Distilling design from personality

The founder and principal of Michael Herold Design in New Hope is a Long Island native who moved to this region as a teenager. Michael Herold received an associate's degree from the Art Institute of Philadelphia and a bachelor's degree from St. Joseph's University. In May, his work was featured in show houses in Princeton, where he designed the entrance hall and second floor gallery, and in a farmhouse in Furlong, Bucks County, where he designed an upstairs sitting room. We sat down for a chat about the dynamics of design in Philadelphia.

How did you get your start?

I was, I don't know, 10 years old. We were living on Long Island and I'd be painting rooms and moving furniture. My parents were very understanding of my passion for design and they pretty much let me do what I wanted. There were constant experiments going on. Their support pushed me in the right direction.

Were your parents in the design field?

Not at all. My dad was a bond broker on Wall Street. My mom was a homemaker. We moved to Yardley when he retired. I was 14. When I was still a teenager, I got two internships with local designers. I accompanied them to clients' homes, really got a taste of the design world.

I noticed that your degree from St. Joseph's is in business. Why is that?

I've always been a self-starter, wanting to have my own business. I started my own firm in 2005 and I specialize in residential work. My business partner, Federico Carbonell, joined me in 2008 and specializes in the commercial end, mostly health-care and fitness facilities. He's actually a registered nurse by trade, so he really understands their needs.

How would you characterize your design philosophy?

My philosophy is to find out what the client's personal style is. I want to take their personality and steer it toward good design.

In the process, the clients find out a lot about themselves. A lot of the time, they say they don't know what they want but when you

dig deep, they have a lot of opinions. Sometimes, I'll go into their personal closets and look at their wardrobe. Are they colors and patterns? Are they neutral, black and white, clean lines?

OK, but what if you were designing a place with no specific buyer in mind, or for yourself?

I love new, clean lines, things that are fresh, but I also love history and old pieces. All my own designs have a history. There's always warmth and a sense of time. Right now, I'm into midcentury modern. I'm a big collector of midcentury modern furniture. I'd never design a place that's 100 percent modern.

What are some recent projects you are proud of?

I'm working on a full home renovation in East Hampton, New York. It's about a yearlong project. We gutted the entire house and designed everything. It's a townhome. In Newtown [Bucks County], I'm working with a client on two boy's bedrooms that will be child-friendly but very sophisticated. They could be for anyone from a 15-year-old to an adult.

Are there any designers now working whom you particularly admire?

Yes. Kelly Wearstler in Los Angeles. She's very daring, takes a lot of risks. I like that in a designer. And Barbara Barry (also in Los Angeles). She's at the other extreme. More clean lines, more classic. Kind of two extremes.

What's your dream project for the future?

I'd like to design a hotel. I