This design team of sisters has a presence in the Midwest AND Southern California. Color me biased, but their Chicago roots mean Midwestern magic is elevates beautiful designs by M+M Interior Design. It isn’t just an appreciation for timeless design and classic sensibilities; there is creative intelligence flowing from nature and the four seasons. These seasons are perhaps more integral than fashion seasons on New York catwalks or Rodeo Drive. Casual elegance? Check. Authenticity and reverence for fine art? Yep. Contrived designs and pretense? Unneccessary doncha know.
Photography: Heather Talbert
Timeless Coastal Designs: M+M Interior Design
See more of the poetry and music singing in their work HERE.
Kindness blooms outside the Midwest for sure. But there is an unmistakable down to earth kindness here because of how we rely on each other to cope with extreme weather and harsh seasons.
M + M Interior Design
Here’s what I learned from their portfolio:
“M + M is an award-winning design studio based in both the Midwest and Southern California, with projects from coast to coast.
M + M stands for Martin and Meardon.
Leslie Martin and Kim Meardon are sisters who are passionate about creating homes rooted in traditional design yet feel current and approachable.
With nine children between the two of them, they are always keeping in mind that a home can look incredible and still remain functional.
Leslie and Kim believe every home should tell a story rich with history, layered with meaning, and designed for everyday life.
They create spaces that feel lived-in, loved, and enduring.
Where antiques meet everyday function, and elegant details coexist with the joy (and occasional chaos) of family life.
Named one of Traditional Home’s Rising Stars, and The Expert Top 40, the pair has tackled projects across the nation, resulting in a portfolio that is dynamic and timeless.
Leslie Martin’s La Jolla Home
With bold designs that employ color and pattern with effortless ease, the interiors of M + M Interior Design are best described as beautifully livable.
We explored Leslie Martin’s gorgeous beach cottage in THIS, and I was inspired to create a mood capturing some of that Hamptons meets California chic:
Leslie’s Coastal Home & Kitchen Broke the Internet
When her coastal home appeared on Homeworthy, viewers were beyond enchanted. 1.4 million views and counting!
Leslie’s kitchen is a bit unexpected for a beach cottage. You can’t miss its timeless European-influenced beauty!
Thank goodness she shared with us the name of the paint color for her cabinets. So many followers were clamoring for it!
I noticed plenty of followers were vocal about the impracticality of a stone backsplash. Such rigid thinking if you ask me. Who am I to assume this is a hardworking kitchen with sauces splashing and chicken frying on the range?
We all use our kitchens in a different manner.
Last time I checked there wasn’t one prescribed manner even when one is considering resale value…and interestingly enough, this home recently went on the market and is in escrow now. 🙂
Despite its smaller size, Leslie Martin cleverly transformed this coastal cottage into a haven for a family of seven. She renovatied the house across the miles and infused it with nods to nostalgia, the family’s history, and whimsy. I personally cannot wait to see what she creates next for her family!
Peace to you right where you are.
-michele
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