---
title: "STUDIO MB — Interior Designers & Decorators | Houzz"
canonical_html_url: https://www.houzz.com/professionals/interior-designers-and-decorators/studio-mb-pfvwus-pf~1040303048
markdown_url: https://www.houzz.com/md/professionals/pf~1040303048.md
entity_type: LocalBusiness
business_name: "STUDIO MB"
category: ["Interior Designers & Decorators"]
image: https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/bc934cab0f107c3f_6476-w400-h400-b0-p0--.jpg
address: "1211 Grandview Ave, Martinez, California 94553, United States"
latitude: 37.9864
longitude: -122.135
phone: "(925) 989-1477"
website: http://Www.mariabillingsley.com
rating: 5
review_count: 22
best_of_houzz_awards: 5
followers: 222
last_updated: 2026-08-10
---

# STUDIO MB

Original Houzz profile: [STUDIO MB](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/interior-designers-and-decorators/studio-mb-pfvwus-pf~1040303048)

## Professional summary

- **Primary category:** Interior Designers & Decorators
- **Location:** Martinez, CA
- **Serves:** San Jose, San Francisco, Oakland, Sunnyvale, Concord, Richmond, San Ramon, Redwood City, Napa, Pittsburg, Walnut Creek, Palo Alto, Danville, Martinez, Pleasant Hill, Saratoga, Belmont, Benicia, Lafayette, Bay Point, Orinda, Moraga, Alamo, El Sobrante, Piedmont, Clayton, Blackhawk, Pacheco, Diablo, Clyde, Port Costa, Hillsborogh, Marin
- **Houzz rating:** 5.0 out of 5 (22 reviews)
- **Best of Houzz:** 5 awards (2014–2019), for Service.

## About

### Houzz Badges

- Star Houzzer
- 5 Star Houzzer
- Houzz Influencer
- Recommended on Houzz
- 1,000 Ideabook Saves

Maria Billingsley of STUDIO MB is a residential and commercial interior designer in Northern California. Bringing a compelling set of unique design qualities, her contemporary edge coupled with traditional flavor, creates eclectic interiors that reflect the personal spirit of each client. 
In tandem with her skilled team, Maria creates lush livable interiors refined by aesthetic sensibility and meticulous detail.  Pouring her creative talent into her projects, Maria works with a network of talented architects, contractors and artisans to deliver a clean, dynamic and sophisticated aesthetic with sharp attention to architectural detail and design. Maria enjoys collaborating with her clients in all stages of the design process. From ground-up new construction to simple remodels, she takes great pride in delivering a final product that is both timeless and stylish.
 Maria’s work has received regional recognition in several design publications including California Home and Design and Diablo magazines. Her goal is to create magical spaces where a fully customized environment is reached through communication and creativity.

### Services Provided

- Interior Design
- Kitchen Design
- Bathroom Design
- Living Room Design
- Bedroom Design
- Color Consulting
- Space Planning
- Furniture Selection
- Dining Room Design
- Lighting Design
- Entry Design
- Project Management
- Floor Plans
- Custom Blinds & Shades
- Art Selection
- Universal Design
- Drafting
- Kitchen Remodeling
- Home Office Design
- accessories and art selection
- architectural details
- custom window treatment drapery design
- design consultation
- family room design
- furniture layout
- interior decorating

### Areas Served

- San Jose
- San Francisco
- Oakland
- Sunnyvale
- Concord
- Richmond
- San Ramon
- Redwood City
- Napa
- Pittsburg
- Walnut Creek
- Palo Alto
- Danville
- Martinez
- Pleasant Hill
- Saratoga
- Belmont
- Benicia
- Lafayette
- Bay Point
- Orinda
- Moraga
- Alamo
- El Sobrante
- Piedmont
- Clayton
- Blackhawk
- Pacheco
- Diablo
- Clyde
- Port Costa
- Hillsborogh
- Marin

### Typical Job Cost

$500 -

We charge a flat design fee on all our projects and a per hour rate for on-site consultation.

## Business Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Business Name | STUDIO MB |
| Address | 1211 Grandview Ave, Martinez, California 94553, United States |
| Phone | (925) 989-1477 |
| Website | http://Www.mariabillingsley.com |
| License Number | 7284 |
| Followers on Houzz | 222 |

**Social profiles:**
- Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/maria.billingsley
- X (Twitter) — http://twitter.com/figaro2
- LinkedIn — http://www.linkedin.com/pub/maria-billingsley/49/27/26a
- Blog — http://www.mariabillingsley.com

## Contact

- **Houzz profile:** [STUDIO MB](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/interior-designers-and-decorators/studio-mb-pfvwus-pf~1040303048)
- **Website:** http://Www.mariabillingsley.com
- **Phone:** (925) 989-1477

## Credentials

**Certifications & Awards**
- Best of Houzz 2014-2018

- **Best of Houzz:** 5 awards (2014–2019), for Service.

