Mike-o Design

We found Mike on Houzz. His design expertise and style was exactly what we were looking for. From our first meeting through whole remodel process and ultimately his " revel"of our new home was a first rate experience. Mike listened and communicated every detail to us. We wanted our home to be more functional and to showcase our art collection. He went above and beyond attaining both. Most importantly, he was the single contact for the entire project. Mike coordinated all the construction, flooring, tile, furniture, etc. We could not be happier with our finished project...we actually walk around our new home and say..."Do we really live here?" Thank you Mike.Read More

WOW! We are so very happy to have found Mike on Houzz. Words will never be able to express our gratitude for the amazing work he has done - and is still tuning up. We bought a new build in San Luis Obispo when it was still at the framing stage and with Mike’s vision and enthusiasm and know how, it has been turned into the loveliest home we have ever lived in. He fitted and furnished every single room and the ADU to absolute perfection. We downsized and hardly any of our old furniture fit but we had a heap of small stuff and paintings and family mementos from many parts of the world - which he somehow managed to pull together with new pieces, to make this a really comfortable and functional home for us. Mike is delightful, and so easy to work with. We’ve shared some good laughs throughout the process - and we know he had lots of stresses, but his enthusiasm and knowledge pulled us all through. Thank you Mike. You are truly The Best.Read More

Mike is the consummate designer's designer. If you want the "matchy-matchy" look--conventional, expected, seen-it-a-thousand-times scenario --look elsewhere. If you want surprising, original, eclectic, creative, "I-would-never-have-thought of-that! "wow" factor kind of design, he won't disappoint. Mike has the vision and originality of an impressionistic painter and the form-function sensibilities of a postmodern architect. His acute sense of color, proportion, and detail are spot-on, always sensitive to the tastes (and budget) of his client. He transformed our living space, creating a seamless flow between interior and exterior (he also designs landscapes). Mike engendered our utmost trust and admiration. I can't recommend him enough.Read More

After 20 plus years in the Sacramento area, our dream of living in San Luis Obispo finally came true. It seemed the perfect opportunity for a “new look” for a new home. We had already selected paint, flooring, interior trim, and counters during short visits over several months to the area, and hours on line with the developer’s design team. We wanted an inviting and comfortable interior, not so formal that you would be afraid to sit down. We didn’t want everything to match, we wanted it to blend. It quickly became obvious that doing this long distance was a problem, we needed local help. Searching through Houzz, we found Mike O Design and contacted Mike. Mike patiently listened as we explained our situation and the need for guidance in making it a reality. Mike discussed how he works, how he “shops” his extensive resources locally and throughout southern CA to source his project. Our homework, was to scroll through Houzz and select pictures of interiors we liked and comment on them, what we liked and disliked. He would then review them remotely to develop a more complete impression of what we wanted. This was easily done on Houzz. We made arrangements to meet on our next visit to SLO and walk through the house. After our walk-through, Mike provided us with some computer generated prints of his suggestions. We offered photos of some our furnishings and accessories that we wanted to see in the home. We all agreed that not everything need to match, it being more important to have it come together as a whole. Mike was very easy to communicate with, replying promptly to our questions and concerns. We didn’t have need to do anything so drastic as adding rooms or removing walls, but Mike did make a couple of suggestions, interior improvements to enhance our space. The first was to tile our existing drywall-faced fireplace. The second was to construct a low bench along one wall, ending in a banquette seating arrangement in the dining space. Over the next month, the tile and bench project were completed. As the furnishings were not in yet, it was difficult to imagine how the fireplace tile and built-in dining seating was going to come together. Mike had to remind us to be patient, that he was also finding the furnishings, fabrics and accessories that it would make it all work as a whole. Walking into our home on the “reveal” date, taking in the change, we were speechless. “This is NICE !, who lives here?” I thought, a look, a style that was immediately our own. The sage green tile on the fireplace brought in the outdoors, the dark wood of the banquette contrasted with the light walls and anchored the room. Each room was appealing, inviting you to sit and relax. It did indeed come together. Thank you Mike.Read More

What do you do when you buy a home that hadn't been updated in the 55 years since it was first built and need it to support your lifestyle, take in a magnificent view and pay respect to the environment (desert) but also no be a typical southwest desert home? You call Mike O Design, you hire Mike O and you stand back and let him do his magic. We have just completed our 4th remodel with Mike (2 stages in our California home in early 2000's, our next home in Portland 2015) and now our home in Tucson). The first 3 were all interior design projects and this last one was a roof to foundation interior and exterior remodel to modernize a mid century home. There is literally no limit to his creative abilities and no detail is too small for his ingenious eye. Mike flew down from his base in California to map out the construction and rendered a round 1 plan 3 days later. We instantly recognized its perfection and submitted the drawings to the GC who oversaw the construction. Known locally for building higher end custom homes he marveled at the plans stating more than once during the construction "I never saw anything like before" and proceeded to dub our home "The Art House". When all the construction and installation of appliances, lights, painting, etc. was completed, Mike flew down and spent a week measuring, shopping locally, and stacking everything he purchased under blankets in the garage until he could put it all together for a final reveal. We've long since learned to not second guess anything or comment on any one piece. His choices are meticulous, beautiful and everything flows into each other in the most natural way possible. We left for 5 hours on the final day - a house with only a bed and the few furnishings we brought with us, while Mike, his partner Steve and a helper put it all together. We returned to a miraculous transformation, well beyond anything I can describe in words. Every room, everywhere you looked, was breathtaking. Beyond the choices made - all within budget - the home produced a feeling that we can only describe as us. This is Mike's gift - helping his clients fully self express through design. It's been 3 days since and I find myself sitting, staring, marveling and thanking the universe for having Mike in our life. He is an extraordinarily gifted designer with big, generous and loving heart. He not only left a visual impression, he left an abundance of positive energy that will be part of our home forever.Read More