Living by Design with Michele Lee

Welcome to “Living by Design,” a series of insightful interviews with experts in the interiors industry inviting us to learn more about their journeys, styles, and inspirations. Through intimate questions, these visionaries share their insights, challenges, and triumphs, offering readers a glimpse into the artistry and thoughtfulness that shapes their work.

Join us as we discover the stories that define the essence of living by design.

Michele Lee is an interior stylist, artist, and creative founder collaborating with interior designers to bring a curated, warm, and lived-in aesthetic to their finished projects in and around Listowel, Ontario.

Her path to interior styling has been anything but conventional. From running a women’s clothing boutique to working as a visual merchandising director in Toronto, Michele’s eye for beauty and composition has been sharpened over decades. Now, styling interiors and creating original art, she’ll tell you she couldn’t be happier.

Shaped by an artist father, a decor-loving mother, and years spent in the world of fashion, Michele brings a deeply personal and layered approach to everything she touches. If you’re a subscriber to Duelle Made’s Design Digest you may have recently read a mention of her monthly snail mail subscription. You’re going to love getting to know her.

Left side: A woman with long brown hair sits barefoot on a textured cream-colored chair in a bright artist's studio. She wears a beige button-down shirt and blue jeans, holding a paintbrush and looking thoughtfully to the side. In the background, a large earthy, bronze-toned abstract painting rests against the wall under a sloped ceiling, next to a table filled with paintbrushes.

Right side: A large, unframed abstract painting with soft, textured shades of brown, beige, and muted pink rests on a canvas drop cloth against a white wall. A small glass jar holding a few paintbrushes sits in the lower right corner.

A wide shot of a spacious, elegant kitchen with warm-grey traditional cabinetry and a large central island topped with white marble. Four dark wood counter stools with cream-cushioned seats are lined up at the island. The island is decorated with a tall black ceramic vase holding winter evergreens and amaryllis flowers, a wooden bowl of pears, and two tall brass candlesticks with lit dark taper candles. Above the island hang two cone-shaped dark bronze pendant lights, and a classic gooseneck faucet sits by a small white prep sink. The top of a neutral linen sofa is visible in the immediate foreground, framing the view into the kitchen. — Interior Design: LC&Co Interior Design / Interior Photography: Anthology M arketing

Design Journey & Style

1. How would you describe your design style in three words or less?

I think I would describe my design style as curated, warm & lived in.

2. Where is home for you? What do you love most about it?

We had lived in Guelph for quite a few years but three years ago we decided we wanted a change and moved to Listowel. Being closer to our families was our biggest motivation to move this way. I think what I love most about our home is that we are slowly making it our own with small renovations, little changes, and making it feel like a home we love.

3. What past experiences have shaped your style?

I have quite a few things that have shaped my style. Growing up with my mom who was interested in decor, and as kids, we were always helping her move furniture around the house, until things looked like they were in the right spot. Our dad was an artist and a photographer, so again, I think their creativity helped influence my style. I also had a women’s clothing boutique and worked in fashion for years before that. Now I’m styling interiors, creating art, and I couldn’t be happier. Definitely all those experiences have made me who I am.

Interior Design: Jaclyn Becker Interior Design / Interior Photography: Peach Media

4. What led you on the path of starting your own business?

Oh I think it started a long time ago when I was a little girl selling sweet corn outside our house on the side of the road, pulling together garage sales, and selling hand painted t-shirts. That entrepreneurial spirit…it’s just in my bones.

Later on as an adult, I was working in Toronto as a visual merchandising director, and I felt I needed to try something on my own. That’s when I really took the leap and started my own boutique. One more redirection, and now I’m on this path of art and interior styling. I love how it all unfolds, and I evolve as my businesses do.

5. When it comes to your work, what brings you the most contentment and fulfillment?

The most contentment I get with my work is when I’m sourcing amazing pieces, creating art, and then bringing all those pieces and styling them into their homes. Seeing it all come together, enhancing the space, and the end result seeing the client so happy with their home. That all feels pretty magical.

Left side: A minimalist living room with a curved bouclé sofa and a wooden coffee table displaying white tulips in a glass vase and art books. A large, moody, dark brown abstract painting hangs on the white wall above the sofa, next to two smaller framed pieces, near a large arched window.

Right side: A close-up of a modern kitchen counter made of grey-veined marble. A wooden cutting board and a white bowl filled with pears sit on the counter. A marble shelf above holds small ceramic bowls, glasses, and a small framed landscape print resting against the wall beneath a round, minimalist wall sconce.

Left side: A moody kitchen still life on a white marble countertop. On the left, a large matte black ceramic jar holds wooden cooking utensils. Next to it sits a small, dark-framed landscape painting, a beige ceramic dish with a head of garlic, and a small mustard-yellow textured vase.