**Affiliations**
- [National Kitchen & Bath Association](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/schools-and-organizations/national-kitchen-and-bath-association-pfvwus-pf~1351084655)
- [ASID California North Chapter](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/schools-and-organizations/asid-california-north-chapter-pfvwus-pf~848111714)

## Reviews

**Overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 — 22 reviews**

### Reviews

**★★★★★ — Jilliana Landucci, June 2018**

> I really enjoyed working with Maria to update the downstairs of our home.  She helped us warm up the entire house just by adding art, shelving, decor, assisting with reupholstering our kitchen chairs, wallpapering our bathroom, painting the cabinets and updating the light fixture, finding a new chandelier for our dining room, and more.  She was very professional and works hard to understand your budget and stay within it, as well as get a feel for your taste.  She has a great eye and it is obvious that interior design is her passion because she is amazing at what she does.  We are so happy with the work Maria did and we plan on using her in the near future to do some updating to the upstairs of our home.  I highly recommend Maria!

**★★★★★ — Ani Westrom, May 2018**

> I really enjoyed working with Maria on our kitchen remodel. She was very professional, easy to work with, and had great ideas for the layout of our new kitchen and great room. She also had great recommendations on where to buy all our materials like flooring, cabinets, countertops, and appliances.

**★★★★★ — M J, April 2018**

> We did two color consulting jobs for us as we were painting the exterior of our house and renovating our home office.   She has a great eye and is very easy to work with.  We will definitely be working with her on future projects.

**★★★★★ — Kesha Patel, Sept. 2017**

> Maria was a dream to work with. She listened to my needs and made sure to accommodate her design recommendations based on what I mentioned. She was willing to go on a few shopping trips with me to find decor and was conscious of my budget, when selecting options. All in all, I had such a great experience and will be scheduling more time with her to design the rest of my home.

**★★★★★ — Brenda Ober, Sept. 2017**

> We used Maria over 19 years ago when we built a large semi-custom home.  All of the design work that she did for that home stood the test of time.  We loved it.  We recently retired and downsized and decided to go with a whole new style while trying to keep some of our special pieces that Maria helped us find 19 years.  She was able to incorporate our older pieces into a very modern look and we are thrilled.  Maria has an amazing eye for colors and putting unique styles together.  She is also extremely pleasant to work with.  She listens to her clients needs and budgets and surprises you with the most wonderful things.  She also handles all levels of design work.  I highly recommend her!

**★★★★★ — Devin Cole, May 2016**

> Maria is a true professional with excellent design skills. She is extremely customer focused and always goes the extra mile for her clients. Maria helped me from the remodel construction phase (architectural design, materials i.e flooring , plaster colors, cabinets, etc.) to set the space up with the right look and feel prior to the interior design furnishings which turned out amazing. Her talent for reading her clients vision and then executing that beyond their expectations is superior. I would recommend Maria to anyone who is looking for that "wow factor".

**★★★★★ — Rick DeGaetano, April 2016**

> Maria did a great job designing my kitchen, being a single guy I needed the help!   The prints that she made my carpenter were accurate and without error.  My kitchen is awesome and everyone that see’s it loves the layout, colors and material choices.  I walk into my kitchen and ask if I’m in the right house!  I couldn’t be happier!

**★★★★★ — biczo, April 2015**

> Maria was able to make my home look really great with a minimal budget. Though my home is a work in progress, Maria has designed an awesome master suite and an open kitchen family room plan that I hope some day to implement. I highly recommend her.

**★★★★★ — jablecher, Feb. 2015**

> I hired Maria for a condo bathroom remodel.  After interviewing several others, I chose her as she was very direct in stating which of my ideas would not work and why, and saved me a disaster if left to my own unartistic ways.  I liked her ideas, found her very professional and easy to work with, not the least of which affordable utilizing a flat fee.  I've been stung in the past with rising hourly fees where the designer has no incentive to stay on budget.  I can highly recommend working with Maria.

