Today we’d like to introduce you to Meg Lonergan.
Meg, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I’m from Louisiana, moved around a lot growing up with my father in the oil industry. I married my high school sweet heart (we met going to school in Singapore) who is from New Zealand. After college in Colorado I moved to New Zealand and got a job working for a high end interior and furniture designer who really mentored me in the business. In 2009 we moved to Houston because my parents were living here at the time, and I started my firm. We never thought we’d live here this long but this is the longest place we’ve ever lived in! We love our 104 year old Montrose house and have happily settled in Houston. My firm has grown from being a one woman show working out of her house and car to having an office that I share with three other women who are as passionate about design and interiors as myself. We love our clients and making their dream homes come to life!
Has it been a smooth road?
We’ve had challenges like any business, knowing when to hire more people, finding the right people to join your small team etc. The easiest way to learn is from your mistakes and unfortunately those can be big sometimes. About two years into my business I learned that I couldn’t be a bank for my clients and since then everyone must pay for everything we order for them upfront. That was a lesson that could have sunk me, I wish I hadn’t had been so naive and trustworthy in my early days. But now I know!
We’d love to hear more about your business.
We are a luxury interior design firm specializing in mostly residential projects. We work on anything from a single room design to new construction projects that take a couple of years. We are known for being able to mix styles, eras, colors, high/low price points etc. To me that is what makes a room interesting, when there are things that are special and collected over time, that don’t necessarily match but balance one another. Contrast and tension are essential. One thing that sets us apart is that we are able to service our clients by sourcing materials, furniture, fabrics and art that are not readily available in Houston. Finding unique things is something I’m passionate about, I don’t like to repeat, I like everyone’s home to be an individual as themselves. Sometimes this passion I have is detrimental to my time management, but I can’t help myself. Selecting something that is mass produced and seen all the time might be pretty, but not interesting. I am proud that we have had some of the same clients since I first started in ’09 – we’ve done multiple homes and multiple phases for the same families. When our clients call me for another project I feel like we’ve done our job, they were pleased with our work and service, I want our clients to feel ‘at home’ with us, we are thrilled when our clients share and show off their beautiful homes with others.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Houston is an ideal place for an interior design firm. Southerns culturally are so proud of their homes and really value creating a beautiful living environment. They save inherited pieces, and really work hard at making their gardens and homes something to talk about. Our economy has been so strong, the city has been able to support a lot of luxury businesses. All of the residential growth has helped tremendously. The design scene has changed over the last 9 years, so many different young designers have moved here and are changing what was the old ‘Houston’ look to be more of a mix of eclectic, colorful and modern style. I would definitely encourage people to start here, there is plenty of work for everyone. As great as it is, Houston could use a few more design concept stores similar to ones you’d find in New York or LA.
Contact Info:
- Address: Meg Lonergan Interiors
- Website: www.meglonergan.com
- Phone: 713.300.2344
- Email: meg@meglonergan.com
- Instagram: MegLonerganInteriors
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Meg-Lonergan-Interiors-151015491599169/
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/MegLonerganInt/
Image Credit:
Megan Thompson Lovoi
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