Michelle Leonard is a heartful, intentional, and talented interior designer, mom of two, and military wife. It’s her life’s calling to create spaces in your home you never want to leave.
Her love for design, art, and beauty began when she was a little girl growing up in Virginia. She constantly redesigned and organized her bedroom, swapping colors and rearranging. After graduating from college with her degree in education, Leonard met and married her husband, who has served in the Marine Corps for all of their 30-plus years of marriage.
Even as a teacher, Leonard naturally gravitated toward design, spending hours rearranging and designing her classrooms. Once her children were school-age, she went back to school herself to study interior design.
Leonard encourages other moms to chase their dreams. “You’re your children’s role model. Let them see you taking a chance on yourself,” she says. “Your kids will be proud of you, what you accomplish, and your determination to always make it work. It may require going at a slower pace, but that’s a great excuse to involve your children in your passion.”
In the three decades her husband was in the military, Leonard and her family moved 23 times, from Rhode Island to California to Hawaii and everywhere in between. Even so, she took time to paint the walls and invest in the space of each home they lived in.
Dripping Springs has quickly become home for Leonard and her family. “I love the community feeling and close bond in Dripping,” she shares. “I feel like this is becoming increasingly rare to find in today’s world. Everyone feels like family. Dripping appreciates art, is friendly and welcoming.”
What impact does your space have on your family?
Recalling that military base housing can feel uninspiring, Leonard says, “I always wanted to create a space that feels like home for my kids and husband. When military families move, they have to leave everything they know behind, not knowing anyone or anything in a new location. I wanted my family to feel warm and safe, so I always took the time to design our new home, even if we were only living there for eight months.”
During times when we crave connection, a space that you love will also inspire you to bring people in and create community. “You spend the majority of your time in your home—you should be proud of it,” she explains.
While our busy, distracted culture can be overwhelming, your home can be a refuge. “A beautiful warm home can be a place to detox, calm your spirit, and soothe your body as you prepare for everything life throws at you,” Leonard says.
Tips for Your Space
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Paint the walls. “Painting your walls is an easy way to elevate any space. When you are choosing a color, stick to the first or second-lightest colors on the swatch,” she explains, as intense colors can overpower your space.
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Work in threes. “As an interior designer, I tend to work in threes and odd numbers as I add design elements, mimicking nature.”
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Utilize textures. “Use pillows to add warmth, color, and dimension. If you are working with smooth chrome, add something fuzzy. Varying contrasting textures is a subtle way to elevate your home.”
What’s it like to work with Leonard?
For her home, Leonard is drawn to the warmer feeling of the beach, which she loves, and the mountains, her husband’s favorite. She enjoys helping her clients weave their story into the design. “It’s very important to incorporate your style, finding it together, and bringing it into your home,” she says. Leonard calls this “livable luxury”: beautiful, comfortable, warm, practical, and functional.
Your home reflects you as a person. “I love getting to know you, your persona, learning your story, seeing your current space, and creating themes and designs that are you,” Leonard shares. “My favorite part is hearing your vision and creating beauty with fabrics, colors, and textures.”
Leonard offers full-service interior design, design days, do-it-yourself consultations, and more. It all starts with an inquiry where she’ll meet with you, research, create a plan for approval, order furniture, implement, and set up. She also does consultations for smaller projects and commercial design, including renovations and construction guidance.
Leonard brings a fresh eye so you can enjoy the process of creating a space you adore. She also has a gift for providing organization hacks to families, understanding the need for beautiful, clean, and functional organization.
Your home is likely your largest investment. Leonard asks, “Why would you not want to make it beautiful and love it?” Create and invest in a space you can’t wait to come home to.
MLeonardDesign.com
A space that you love will inspire you to bring people in and create community.