Designer Spotlight: The Inspired Designs of Michele Berrol Interiors

Photo Courtesy: Michele Berrol Interiors

This month, we sat down with Michele Berrol of Michele Berrol Interiors for a delightful conversation about her journey to interior design and where she finds her creative inspiration. Spoiler alert: Here’s the dish: Food stylings!

Get ready to be motivated as Michele shares her top design picks for 2023, along with simple tips to refresh your home for spring.

Casual elegance shines through so perfectly in your designs. How did you get started in the interior design industry?

It was a pretty organic process. For as long as I can remember, I’ve always had a passion for interior design, but purchasing my home 12 years ago served as the real catalyst that pushed me to express my own vision and allowed me to explore design in a more meaningful and personal way. Family and friends would then ask me to help them design or add finishes to their homes. It wasn’t until 2018 (about five years ago), when my husband and I decided to open up a restaurant—which I clearly wanted to design—that I felt the scope of the work exceeded my knowledge and experience. It was at that point I decided to go back to school for interior design at the Metropolitan Institute of Interior Design and take my passion and hobby to a professional level.

We love your use of neutrals with a pop of color. What are your favorite patterns or textures that you’ll be using in 2023?

It is all about texture and creating warm layers throughout the space in 2023. Neutrals have always had a strong impact on my design, and I have found that carefully integrating pops of color can help make a space cohesive—especially if using existing furnishings or helping to tie in other elements of the home. I am loving the use of chunky knit wool rugs, boucles, alpacas, plaster and limewash. These are heavily strong elements you can see throughout all my designs.

Photo Courtesy: Michele Berrol Interiors
With spring around the corner, is there one room or space that you recommend focusing on first?

I always advise my clients to start with the rooms that get the most use. Kitchens and family rooms are often the heart of the home. I think it is super important to focus on these heavily utilized spaces first. I also suggest that—when dealing with a budget—to pick a room and complete it in its entirety. It will be more impactful when a space is completely done then having a bunch of rooms half-done.

Photo Courtesy: Michele Berrol Interiors
What do you consider must-haves when it comes to designing an outdoor living space?

Outdoor spaces must have ample seating! I love to create outdoor spaces that are inviting, have layers, and create an entertaining environment. I really love the use of daybeds or oversize loungers when creating these types of spaces. Another must-have is landscaping and planters. It’s those finishing touches that really make an outdoor space feel thoughtful and complete.

What are your top three design tips for someone who’s thinking about a home refresh?
  1.  Paint is huge and can transform a space completely. Think neutral, light, and bright when choosing a color to update your home. Changing your kitchen island color or repainting all the molding, doors, and trims to a pure clean white can instantly update any home.
  2. Styling and accessories are also another great way to update and refresh. Empty out those bookcases and built-ins and add some fresh new decorative pieces, books, and picture frames. Also, new pillows and throws can make a dull, overused anchor piece look like new!
  3. Lastly, switching out your lighting can offer a new revamp. Lighting can really date a space. Switching out old cans with LEDs—along with old lighting fixtures with more current fixtures—will give you an instant update.
Photo Courtesy: Michele Berrol Interiors
Photo Courtesy: Michele Berrol Interiors
Do you have a signature touch that you use in every project?

In almost every single one of my recent kitchen designs you can find a plaster hood. I love adding texture and warmth and plaster, because it seamlessly achieves both of these objectives. The ability to make the hood a focal point in the design is a signature look I am really proud of. I think it offers that earthy, organic look that many of my clients are striving to achieve.

Photo Courtesy: Michele Berrol Interiors
Every room in the house must be fun to design. What room is your favorite?

My favorite rooms to design happen to be children’s bedrooms. It is a place for me to be daring, use color, fun wallpapers, and create a whimsical space for my little clients. I love to create a space for them to grow into and be proud of.

Where do you look for design inspiration?

I find design inspiration in so many places. My peers, traveling, and Instagram are probably the most common places I see inspiration daily. Trips to New York City, dining in restaurants, and visiting Woodstock, NY also consistently offer me new and fun inspirations. I have recently gleaned design cues from some amazing dining experiences—and not just from the spaces themselves. The way food is cooked, paired, and plated showcases color, textures, and placement that can evoke emotion in ways very similar to interior design. It’s amazing how food and design are so interconnected. (Also, my nine-year-old daughter, Bella, keeps me in the know!)

We hope you enjoyed our conversation with Michele Berrol. Whether it might inspire you to refresh your favorite space with new pops of color or update your outdoor space for the ultimate entertaining experience, Country Carpet is here to help you design the room of your dreams. We invite you to visit our showroom to explore the room of your dreams. You can schedule an appointment with us. And walk-ins are always welcome. We look forward to seeing you!

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