**★★★★★ — debbiewick, Feb. 2015**

> I have worked with Maria Billingsly off and on for the past 12 years as I have updated my home.  In 2008, I did a major kitchen/family room/laundry room remodel, including removing a wall and pushing out the windows. Maria did the end-to-end design and she did an amazing job. My new kitchen is absolutely stunning. Working with Maria is so easy. She is creative, energetic and passionate about what she does. She is a true professional in every aspect of her work. She is also very collaborative with both the client, as well as the contractors hired to complete the job. i have also used Maria to do paint selection (both inside the house and outside the house), furniture selection, fabric selection for re-upholstery, and accessory design. I would never hire anyone else!

**★★★★★ — madabba1, Feb. 2014**

> Maria has a great design sense as well as great expertise in picking out just the right furniture, accessories, art and window coverings to bring out the beauty in our home.  We now have art and attractive accessories throughout our home and our living room is gorgeous and very inviting!  We are in the process of working with Maria and contractors to bring her contemporary design for our bonus room to life and we can't wait to see the finished product!  Maria is very easy to work with-- she is always professional, courteous, and timely!  My husband and I look forward to many continued years of working with Maria!

**★★★★★ — carmennokes, Nov. 2013**

> Maria Billingsley interior design expertise is of the highest caliber. Whether a home design project she is undertaking is complicated (new construction/remodel) or on the simplistic side Maria has proven time and time again that she can provide/deliver a harmonious, attractive, creative and fresh outcome to any home project she is hired to do.  She is both positive and enthusiastic in her approach to all interior design project given her by my husband and me from the commencement of a given project to its natural conclusion.
> I found Maria to be knowledgeable, forward thinking, creative, sensible, skillful and refreshing in her approach to all of the interior design projects given to her in the last 25+ years by both my husband and myself.... just as important Maria is honest in her approach when expressing her opinions regarding the direction of any given project she’s involved with yet respectful of her clients sentiments as well (mine and my husbands).
> Maria is a proficient “Interior Designer” with a keen sense (command) of architectural interplay when incorporating furnishing, fabrics, stone, wood, metal, window treatments and or glass materials as she develops her design layouts for a clients home / projects…. in addition Maria is a smooth and patience calibrator when working with more than one client at a time on a given project (which in my view is a highly important attribute that a designer should have) she keeps things moving and composed.
> Whether a home be modern, contemporary, rustic, tuscan , colonial or old world….. Maria has the ability to address each home accordingly, exclusively and efficiently resulting in an over all pleasing, harmonious, well appointed look.
>  With Marias interior design guidance an ordinary home becomes extraordinary….a space once void of expression and color now filled with interest, sophistication, vivacity and beauty.
> Carmen Nokes

## Selected projects

- [Orinda Remodel](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/orinda-remodel-pj-vj~5416628)
  - Location: Orinda, CA
  - Photos: 3
- [Walnut Creek Residence](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/walnut-creek-residence-pj-vj~70747)
  - Location: Walnut Creek, CA
  - Photos: 2
- [LOS GATOS RUSTIC MODERN](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/los-gatos-rustic-modern-pj-vj~5507987)
  - Location: Los Gatos, CA
  - Photos: 5
- [Walnut Creek Rustic Modern](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/walnut-creek-rustic-modern-pj-vj~2951790)
  - Location: Walnut Creek, CA
  - Photos: 2
- [San Francisco Modern](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/san-francisco-modern-pj-vj~2951779)
  - Location: San Francisco, CA
  - Photos: 5
- [Lafayette Mid Century Modern](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/lafayette-mid-century-modern-pj-vj~1172733)
  - Location: Lafayette, CA
  - Photos: 12
- [Infinity Tower San Francisco](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/infinity-tower-san-francisco-pj-vj~1570309)
  - Location: San Francisco, CA
  - Photos: 8
- [New Traditional Alamo Home](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/new-traditional-alamo-home-pj-vj~1525106)
  - Location: Alamo, CA
  - Photos: 2
- [Blackhawk Modern Glam](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/blackhawk-modern-glam-pj-vj~1724297)
  - Location: Danville, CA
  - Photos: 1
- [Millenium Towers San Francisco](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/millenium-towers-san-francisco-pj-vj~58403)
  - Location: San Francisco, CA
  - Photos: 4
- [Marina Del Rey Residence](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/marina-del-rey-residence-pj-vj~1056161)
  - Location: Marina del Rey, CA
  - Photos: 3
- [Sunnyvale Modern Home](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/sunnyvale-modern-home-pj-vj~2774328)
  - Location: Sunnyvale, CA
  - Photos: 5
- [Diablo French Cottage Farmhouse](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/diablo-french-cottage-farmhouse-pj-vj~1052472)
  - Location: Danville, CA
  - Photos: 8
- [Tuscan  Home](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/tuscan-home-pj-vj~29330)
  - Location: Danville, CA
  - Photos: 15
- [Orinda Home](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/orinda-home-pj-vj~1052927)
  - Location: Orinda, CA
  - Photos: 2
- [Pleasanton Home](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/pleasanton-home-pj-vj~1053676)
  - Location: Pleasanton, CA
  - Photos: 3
- [LAFAYETTE VINTAGE FARM HOUSE](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/lafayette-vintage-farm-house-pj-vj~1619784)
  - Location: Lafayette, CA
  - Photos: 4
- [ISLAND PARADISE](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/island-paradise-pj-vj~1052875)
  - Location: Danville, CA
  - Photos: 4
- [Walnut Creek Home](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/walnut-creek-home-pj-vj~133933)
  - Location: Walnut Creek, CA
  - Photos: 5
- [French Chateau Residence](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/french-chateau-residence-pj-vj~60893)
  - Location: Danville, CA
  - Photos: 11

