Interior designer, MICHELLE LINN, started her namesake company, Michelle Linn Design Co., in 2005 after attending Harrington Design institute in Chicago. While studying, she honed her talents at the Merchandise Mart, designing a showroom for five years which allowed her to not only perfect the art of design, but also learn how the industry works.

Where do you draw inspiration?

To me, really good design showcases two essential skills—knowing how to mix and knowing when to edit. I am absolutely inspired by designers who can pair the old and the new, the rustic and the clean, in a way that feels inventive and fresh. It’s the ability to pull a room together in a way that is both completely unexpected and yet absolutely perfect, as if it could not possibly be done better any other way. That’s the mix. But then, there’s knowing when to scale back just a touch, to highlight the beauty that exists in simplicity. When you can do that effectively, you give the truly special pieces in a space the room to shine. That’s the edit. The brilliant design that inspires me from greats like Rose Uniacke and John Saladino shows a mastery of these two skills.

What is your fashion style?

There is nothing a beautiful, well-tailored blazer can’t fix.

How do you impact your clients?

The impact I strive to have on my clients’ lives is joy, comfort, and beauty. To have your space— whether it’s your home or your place of business— be functional, comfortable, and beautiful brings a sense of calm. When I achieve these goals for a family, it’s a huge sense of accomplishment.

For more information, visit michellelinndesign.com.