Interior Motives
Studio MRS Edition!
Hello, hello! We’re back for another fashion-inspired-by-interiors post! Today we’ll be taking a look at Studio MRS, which is led by designer Michelle Smith. If your instagram algorithm is anything like mine, that name might sound familiar due to a recent collaboration with the the company, Nordic Knots. Or maybe her name is familiar because of her incredible portfolio of work, and equally impressive press - for example, gracing the cover of Elle Decor. Or maybe her blue shoe closet is burned into your brain (if so, are you me?).
To recap why I’m drawn to this subject:
I have worked on the sales side of interiors for 13 years now, and I’ve had the honor of working with incredible design firms here in NYC. I’ve absorbed so much from my clients and projects over the years, so I can’t help but think my exposure has informed my sensibilities when shopping and getting dressed.
If you’re curious to know more about her approach to design, this interview with 1st Dibs is a great read. The condensed version is that Michelle moved to NY to attend law school, and ended up transitioning to decorating after her own apartment began garnering attention from friends and colleagues. She worked at a firm to gain experience, and then branched out on her own in 2011 after securing a project for a childhood friend.
And if you need proof that Michelle is the perfect example of the bridge between interiors and fashion-
Ok! Just like last time, I will share five favorite rooms and then pull together an outfit based on each design. Let’s get to it!
12th Street
The only information I could find about this project is that it’s Simon Huck’s1 apartment in the West Village. But really, what more do you need to know? Ha!
I started this outfit out with the blue tote- it’s from Pietro, a brand that manufactures in NYC, and their price points are fantastic. Just saying! Finding the perfect kelly green something to match to the chair was the hardest part of this exercise, but I finally found this great Khaite belt secondhand - someone should snag it! I wanted earrings that captured the green effect of the glass side table in the first image and these actual glass earrings from Keane achieved that perfectly. And if you’ve been here awhile, you know I am a big fan of Madewell shoes, so I went to their site first and grabbed these ones- I really love a slingback pump with barrel leg jeans. I own this same CoH style in a darker wash, and can confirm they’re excellent and very comfortable. This cashmere cardigan from Doen provided the right amount of contrast, and this coat from Rue Sophie brings in ease and warmth. It felt a little unfinished, so I added a necklace from AGMES and then everything clicked into place.
And just for fun, a photo of the dining room featuring these stunning Studio Valle de Valle chairs.
New Orleans
This is Michelle’s home in New Orleans’s Garden District. The Greek Revival style home, built in 1865, was minimally renovated by Michelle - including moving a few walls, re-doing the bathrooms, and transforming the original study into one of the coolest kitchens I’ve ever seen (don’t worry, I included an image below).
Thank goodness this insanely cool Sea top is still around, because it was the first thing that came to mind when I began thinking of how to translate this room to an outfit. It mimics the light fixture so well! You can’t tell from the first photo, but that striped sofa, which is upholstered in a Loro Piana fabric, is nine feet long. This prompted me to go on the hunt for striped pants, and these by Andres Otalora very much fit the bill. The St. Agni trench is now seriously on my radar/wishlist for Spring, which is a hazard of writing this series. But I love that the top and jacket are the same color, bringing interest in through texture and materiality only. Accessorizing this one was very fun - the earrings from Chan Luu are so perfectly vintage-inspired while also being clean and minimal. I wanted blue as a nod to the wallpaper, which was original to the house. I think these Sophie Buhai pouches are so chic, so I picked this color to pull in the ochre from the art on the back wall. Black A.Emery heels to ground the look, and a ring from the new Jamie Haller jewelry assortment to round it out.
I couldn’t resist sneaking in an image of the powder room - how cool is this tile?