[See all 29 projects](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/interior-designers-and-decorators/studio-mb-pfvwus-pf~1040303048)

## Ideabooks

- [Wish List](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/136265400/list/wish-list) — 1 idea

[See all 1 ideabook](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/users/mariabillingsley)

## Community Q&A

**Q: Focal point for kitchen wall** *(in Home Decorating)*

I’m leaning toward displaying just one piece of artwork/textile to keep the space minimal. Based on the wall’s dimensions, what size artwork would work best for the space? Also, the light bulb is color-changing and is usually set to a warm tone. I switched it to daylight for the photo.

A: 24" x 60"

**Q: Please help with floor tile choice!** *(in Flooring)*

We are completely redoing our powder room and have chosen lunada bay elements quicksilver tile as a floor to ceiling accent wall (vertically placed) behind the toilet the vanity pictured but with a white countertop. Room is windowless and we plan to upgrade to matte black faucet, hardware, and lighting. We’re between a blue-toned slate 12 x 24 porcelain floor tile, a sage-toned porcelain floor tile, a textured-grey floor tile, and a lighter gray smoother floor tile. I’ve posted additional photos in the comments section as houzz only allowed four in the original post. Which do you recommend? Thanks for your input-my indecisive self greatly appreciates it!

A: The glass appears to have a green cast so I would go with the sage.

**Q: Hand railing stain/paint color help!** *(in Home Decorating)*

We just got our stairs redone and have sanded our old railing for a new stain. we replaced the wood balasters with square iron rods and the stairs are vintage pewter oak in color with white backboard.
we have been testing stain after stain and still haven’t found one we are in love with.

anyone have any recommendations? we are at our wits end!

A: Stain for sure! Paint will eventually chip due to high use.

**Q: Bathroom design** *(in Design Dilemma)*

My husband and I are building a new "main" bathroom. It will primarily be for our 2 tween daughters. My husband is a DIY guy and very capable of doing the work himself. I really want a more modern boho or scandinavian vibe in the space. So I want an alcove tub/shower combo with fun tile on the walls. My hubby wants an a 1-piece alcove unit. I think they look cheap and boring although easy clean. He thinks easier than tiling. Is there a way to create the vibe I want with installing what he wants?

A: Yes you are right. It will look like you have down graded your bathroom. Maybe try this angle when speaking with your husband? That being said, if there is no movement make sure you go with white and use a black vintage 
looking shower door with black plumbing fixtures. This will make a bold statment!

**Q: Salmon and Black bathroom tiles** *(in Design Dilemma)*

Would love some advice on how to make this bathroom look better.  Was thinking maybe adding some I Love Lucy photos for the walls...or something that would accompany the retro look.  Any help would be greatly appreciated.

A: Change the valance and shower curtain to white.

**Q: Quartzite Countertops** *(in Remodeling)*

Hey Houzz community!
My boyfriend and I are working on our kitchen in our Philadelphia Row Home and are interested in doing Quartzite countertops. We found quartzite that we absolutely love but can't seem to find it at any other stone yards. The first two images are the same, one being honed and the other being glossy. The store called it Milano Grey. The second is another quartzite we loved called Regal White Quartzite. We loved these and want to commit to them but also would like to do our due diligence and shop around a bit. Have gone to a couple distributors and haven't seen anything like these, can't even find them online. We find ones that are very similar but not quite these. Could there be another name for this quartzite?
Looking for some advice!
Thank you,
Deanna

A: Quartzite is unique and God made where as quartz is man made and you can find it in abundance. . So you will not find these slabs anywhere else.

---

*Source: Houzz professional profile. Reflects the profile as of 2026-08-10.*