THE STORY
BEHIND THE PROJECT

Meet Michelle Leonard, an Interior Designer based in Austin, TX, whose design philosophy is shaped by a lifetime of experience across eight states and diverse styles. Having designed homes from coast to coast — and even Hawaii — Michelle draws inspiration from each region's unique aesthetic, crafting spaces that embody livable luxury with timeless charm.

Her signature approach blends soft neutrals, rich textures, and layered details to create refined yet relaxed interiors. Grounded in nature and filled with warmth, her designs prioritize both beauty and comfort. This project reflects her vision: a space that feels inviting, full of character, and effortlessly elegant.

• TWOPAGES –
  Briefly describe your design style & aesthetics.
• MICHELLE LEONARD –
  Prior to moving to Austin, my husband served in the Marine Corps for 30 years. During this time, I designed homes in 8 states from coast to coast and Hawaii. Experiencing the beauty of so many different design styles in so many places has been a continuing source of inspiration for me. These experiences have instilled in me a love for livable luxury and timeless design that is clean and full of character and charm. I love working with soft neutral colors, textures, and layers of detail to create relaxed and refined spaces grounded in nature that feel like home.
  
• TWOPAGES –
  Introduce the design concept & inspiration for this project.
• MICHELLE LEONARD –
  Creating a warm and inviting space in this home was my inspiration. With the large rooms and extra tall ceilings, I wanted to create a space that was clean and full of character and charm. It was important to reflect the personality of the family while keeping their home inviting and warm, with a livable luxury feeling.

• TWOPAGES –
  Showcase and explain Before & After effect of the house.
• MICHELLE LEONARD –
  The heart of this home is the central large space that includes the living room, dining room and kitchen. It was important to create individual spaces within the large room yet keep the space warm and inviting. This room features very tall ceilings and a large wall of windows, with a view of the beautiful pool and backyard, so it was important to highlight this feature without taking away from the view and the overall look of the space. High ceilings can create a lot of blank space that can take away from the warmth of a room. One of the best ways to add warmth to a room with high ceilings is to add long, luxurious window coverings. This helped highlight the high ceilings, as well as create the illusion that the windows are even larger. It also created warmth and character in what used to be blank space.
  
• TWOPAGES –
  How do window treatments function in your home?
• MICHELLE LEONARD –
  I usually add window treatments towards the end of the design because they add the perfect texture, color, and warmth to the design. They are the finishing touch, like the ribbon on a beautiful present, that ties everything together and makes the design complete.