Most Effective Use of Color: Munro + Sica Interior Design

May 28

From last year’s winner to this year’s judge, Galey Alix Gravenstein, principal designer at Galey Alix Design, had colorful compliments for the “Most Effective Use of Color” winner. “This project instantly stood out to me because it feels like a living room you want to spend time in. Homes should be inviting and cozy... a place you can escape to from the stresses of the world and where you can just feel calm. This space made me feel that way instantly with the textures, color, and layout,” said Galey.

Munro + Sica Interior Design, a Detroit-based design duo, brought color and a coastal flare to this residential design project. Read on to hear what Nara Munro has to say about this company and the project that Galey called "a bold move that paid off."

Check out this interview with Munro + Sica co-owner, Nara Munro:

Tell us a little bit about you and your company:

Myself and my partner, Michelle Sica, met two years ago at a Christmas party. She had been in the design industry for 30+ years and we got to chatting about design. Next thing we knew, we were the last ones there and we decided to try and partner up. We started the company and it took off. We had such natural synergy – it’s all about respecting the other person's opinion.

We definitely collaborate but have different strengths and weaknesses. She has been doing it longer than me, so she’s very good at making sure everything is placed properly. Scaling is a huge thing in design. She has more of a timeless style which everyone loves, and I kind of bring a bit of a fresher take on things; I’m a little more bold; I love patterns and different elements. We merged those strengths together. We love what we do so much. We really care about the client. Our tagline is “Fresh, sophisticated you.” We don’t gravitate toward one style or another.

Can you walk us through this particular design project?

I think the fun thing about this project is that we always come in asking a lot of questions to the client. She wanted a coastal feel, so I started thinking about whites and blues, but she wanted a pop of color too. We brought in shiplap and tons of wood, and then we added all the pops of color with the rugs. Her space was also really big, so we had to deal with how we were going to separate her spaces while making it cohesive.

What Wayfair products in the space are your favorite?

I thought the books were really cool. I didn’t know you could actually get books on Wayfair. We also got the desk as well as the green chair.

How did Wayfair Professional or your Account Manager help with this project?

We shop with Wayfair for everything. You guys have amazing stock options. What I loved about our Account Manager at the time is everything was just so easy. If I had an issue, wanted to get a quote on something, or there was low stock, she would always keep me informed. You can make a space look beautiful without it having to cost so much. I just feel like Wayfair has everything you need.

Have you gotten any feedback?

We always try to get testimonials from our clients. If there’s something they aren’t liking, we always try to fix it, but she is in love with the space. People who walk in and who know her space from before are very impressed. The awesome thing too is it’s very “her” – it’s her personality and style.