The designer
About
Michelle Jennings founded MJ Designs in 2004 and still leads every project herself, from the first call to the last candle lit. The homes she designs share one aim: to function well and to feel good. Warm and edited. Often built around art. Composed piece by piece, with intention. Asked to name it in one word, she would say balance.
Founder & interior designer
Michelle Jennings
Michelle earned her design degree at the University of Florida's College of Architecture and began her career in commercial design, then worked with interior design firms in the region. She launched MJ Designs in 2004 and marked twenty years in business in 2024. She is an Allied Member of the American Society of Interior Designers, and her studio has been named Best of Houzz for design in nine years between 2014 and 2023.
A third-generation St. Petersburg resident, she knows the city's houses well, from 1920s bungalows to downtown condos, and designs for each one's architecture as much as for its owners. She is passionate about the connection between mind, body and living environment, and she listens closely to how each client lives. After more than twenty-five years, she has made the mistakes already, and she is honest about what works and what to avoid.
An inspired space where you can stretch out and breathe deeply.
Philosophy
Intentional, edited design
We believe in paring down the excess until every piece, color, texture and detail strikes a balance that means something to you. Expressive, not excessive. Quality over quantity. The cushions, the tile and the flow of a room should make a statement without the room ever feeling overly decorated.
Art often starts the project. Michelle curates original art with her clients through local galleries, and she is happy to set a bold wall color beside a striking piece. In St. Pete, that means rooms that go beyond the typical beachy look: warm, minimal and personal, made side by side with you.
Kind words
In our clients' words
Clients in St. Petersburg and Tierra Verde on working with Michelle.
Michelle is by a wide margin the best designer we've ever worked with, indeed the best we could have hoped for.
Ben Pratt, St. Petersburg, FL
She is a talented and discerning designer who listens carefully and insightfully endeavoring to understand who you are and how you live your life.
Donnita Travis, Tierra Verde, FL
We highly recommend Michelle Jennings for any interior design and implementation needs.
Scott Wagman and Beth Houghton, St. Petersburg, FL
Our process
How a project comes together
Six stages, from a complimentary discovery call to a single installation day, for homes across St. Petersburg, Tampa and the Gulf beaches.