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Leanne Michael L U X E lifestyle design
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Pro Spotlight: Add Timeless Touches for a Casually Elegant Home
A San Diego interior designer shares how to incorporate natural and antique elements in a livable way
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Who: Leanne Michael
Where: San Diego
In her own words: “I don’t stifle myself with trendy themes, but rather indulge in taking the best features from past centuries and adding new life and inspiration for today’s homeowners.”
In Southern California, gorgeous coastal vistas mingle with old-world influences from Spain, Morocco and the Mediterranean to create an aesthetic that, when done right, blends casual comfort with everlasting elegance. “I prefer to design with classic and timeless inspirations in mind so people get full use out of their environments for many years,” says designer Leanne Michael, president of Leanne Michael Luxe Lifestyle Design in San Diego.
Where: San Diego
In her own words: “I don’t stifle myself with trendy themes, but rather indulge in taking the best features from past centuries and adding new life and inspiration for today’s homeowners.”
In Southern California, gorgeous coastal vistas mingle with old-world influences from Spain, Morocco and the Mediterranean to create an aesthetic that, when done right, blends casual comfort with everlasting elegance. “I prefer to design with classic and timeless inspirations in mind so people get full use out of their environments for many years,” says designer Leanne Michael, president of Leanne Michael Luxe Lifestyle Design in San Diego.
Budding talent. Michael first explored her longtime love of interior design while running her own floral boutique in Rancho Santa Fe. “It wasn’t your typical floral retail shop,” she says. “I created a sensory-driven environment that was layered in collections of European antiques, accessories, fine art, custom lighting, found textiles and furnishings.”
Clients would often ask Michael to re-create the store’s romantic atmosphere in their homes, and she realized that she had a budding business on her hands. She founded Leanne Michael Luxe Lifestyle Design in 2012.
Clients would often ask Michael to re-create the store’s romantic atmosphere in their homes, and she realized that she had a budding business on her hands. She founded Leanne Michael Luxe Lifestyle Design in 2012.
Tell a story. Michael believes every home should reflect the interests, travels and inspiration of its inhabitants. “Creating a pretty space isn’t enough,” she says. “It needs to tell the story of the people who live within it.” Her own home is filled with novelties — such as insects, shells and even a bird’s nest — that she has collected since she was a child.
Want a glamorous home that exudes a comfortably casual vibe? Read on for Michael’s top tips.
Want a glamorous home that exudes a comfortably casual vibe? Read on for Michael’s top tips.
1. Look Beyond the Showroom
Be open to finding antiques and unexpected pieces anywhere. Michael likes to comb through antiques stores, resale and consignment shops, Craigslist and estate sales. “Nothing is more gratifying than finding those one-of-a-kind items that can become stars of a room,” she says.
For this living room in Coto de Caza, for example, Michael sourced every item from fine resale and antiques shops and breathed new life into them with updated upholstery and finishes. An added benefit of this approach? “The chairs were 30 bucks each!” she says.
See more of this project
Be open to finding antiques and unexpected pieces anywhere. Michael likes to comb through antiques stores, resale and consignment shops, Craigslist and estate sales. “Nothing is more gratifying than finding those one-of-a-kind items that can become stars of a room,” she says.
For this living room in Coto de Caza, for example, Michael sourced every item from fine resale and antiques shops and breathed new life into them with updated upholstery and finishes. An added benefit of this approach? “The chairs were 30 bucks each!” she says.
See more of this project
2. Bring the Outdoors In
Natural elements such as flowers, plants and seashells infuse a room with a sense of timeless tranquility. Further, “there’s proof that flowers in your home have an effect on your psyche,” Michael says.
The owners of this midcentury bungalow in Oceanside had relocated from Santa Fe, New Mexico, so Michael added a garden window above the kitchen sink and filled it with natural objects reminiscent of the desert town. “There are geodes in there, some really cool bugs and insects under glass, succulents and rocks,” she says. The finishing touch was a kumquat tree on the counter.
See more of this project
Natural elements such as flowers, plants and seashells infuse a room with a sense of timeless tranquility. Further, “there’s proof that flowers in your home have an effect on your psyche,” Michael says.
The owners of this midcentury bungalow in Oceanside had relocated from Santa Fe, New Mexico, so Michael added a garden window above the kitchen sink and filled it with natural objects reminiscent of the desert town. “There are geodes in there, some really cool bugs and insects under glass, succulents and rocks,” she says. The finishing touch was a kumquat tree on the counter.
See more of this project
3. Customize for Your Lifestyle
If you want a timeless look but your space has special constraints, consider custom pieces. When clients came to Michael to overhaul their small, cookie-cutter kitchen — which stood out like a sore thumb in their Tuscan-farmhouse-inspired Santaluz home — she discovered that the retired couple planned to use the space to host gatherings for their large family.
To make the room feel more spacious without breaking ground, Michael designed custom pieces that would make use of the high ceilings and bring the sightline up while adding a vintage-inspired touch. “Every carved-wood feature was conceptualized and hand-drawn in my studio, and then given to my team of local artisans to produce by hand,” she says. “No machinery was used to create these features.”
See more of this project
More: For more information on Leanne Michael and examples of her work, visit Leanne Michael Luxe Lifestyle Design’s Houzz profile.
This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.
If you want a timeless look but your space has special constraints, consider custom pieces. When clients came to Michael to overhaul their small, cookie-cutter kitchen — which stood out like a sore thumb in their Tuscan-farmhouse-inspired Santaluz home — she discovered that the retired couple planned to use the space to host gatherings for their large family.
To make the room feel more spacious without breaking ground, Michael designed custom pieces that would make use of the high ceilings and bring the sightline up while adding a vintage-inspired touch. “Every carved-wood feature was conceptualized and hand-drawn in my studio, and then given to my team of local artisans to produce by hand,” she says. “No machinery was used to create these features.”
See more of this project
More: For more information on Leanne Michael and examples of her work, visit Leanne Michael Luxe Lifestyle Design’s Houzz profile.
This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.
San Diego based Interior Design firm specializing in updating and preserving homes with authentic character!
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Review by Martine Addison:
I consider myself lucky to have found Leanne! I needed to do a design update on my short-term rental in Las Gaviotas, Rosarito, MX, and Leanne was the perfect choice. She has the uncanny talent to wal...More