Michael Merrill Design Studio, Inc

Bidding on their design services at a fundraiser was the smartest thing that I ever did. Michael and his staff have made my ‘ho hum’ rooms sparkle. I was tired of the look and needed some ideas and help to upgrade it, but on a lean budget. With the addition of a few strategic furniture pieces and removal of some unused clutter, it began to get brighter. Re-matting some artwork and changing the arrangement gave the eyes something new on which to focus. I receive many compliments on everything. Recently, I noticed that a neighbor had changed their art arrangement to resemble mine. As Oscar Wilde said, “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, …”. There are still many things to do and will be done with Michael Merrill Design Studio, but in my own sweet time.

I had been contemplating a kitchen remodel for many years but was uncertain as how to find a compatible designer. Ultimately a furniture designer / fabricator friend recommended Michael Merrill. After viewing Michael’s portfolio I knew that he was the designer I wanted to work with to update my mid-century kitchen. I was so impressed with his modern, refined and elegant designs. Michael and I immediately established a comfortable, direct and enjoyable working rapport. He and his staff are knowledgeable, accomplished and professional. My basic parameters for the project were to retain the kitchen footprint and also provide as much counter and storage space as possible. These posed some challenges, but Michael and staff were creative in finding solutions and even at times suggesting several options. And Michael always honored my final decisions. My kitchen now appears to be larger than its predecessor, is flooded with light and is representative of the best in modern design. My friends are amazed at the transformation. I am so pleased with the result, and when I view the “before and after photos” I wonder how I lived and worked for so many years in a dark, outdated kitchen. Kudos to Michael and his staff. The kitchen project was so successful that Michael and I are now updating my living room. I realize, particularly for this project, that Michael has the capacity to understand the sensibilities of the client when selecting styles and materials. The choices are always high quality although not the most expensive. He has an amazingly wide knowledge of products and resources.

Our general construction company worked with MMDS on a remodel of an existing residence. Michael's drawings were extremely detailed and clear which allowed us to accurately estimate the project - this is extremely important to a contractor and adds exceptional value from a client's perspective. During the construction process, Michael and his team were always available to answer any questions or provide details when necessary. Their selections of materials and hardware were exceptional and resulted in a beautiful finished product. Michael also happens to have a great sense of humor which made his site visits quite enjoyable.

Michael was instrumental in turning my 1979 kitchen into a modern space that you would find in a kitchen design magazine. The challenge I had was incorporating a load bearing wall that separated my old small kitchen from my dining area of a 3rd story home and re-configuring it into a space to meet the needs of our large active family. Michael is a wizard at designing plans that incorporate your desires by utilizing the right lighting, colors,materials and fixtures. His expertise was invaluable. You pay some bucks for his service but your kitchen is the space in your home that everyone gravitates to and it needs to function efficiently. I waited 25 years to do this project and I wanted to do it right without any regrets. I appreciated his detail to measurements, understanding of construction and ability to communicate with your contractor to make sure you are all are on the same page. With all of the decisions of a new kitchen, Michael kept the schedule moving and was able to anticipate the future decisions so there was little lag time. If you have a challenging space, or even your basic rectangular space, Michael is the designer to maximize your dreams.

I found Michael on Houzz while searching for design ideas to transform our condo (which had previously been a rental property) into our new full-time home. We had been dreaming about this move for years and wanted to design a contemporary space in keeping with the look and feel of the building and city which we now called home. After looking through Michael's portfolio, I fell in love with the simplicity and elegance of his designs and knew he'd be the perfect choice. I was not disappointed. Over a six month period, Michael transformed our home into a beautiful space that reflects both my husband and my style. Michael's network of contractors and suppliers were extremely professional and treated our home as if it were their own. Even though we went over our original budget, it was worth it given the quality of work and materials, what we learned in the process and the increased value of our property as a result of this project.