Right side: A minimalist bathroom vanity featuring a rectangular sink carved from heavily veined grey and white marble. A curved gold faucet is mounted to the beige tongue-and-groove paneled wall beneath an oval brass-rimmed mirror. Flanking the mirror are two black wall sconces with woven rattan shades, and a small vase of white tulips sits on the wooden vanity. — Interior Design: LC&Co Interior Design

“Seeing it all come together, enhancing the space, and the end result seeing the client so happy with their home. That all feels pretty magical.“

Left side: An elegantly set wooden dining table in a bright room, featuring ceramic plates, linen napkins, wine glasses, and a fresh loaf of artisan bread. A large, dark ceramic vase filled with delicate, wispy branches sits in the center of the table beneath a modern black sculptural light fixture.

Right side: A light wood console table decorated with a large, rustic cream-colored ceramic urn holding deep burgundy leafy branches. A dark abstract painting rests on the table behind a small stack of books, and two round, textured white bouclé stools are tucked neatly underneath. — Interior Design: Index Design Studio

6. Could you share your top 3 sources for inspiration?

I love feeling inspired and inspiring others. Top of my list would be art books, nature, and of course Pinterest & Instagram are my main go-tos for lighting up my imagination.

7. What elements do you believe every thoughtfully designed home must possess?

One main element for me would be natural light. I love when a home has great lighting. Original art always has a place in my heart to make a home a little more special. Oh and I definitely think textures & layering just create warmth and a lived-in look, which make a home just feel like home.

8. What’s the best interior design advice you’ve ever received?

I’m not sure if I got this advice or just realized it for myself, but I think there is always so much pressure to get everything done and decorated all at once. What I’ve found is good things take time and sometimes living in the space and slowly adding and curating what you really truly love stands the test of time. When you are tired of something…sometimes it just needs to be moved into a different room to give it a different life. That’s just my take on it.

9. And the best business advice you’ve ever received?

Short and sweet, just follow your instinct.

10. What’s one thing you wish clients knew about you or your process before starting a project?

What I love to do is really get to know what the client likes & dislikes and also see their inspiration before I jump into sourcing or styling.

I feel that way, I can really understand and incorporate meaningful pieces to help make their home functional, beautiful, and tell their story.

11. Name some Instagram accounts that you find enjoyable to follow.

Oh where to start, there are so many accounts I love. It’s a big mix of art, interiors, fashion, and lifestyle accounts.

I guess a few of my favourites are:
@Les.collection
@Jeremiahbrent
@Colinking
@Eyeswoon

Left side: A luxurious bathroom featuring a modern, freestanding white oval bathtub with a plush white towel draped over the side. Gold fixtures emerge from the grey wall, where a small square abstract painting hangs. A dark wood side table next to the tub holds a small vase of white roses.

Right side: A cozy living space viewed from a low angle, showing a textured concrete coffee table with a candle and interior design books. In the background, two small patterned cylindrical ottomans sit in front of a tall, dark wood built-in bookshelf filled with minimalist ceramics and framed photos. — (Left) Interior Design: Index Design Studio, (Right) Interior Design: LC&Co Interior Design

12. If you had to choose, what’s your favourite colour scheme/palette to work with?

I’ve always loved a neutral textured palette grounded with a dash of black. Lately, I’m really drawn to a few moody accent colours of chocolate brown, merlot & olive green.

13. What are you working on at the moment?

I’m currently helping a few clients with some refresh sourcing and styling to update their spaces. I also just finished styling alongside a designer on a cottage that felt really special. The clients were amazing and had some lovely meaningful pieces collected through the years. It was the perfect mix of old and new coming together. My absolute favourite.

14. What do you do outside of work to design a life you’re proud of? What brings you the most joy?

Outside of work I like to start my day with my morning routine of journaling, meditation, and yoga. It just starts my day on the right note for me. On the weekends I love hanging out with my husband and our dog, just enjoying time at home or in the back yard.

My evening walks are a great mood booster and bring me so much joy now that the weather is warmer and things are blooming. Oh and one other thing that really brightens my weekend is a good early morning stroll around the antique market.

Fast Favourites

Design Book

Arranging Things by Colin King

Travel Destination

Back to Paris

Family Tradition

Our end-of-summer get together with our whole family at my mom’s at Lake Huron

Quote/Motto

Trust my gut

Pattern or Solid

Make it a solid, but I like texture

Design Trend You Think Will Last

Adding those special vintage pieces into interiors

Shop

Art shops and antique markets

Room In Your Home

Our bathroom, which we renovated when we first moved here. I love unwinding in there with my evening bath.

Wardrobe Staple

Straight leg jean and a menswear shirt

Latest Purchase You’re Loving

Our new couch in our living room, which took forever to find one we both loved!