Welcome to Michel Design Works
Letter from Deborah
I write this having put the finishing touches on our Fall 2010 line. Winter seems to bring out my nesting instinct. Whenever the temperature drops outside, I revel in the comforts inside. We do more entertaining at home during the colder months. I put out guest soaps and scented candles and set a welcoming table. Then we have friends over for a potluck supper, a Sunday brunch, or a holiday meal. When they return the favor, I bring a hostess gift that reflects the same appreciation for simple pleasures. It’s no accident that one of our new lines is called Comfort and Joy!
What attracts me in this season is a kind of eclectic elegance. In decorating a room or setting a table, I pair old, beloved objects with contemporary pieces. I mix patterns, colors, and textures. It’s the same thing I do when I design the fall and winter collections. This year, an antique Chinese tea caddy and Victorian locks and keys inspired me to create our Memento Box Notecards. Complex, elemental scents led me to develop two new collections: Botanica and Damask Rose. And classic Asian prints influenced the look of Serenity. I draw from the past, but then I give my designs a modern twist.
Warm wishes,
Deborah Michel
Creative Director / Owner
Deborah Michel

I'm in the studio sitting behind my computer. The cork wall, covered with designs, can change by the hour.
Bruce Michel

Bruce manages the business side of the company.
Where We Work
My studio is in a charming cottage adjacent to our Westchester, NY home.
Our satellite office, located in Katonah, NY is home to our creative, production and accounting teams.

We moved into our 200-year old farm house over 20 years ago, about the same time we started the business. It’s close to New York City, but seems like a million miles away.

We started working on the garden the first summer we lived here. Its beauty always astonishes me, as does the variety of birds, butterflies, and other insects the flowers attract. We grow vegetables nearby, and I’m looking forward to the day our newly planted orchard bears fruit.

The elephant is the company’s logo, so I thought this weathervane was the perfect Christmas gift for Bruce.