We had an outdated house that we wanted to modernize on a budget. Michael was extremely responsive from our first encounter through the conclusion of the project. To accommodate our budget, Michael provided design recommendations on site, and in his studio, while I sourced and managed the contractors directly. Michael was great helping us prioritize what elements would give us the biggest bang for the buck, starting with wood floor refinishing, kitchen floor tile, and wall color. He also provided recommendations for a beautiful fitted area bedroom rug, and possibilities for lighting, ceiling fan, and some textiles. We weren't able to implement every recommendation, but really appreciated the foundation and guidance Michael gave us, and we feel we can update incrementally moving forward with confidence.

I won a consultation with Michael Merrill from my daughter's school auction, so Michael did not get paid for his work - and you'd never know! He came to my home, where the kitchen is currently being renovated, and went room by room to offer beautiful and useful suggestions and ideas, carefully considering my style and what we are trying to accomplish with this renovation. I was completely overwhelmed with the many ideas, and how this project grew by the minute (!) but at the same time, I was relieved that I knew what needed to be done, and when. Overall, he saw things that I could do with my very tiny space that I could never imagine. And while I may not be able to do everything he suggested right away, I'll have a game plan for when I'm ready. He's super friendly, personable, and easy to work with. We had a lot of fun in our short time together and I hope we have the chance to work together again. I'd highly recommend Michael and his beautiful eye for design!

I had small budget for my SF Condo. I browsed online and found Michael Merrill Design Studio and immediately loved his work. I contacted his studio and he willingly took my small project and work hard to make my home nice. I was happy with the result. dr

I'm currently working with Michael to bring my 1972 townhouse into this decade. I have loved the design options he has come up with, he completely understands my taste. We start construction in January, so more review to come!

There is a saying, " When a door closes, a window opens." This is usually used after a breakup in a relationship or a loss of something in life. But I thought of this after meeting Interior Design Michael Merrill. Michael donates free consultation and service to many organizations doing fundraisers. I won a 2 hour free consultation for a condo remodel in San Francisco. Michael was on time, polite and pleasant! He did a walk through and said the condo needed a lot of work and would cost a lot of money to hire both a designer and contractor. He asked if we thought about selling since the market was hot now. I told him yes. He referred me to John Fox of North Bay Construction in SF and Steve Wille and his partner Marie Randall of Coldwell Banker in SF. I fell in business love with all of them and hired John Fox and decided to work with Steve and Marie when the time came to sell. No 3 bids needed here as these three people turned out to be awesome!! I designed the whole condo myself and worked with John Fox and the realtors who guided me every step. I learned a lot and had fun with the design and management of the project, and a " window opened." I found I had a talent so I have been looking into interior design schools in SF to persue an education in this field. So the door closed with working with Michael Merrill but a window opened for me for a second career, and a working relationship and friendship with all four professionals: Michael, ( who has been an inspiration and huge support for me) John Fox who is a great contractor and a kind person, Steve Wille a down to earth guy who knows the SF real estate market and his business partner Marie Randall a lovely woman who adds that touch of design support and market knowledge. I thank Michael Merrill for his recommendations, referrals, and continued guidance and friendship and would recommend him without reservation for your design needs!! Rose Rose

I have worked with Michael Merrill Design Studio on this and many other projects. I find Mr. Merrill and his team extremely knowledgeable with an astute design sensibility his customers expect. He is excellent sourcing a mixture of products that are well made and designed to create a unique environment. Business to business, Micheal Merrill Design Studio is a pleasure to partner with. The team is organize, decisive and thorough.

Michael Merrill is an excellent interior designer. We worked harmoniously together on a classic Piedmont, CA residence from the 1920s. He has a refined, quiet sensibility resulting in calm and sophisticated environments. He pays meticulous attention to detail and has a wide breadth of product knowledge. His office is very professional with a well-trained and devoted staff. While I was serving on the ASID Board of Directors I encouraged Michael to become a board member, which he did. His position was Communications Director. He dramatically improved our quarterly magazine, which resulted in greater membership chapter participation. One has only to look at his portfolio to be impressed with his body of work.