognized his or her creativity at an early age, had an affinity or curiosity for furniture and period styles, and wholeheartedly pursued an interiors career. However, I am comforted by stories of those who went in to a different field, only to realize later on in life that their true calling was design (because that's what happened to me)! Michelle Smith originally attended school to become a lawyer, and practiced law here in New York. It wasn't until she was halfway through getting her Masters in Tax Law at NYU that she decided to jump ship and start as a design intern for Daniel Romualdez.
Despite a delayed start in the industry, Michelle has always been interested in design; particularly in the renovation process. She grew up in Louisiana, where her mother would renovate and spruce up houses as a pastime. Michelle followed along intently and grew to love the process of transforming a home. In 2009, while practicing law, Michelle purchased a 2 bedroom apartment in Greenwich Village that needed serious updates. She threw herself in to the renovation and the result was breathtaking. Soon, many of her friends (and even a partner at the law firm) were asking her to help them transform their own homes. So, she decided to spend a few years training under an Architectural Digest Top 100 Firm and then struck out on her own, launching MRS Studio.
In the 4 years since creating Studio MRS, Michelle has been busy! She's worked with Prabal Gurung, PR powerhouse Simon Huck, and celebrity chef Emma Hearst. Her style is effortless and collected while still coming off incredibly refined:
Michelle's Greenwich Village apartment is perfectly indicative of her layered, timeless style:
I love that Michelle used white penny tiles with dark grout as the flooring for her galley kitchen and oversized whisks as light fixtures. The cabinetry paint color is Farrow & Ball's Charleston Grey:
Michelle turned the living room closet in to a customized shoe rack- a true New Yorker move!
As you can tell, Smith's fashion sense is just as on point as her design sensibilities- the epitome of chic.
{photos via Studio Mrs}