Michelle Waugh is the principal designer and visionary behind Michelle Waugh Interiors, where design transcends the ordinary and becomes an experience. Her career began at LVMH, where she honed her craft under Christian Dior, immersing herself in the refined world of luxury fashion. This foundation shaped her innate understanding of elegance, sophistication, and the power of visual storytelling. Driven by an entrepreneurial spirit, Michelle then launched her own fashion label based in New York, captivating a discerning clientele and securing placements in iconic retailers such as Saks Fifth Avenue, Moda Operandi, GOOP, & Matches Fashion. Her designs have been worn by Michelle Obama, Drew Barrymore, Bella Hadid, and Emily Blunt, among others. The shift from fashion to interiors was a natural evolution — a seamless transition that allowed Michelle to channel her refined aesthetic into the spaces where people live and create. Now, she curates and designs beautiful spaces for clients, blending timeless elegance with a contemporary sensibility. Meet Michelle Waugh and her fashion-informed approach to interiors in today’s Designer Friday.
In this dining room, a near-monochromatic palette lets the sculptural table, bouclé seating, and warm brass-lined pendants take on a quietly dramatic presence.
Andrew Joseph: Can you tell us about a design trend you are excited about?
Michelle Waugh: I’m particularly excited about the return to warm, sculptural minimalism. Spaces that are pared back but richly layered through materiality. We’re seeing a renewed focus on plaster walls, limewash finishes, honed stone, and natural/darker woods with visible grain, paired with vintage or one-of-a-kind furniture that introduces soul and imperfection. It’s less about following a look and more about creating depth through texture, proportion, and craftsmanship. These interiors feel calm yet expressive, and they age beautifully, which, to me, is the most important trend of all.
AJ: Can you describe your design philosophy in three words?
MW: Thoughtful. Timeless. Intentional.
In this family room, rounded ottomans and an oval coffee table soften the room’s rectangular architecture and support a more conversational layout.
AJ: What design trends do you think will be popular in the coming years?
MW: I believe we’ll continue to move away from overly polished, trend-driven interiors and toward spaces that feel soulful, grounded, and deeply human. As we live more of our lives in an increasingly digital and AI-driven world, there’s a growing desire to return to what feels real and tactile. Homes that tell a story through layered vintage pieces, artisanal objects, and materials that carry warmth and history. Imperfection will be embraced, such as hand-finished surfaces, irregular forms, and pieces that show the mark of the maker. Interiors will feel more collected over time rather than designed all at once. In contrast to the speed and uniformity of technology, these spaces offer something slower, more meaningful, and ultimately more enduring.
AJ: How do you stay creative and inspired?
MW: I stay creative by remaining deeply curious and connected to the world outside of design. Travel, art, fashion, architecture, and small everyday moments all inform my work. I’m inspired by materials, proportion, and craftsmanship, and catch myself often finding ideas in unexpected places. I also value slowing down and giving myself room to observe, edit, and reflect. I’m trying to be better at this. Creativity, for me, comes from living fully and translating those experiences into spaces. I try to make everyday things around me feel like an occasion because it trains you to see meaning in the ordinary, which I believe is at the heart of creativity and good design.
Dark sconces punctuate the pale envelope of the powder room, framing the sculptural mirror while adding just enough graphic contrast.
AJ: What is your favorite thing about being a designer?
MW: My favorite part of being a designer is the ability to shape how people feel in their everyday lives. Design has the power to bring comfort, calm, and beauty into the most ordinary moments, and I find that incredibly meaningful. I love translating a client’s story into a space that feels both deeply personal and effortlessly functional and a space that evolves with them over time. There’s something incredibly rewarding about creating environments that support connection, creativity, and a sense of home. I remember going to sleep one night and thinking about a dining room that we had just completed. I remember picturing the family in the space for all the celebratory moments to come. That truly feeds my soul.
AJ: What is the most important skill for a successful designer?
MW: The most important skill for a successful designer is the ability to listen, and I mean truly listen. Understanding how a client lives, what they value, and how they want to feel in their space is essential. From there, it’s about translating those insights into thoughtful, cohesive design decisions with clarity and intention. Technical skill and a strong point of view matter, but empathy, discernment, and the ability to edit are what ultimately create spaces that feel personal, functional, and enduring.
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