Today we’d like to introduce you to Milysan Kikos. They and their team shared their story with us below:
Principal Designer and Co-Founder of ME Design Group, Milysan Kikos, began her design career in luxury fashion. Born in New York City, Mil attended the Fashion Institute of Technology for Marketing and Communications, then moved to LA in 2006. After graduating from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising and working for over 15 years in the fashion industry, Mil Kikos directed her keen eye for quality and design toward interiors. Mil and her husband Eli, Co-Founder of ME Design Group and General Contractor with over eight years of home renovation experience, began their journey with a full remodel of their first home.
Combining her well-honed eye for design and curiosity for color, texture, and balance with Eli’s knowledge of engineering, efficiency in project management, and ever-expanding network of talented engineers, architects, and tradespeople, they were able to complete their first full remodel project within a single year. In 2017, what began as an idea to combine their strengths as a team became ME Design Group, a Design/Build firm for local clients seeking high-end bespoke design and a trusted contractor for luxury home remodeling.
Since their launch, Mil and Eli have been able to provide both design and build services in order to allow for a cohesive and smooth renovation process for local clients. While Eli serves as General Contractor, Mil is focused on collaborating with clients to bring their inspiration to fruition while always keeping functionality, comfort, and an aesthetic of approachable luxury unique to each client.
As a team, ME Design Group provides services from full-service turnkey design furnishing projects to larger architectural details, full-scale remodels as well as new builds. They are dedicated to serving each client’s distinctive needs while communicating with transparency and integrity. Their approach is holistic and collaborative, working alongside clients, guiding planning, and managing each project from initial concept design to completion.
Over the years, ME Design Group has cultivated relationships with many of the Los Angeles area’s leading industry professionals from highly skilled craftsmen, artisans, tradesmen, carpenters, fabricators, wallpaper installers, custom millwork, and upholstery in order to provide clients with the highest quality products and services.
ME Design Group has completed a breadth of unique projects from breathing new life into a 1923 English Tudor that had been stripped of much of its original charm to designing bespoke details for new and existing builds. Mil has developed a remarkable ability to hone in on any aesthetic that a client prefers, including but not limited to Traditional, Transitional, Modern, Eclectic, Mid Century, Modern Organic, and more.
“No two clients or projects are the same,” says Kikos, “Our goal is to always respect client wishes while carefully planning and guiding the design/build process in a direction that honors their home and distinct needs and preferences.”
As a client-driven firm, ME Design Group’s mission is to tell a story of who their clients are and how they aspire to live.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. I majored in Marketing and Communications with a focus on Public Relations and Digital Media. I did have the benefit of taking foundational classes such as History of Art, Textiles, and Color Theory, but my path to design was anything but linear. I didn’t have the ability to learn by working with an established firm to hone my skills or learn various design programs taught in school; I had to dedicate time to learn on my own as well as develop systems and processes without having previous experience to draw from. I think it is easy to throw in the towel before you even begin when transitioning to a new business that requires so many soft and hard skills- particularly one that is often seen as mostly creative even though quite a bit of our work is administrative and organizational as well as client-facing
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Me Design Group?
When we first began in 2017, we were primarily a licensed residential home remodeling firm providing design as an added value service for our clients to utilize during the remodel process. Over time, our clients began requesting if we could also furnish their projects as well, so we began to pivot into offering a turnkey design/build experience. It’s atypical that firms offer both- as we are residential contractors and are licensed, bonded, and insured.
Over the years, we have forged a network of architects, engineers, skilled tradesmen in order to provide the best services to our clients. Our process is collaborative; we work with our clients from initial concept design, development, and renderings to architectural details of kitchens, bathrooms, ADUS, and new builds.
Most importantly, we are a client-centric firm offering a full-service approach to our projects, tailored to our client’s personal design preferences, while carefully considering our client’s vision and goals for the spaces they wish to furnish and design. We begin with analyzing each space while creating floor plans that not only maximize space (whether that is with respect to a remodel, new build, or furnishing project) but also selecting finishings, architectural details, and furnishings that complement their home. From crafting bespoke furnishings to guiding clients through the selection process, we are dedicated to ensuring that all materials and finishings truly reflect our client’s unique vision and budget. No two projects and clients are alike, and our body of work is indicative of that. We have worked on historic 1920s Tudor Spanish Colonial Revival, as well as Mid-Century Modern homes, and designed in modern, organic, coastal, and transitional styles. Our ultimate goal is to tell our client’s story as it is a reflection of who they are and how they live their lives.
What’s next?
We are approaching the final approval phase for a Spanish Colonial Revival new build and plan on documenting the process and sharing on social media. We have also been working on content intended to peel back the veil of the interior design business, sharing helpful resources insight into the remodel and design process, including but not limited to real budgets, architectural and design challenges, sourcing unique items for clients, and more. With respect to the firm, we want to continue doing what we love, collaborating with clients to create spaces that feel like an extension of who they are with a focus on new builds and complete design projects with a combination of bespoke and vintage furnishings, accessories, and finishes. We truly love what we do, and I always find it to be the ultimate honor and a privilege to be included in something as personal as improving on someone’s most sacred space, where they escape from the demands of the world and connect with their friends and family. At the end of months, and sometimes years of working closely with clients, it is the most wonderful moment to conduct the final walk-through and reveal with them it is the true reason we do what we do.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.medesign.group
- Instagram: Instagram.com/medesigngroupinc
Image Credits
Melissa Murciano Photography – All images
