Ask away.

Whole-home and condo renovations, where I rework the interior so it flows better. I love space planning and interior architecture. I love historic homes too, and I work to preserve the architectural style so the inside matches the outside. I also design kitchens, baths, custom built-ins and new construction. Furniture, down to the small details, is included.

Me. I’ve been doing this for 28 years, and I founded MJ Designs in 2004. I’m a design graduate of the University of Florida’s College of Architecture and an Allied Member of ASID. I interview you, develop the design, present it on Final Presentation Day and do the site visits myself.

Warm minimalism. Expressive, not excessive. My one word for it is balance. I often start a room from your art and pair bold wall color with striking art. I design for each home’s architecture, from 1920s bungalows to downtown condos. St. Pete Life called it Beyond Coastal. The seashells can stay at the beach.

In St. Petersburg: Old Northeast, Snell Isle, Venetian Isles, Downtown St. Pete, Shore Acres and Crescent Lake. At the beaches: St. Pete Beach, Pass-a-Grille and Tierra Verde. Across the bay in Tampa: South Tampa, Hyde Park and Parkland Estates. Home base is my office, centrally located in St. Petersburg.

Fill out the inquiry form and tell me as much as you like. My assistant reaches out first. If it sounds like a good fit, I call you to follow up. Then we meet at my office, centrally located in St. Petersburg. Not a form person? Call 727-688-0652 or email michelle@mjdesignsflorida.com.

It’s easier than you think. You’ll have fun! I get to know you, we measure, and we review inspiration together. I take the design halfway, we check in, then we go on field trips to suppliers. Final Presentation Day. Contractor bids. Site visits. Delivery. Photos. Then champagne. Trust the process.

Yes. Renovations and furnishings have a 3-room minimum. Kitchen renovations start at $150K. Furnishings start at $30K per room. New construction starts at $1M, not including the lot. Better to know now than after we’ve both fallen for a tile.

Yes. Once the design package is final, I send it to general contractors to bid. During construction, I do site visits and answer the contractor’s questions. As one downtown client put it, I “drove the job.”

Yes. I lay out a systematic plan through flooring, tile, plumbing fixtures and lighting, and we visit the plumbing, countertop and cabinetry suppliers together. Think navy shaker cabinets in Bayshore, a reeded walnut island downtown, and a new kitchen plus two new baths at the Gulf Beaches Condo.

I present the furniture options, then handle ordering, tracking, receiving and returns. All the furniture arrives on one day, under my direction. Rugs and lighting go in, the art is hung and accessories are hand placed. When you come home, the candles are lit.

Happily. Art often starts the project. I pair bold wall color with striking art and design built-ins around collections. The Gulf Beaches Condo was designed to showcase a partner’s artwork. Starting from scratch? I work with local galleries. For one downtown condo, we created a gallery wall of Gulf Coast artists with Lisa Lippincott at Soft Water Gallery.

Yes. I’m a third-generation St. Petersburg resident, so ask me about the historic neighborhoods, restaurants, boutiques, museums and schools. Planning from afar? My systematic approach and regular status updates mean less travel to the job site.