When Natalie Mizerak and Alyssa McCleary first met at the University of Tennessee, they didn’t picture themselves running a full-service interior design firm in Loudoun County. But more than a decade later, after career pivots, cross-country moves, and a pandemic, the two longtime friends have created a design partnership rooted in trust, instinct, and a shared love for creating warm spaces.
“We didn’t go the traditional route,” Mizerak said. “Neither of us has a degree in interior design: I was in advertising, and Alyssa studied psychology. But that background actually shapes a lot of how we work—understanding people, how they live, and how they want to feel in their space.”
Both women had entrepreneurial energy at home, with husbands who are business owners themselves, so what started as a passion project during COVID slowly turned into something more. “It was just for fun at first, starting slow,” McCleary said. “Then Nat quit her job, and we went all in.”
A Style That Feels Like Home
Lys + Nat Design, based in Leesburg, specializes in layered, lived-in spaces that reflect the personalities of their residents and the region.
“We want people to want to hang out and gather in your space,” McCleary said. “Usually that means adding layers of texture, bringing in warm tones, and bringing out the natural history of the area, with organic materials like stone and wood.”
Loudoun, especially the western part of the county, tends toward a Virginia farmhouse style, they said, with neutral colors, nature-inspired materials and classic finishes. “The area is unique in the sense of there being so many old farmhouses and history and barns, which is what draws people this way. Whether they’re in one of those homes or not, they kind of want the feel of that in western Loudoun,” McCleary said.
Their process is highly personal and heavily informed by McCleary’s psychology background, starting with a deep dive into how the client actually lives.
“We want people to walk into a room and feel like the space is giving them a hug,” Mizerak said. “It’s about what makes you feel good in your home.”
The process starts with a detailed questionnaire to get to know the client, their family and lifestyle, and overall aesthetic. “We ask them how they will use each space, if they like textures on the walls, what kind of metal finishes they like, what images make them feel something, and then we try to understand if it’s because of the light or the rug or just how the space makes them feel,” McCleary said. “A lot of people don’t know what their style is, so we help them figure it out.”
That blend of intuition and structure has become their signature. “So many people say they’re not into modern, then show us all modern photos,” Mizerak said. “It’s about listening and asking the right questions.”
If people are straddling a couple of styles, say modern, mid-century and farmhouse, Mizerak and McCleary work to blend them. “You don’t have to go all in on one direction,” McCleary said. “If you mix it the right way, it works.”
Design Rules (Meant to Be Broken)
Despite their polished portfolio, Mizerak and McCleary are candid about their process of trial and error, gut instinct, and a willingness to break the rules.
“Stop overthinking it,” Mizerak said. “Yes there are rules, but also there are not. In our industry, nobody does anything the same. There’s no rulebook about how to be an interior designer. A picture frame doesn’t have to be hung a certain height; it needs to go where it looks right. It’s a matter of confidence, trusting yourself and your experience.”
They frequently advise clients not to try to decorate the whole house at once. “We suggest rather than doing a huge laundry list of things, start with one thing that will make a huge difference and then go from there. Pick one space, complete it, then move to the next,” she said. “Don’t sprinkle your budget around the whole house because you won’t be happy if it’s not finished.”
In a kitchen, Mizerak said, something as simple as changing the cabinet hardware can make a big difference, as can lighting choices. “Paint is also a big one but can be more costly, as is adding textures to the wall,” she said.
Another piece of advice: Don’t feel like you need to fill all the spaces in your home. “You can be minimalist and still feel cozy with the right layers,” McCleary said. “You don’t need to fill a whole shelf or every wall. People get overwhelmed trying to fill spaces, and they don’t need to.”
And if you’re considering an impactful splurge? Furniture. “A good couch is so important, and good rugs can change a space,” Mizerak said. “The space you’re going to spend the most time in—if those are areas you’re truly living in, it’s OK to splurge a little in those spaces and it needs to be more durable if it’s getting a lot of use.”
They’re not trend chasers, either. “We’ve had older clients tell us, ‘That was trendy when we were your age!’ But we love that,” McCleary said. “Everything comes full circle. And if you genuinely love it, who cares if it’s trendy.”
Local Roots, Lasting Relationships
Their work is deeply tied to the region, from reclaimed wood sourced at Cochran’s Lumber to vintage finds from Lucketts Store. Many of their projects echo the charm of old farmhouses and barns, even if the home is new.
“Western Loudoun has a texture to it,” McCleary said. “Even if you don’t live in a historic home, you can still create that sense of warmth, that connection to the landscape. Of course we love working on old homes and bringing back that original, unique charm; it’s special to us. But something as simple as bringing in unlacquered brass, leather, anything that wears with time can create such a beautiful story just by allowing it to age naturally.”
They often lean in to green and natural colors, “We consider green a neutral,” Mizerak said. “We have many good greens in our pockets. We lean toward warmer colors, browns, and creamy off whites, but we love a good theme too.”
And they’ve found that relationships are everything, both with clients and the craftspeople behind the scenes. “We’ve built a team we trust—cabinetmakers, builders, painters—because we know how they work,” McCleary said. “You’re not just hiring designers. You’re hiring a whole experience. Work with someone who’s easy to have a conversation with, who you’re going to want to spend time with.”
At the heart of their work is one simple belief: A home should reflect the people who live there, not just the latest trend or influencer mood board.
“Influencers have such a large influence, but if it’s not authentic to you you’re not going to be happy with it in two years,” McCleary said. “Trust your gut and your style.”
“We believe in our design and what we can do and the relationships that we’re crafting. We’re not designing for Pinterest,” Mizerak said. “We’re designing for you.”
To learn more about Lys + Nat Design and the services offered, go to https://lysandnat.com/.
“The space you’re going to spend the most time in—if those are areas you’re truly living in, it’s OK to splurge a little in those spaces." —Natalie Mizerak
"You can be minimalist and still feel cozy with the right layers.” —Alyssa McCleary
"Pick one space, complete it, then move to the next." —Natalie Mizerak