Meet Erin MacNeill | Interior Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Erin MacNeill and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Erin, we’d love to hear what makes you happy.
I’m going to answer this in terms of the design world- the world I live everyday!

Happiness in design, and designing homes, and creating spaces for people comes from the genuine satisfaction I get when my clients tell me how they use the space. When we meet for our initial consultations they’re so quick to tell me about all the things they hate – and rarely have real plans on how to make it better. However, when we’re done, I hear about how will it works for their family, or that they had a big party and the flow of the new space worked so well. Sometimes as designers when we leave a project we rarely get to hear how the functionality plays out in the long run. The place where memories are made. That’s what makes me the happiest – knowing you’re not only improving someone’s home aesthetically, but you’re creating a space for memories, love, and a life well lived. I thoroughly enjoy meeting new people, learning about their families, I appreciate being welcomed into their homes or work spaces. The human experience always brings me joy.

On a personal note: my two girls bring me joy daily! We have a dog who’s also a bit of a goofball. I enjoy spending time in nature – hiking and taking in the gorgeous colors nature offers – attending concerts, and travelling for inspiration. I love history and old buildings. I can wander around around cities admiring old architecture and people watching for days on end. Good food, good people and spending time with good humans is always at the top of my happiness list!

What should our readers know about your business?
The best part about being an interior designer is clearly the clients. Having a client trust you enough to be in their home – their personal spaces, is really a gift. For as long as I can remember I have been interested in how people live in their home. How they use the space, what is in each room, what do they love, what do they hate. It has been a real pleasure to go into these beautiful homes and listen, observe and be curious about how my clients need to improve on their spaces. Maybe that’s what set’s me apart as a designer – I am constantly curious. The desire to make spaces more efficient and effective for every day living is truly why I love this business. I take great interest in the history of homes and how people live globally. The uniqueness that each client brings to the table is incredible. I strive to maintain that uniqueness and honor their individuality in each and every project I take on.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I live on the south Eastern side of Michigan in a border town called Port Huron. Just across the St.Clair River we have Sarnia, Ontario. We have access to the gorgeous Lake Huron- the most beautiful of the Great Lakes… in my humble opinion! We have incredible beaches, playgrounds, boat rentals, rivers to explore. Countless ways to explore Lake Huron on any give sunny afternoon. I grew up on the other side of the river in Sarnia, and spend a fair amount of time going back and forth visiting family and friends.
This side of the state is packed full of adventures to be had. Detroit is about an hour away- where you can find just about anything: incredible food, great bands, good venues. The Lions, the Tigers, the Red Wings! Countless incredible restaurants, amazing shops – one of my favorites is Woodward Throwbacks – an amazing reclaimed furniture store. They honor the history of Detroit and Michigan in each and every piece they sell. I love to hunt down unique book stores, coffee shops and antique shops. You can spend the day roaming the Eastern Market shopping for all kinds of goodies- flowers, food, thrifting, art!
A little closer to home, I love to get lunch at Kate’s Downtown, (Port Huron) she makes the most perfect latte’s and has an incredible menu with fresh tasty treats. A walk around downtown and on the water under the Blue Water Bridge is always highly recommended! There is always something to explore in Port Huron – or just sit and watch the freighters pass under the bridge.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I am extremely fortunate and I have and incredible amount of support from family and friends, who are like family. They all offer me encouragement in their unique ways. I constantly rely on them for honest answers to questions, useful critiques, and positive affirmations. I have sacrificed time with my girls to build a business so they should be recognized for their patience and continued support. Thank you Ava and Norah. I love you to pieces! I started this business a little later in life- at 40, the same time my cousin, Sam – who is more like my sister – also started back to school to complete her Masters of Education in clinical mental health counselling. She is a true inspiration to keep pursuing your dreams.

Website: https://www.willowandgrove.com

Instagram: @willow.and.grove.design

Facebook: Willow and Grove Interior Design

Image Credits
Cassidy Crowe Photography