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According to MJ’s LinkedIn, he has been working as an interior designer for Two Chicks and a Hammer since 2019. In addition to working on Good Bones, MJ is involved in a couple of other HGTV renovation series. MJ lists the reality shows Small Space Big Potential and Rock the Block as other projects he works on. MJ details more about his career on his Instagram account, @michaeljeffreydesign. On Instagram, MJ has shared over 1,600 posts with his 10,300 followers. Most of MJ’s posts are dedicated to the work he and the Indianapolis-based Good Bones team completed on TV. From his favorite decor to behind-the-scenes knowledge on how the Two Chicks and a Hammer team succeeded with a renovation, MJ’s Instagram is a must-follow for Good Bones fans that want an inside look at the reality star’s creative process.

In addition to sharing about his tasteful interior design career, MJ posts about his family on Instagram. On May 15, 2019, MJ got married to his husband. MJ shared a now-deleted picture with a loving caption, celebrating his wedding anniversary with his husband a year later, according to Distractify. The famous interior designer wrote, “Happy anniversary Mr. Merkley! We’ve accomplished so much this year. It’s out of control how much we can do together. Thank you for being the most understanding husband EVER. Thank you for letting me be completely crazy and not even batting an eye.” The Good Bones season 6 designer and “Mr. Merkley” don’t have any children, but they do have two adorable dogs that are often featured on MJ’s social media. See the happy couple below:

Karen E. Laine and Mina Starsiak Hawk star on Good Bones, and they have called upon some stellar support throughout the seasons, including interior designer MJ Coyle. Over Good Bones‘ 6 seasons, fans have learned that Karen and Mina can pull off any renovation, and the pair’s flawless execution has been aided by MJ’s eye for design. From his extensive resumé as an interior designer for HGTV to his personal life off-camera, here’s everything fans need to know about the very tasteful MJ.

MJ, also known as Michael Jeffrey, grew up in Indianapolis, Indiana. Like Karen and Mina, MJ loves the city that he was raised in and enjoys sprucing up homes in the area. Although he is a natural interior designer, MJ shared that he wasn’t always working in the artistic field he’s famous for excelling in today. In an interview for the Two Chicks and a Hammer YouTube channel, MJ revealed that he initially pursued a career in merchandising before joining Mina’s family business on Good Bones. It didn’t take too long for MJ to discover that he wasn’t in the right field, however. He confessed, ” I liked more of the placement of things than I did the marketing of things.” Fortunately for all fans of Good Bones and well-decorated homes, MJ shared, “I think design found me.”

In this edition of Ai LIVE, host E. Vincent Martinez speaks with Michel Smith Boyd, founder and Creative Director of Smithwood Interiors. Boyd’s unique style has appeared in the pages of Architectural Digest, Elle Decor, Atlanta Homes, and Lifestyles, and he makes regular appearances on channels like Bravo and HGTV. He discusses how he developed both his career and style through his experiences, as well as navigating the balance of a brand.

Boyd didn’t wait until graduation to get started in his career as an interior designer. He saw that he and his fellow classmates would be competing for future jobs. In his junior year at The Art Institute of Atlanta, he developed a plan to take small jobs and network so that he could build relationships, which he attributes as “…the most important thing in business early on.”

For Boyd, this personal sense of style seems to come naturally. But this confidence came over time. “I wasn’t this confident at all when I first graduated.” One of his biggest fears was that he would end up mimicking the aesthetics of people he admired, such as renowned designer Kelly Wearstler. However, his own experiences and definitions of luxury build on the foundations that inspired him. “I just don’t think it’s a bad thing to experiment and to try different things and evolve into who you are.”

When it comes to collaborations with other designers, Boyd is often the one reaching out for these partnerships. Speaking on his experiences in collaborating with others, he says, “I wanted to be seen as someone who could add value. I wanted to be seen as someone who respected that community, and was open to collaborating.” Boyd focuses on the intention behind collaborations, knowing that his work will be seen by others and these hold the opportunity for expanding his portfolio. “It’s not a perfect formula, but I believe that persistence and consistency are key.”

While it may seem that being a brand owner is a dream come true, Boyd acknowledges that it’s a heavy crown to wear. “Every day I’m figuring it out.” For him, the hardest part of building a brand is your own individual point of view. There’s also the trial of managing time and various projects, a side-effect of success. Yet this success allows him to bring on people who cover his weaknesses and allows him to get back into design work

“That’s the balance. We balance rooms for a living, but balancing that life, or trying to evolve into something bigger and better is also a task.”

If you’re interested in learning what it takes to become an interior designer, our interior design programs can help you pursue a career in interior design.