Miriam Weinreb Lissak launched her new Interior Design company, MWL Design Group, in Fall of 2015 after having been the founder and principal of Weinreb Schultz Design Associates, Inc. (est. 1985).

Miriam’s portfolio includes primarily high end residential and some corporate, commercial and specialty retail installations. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from The Fashion Institute of Technology, SUNY, and is a Professional Member of The ASID and is NCIDQ Certiﬁed. She was an Assistant Designer for Angelo Donghia’s Donghia Associates from 1979-1985.

Miriam has been featured in numerous publications including Architectural Digest, Interior Design, New York Times, NYPost, Bravo Network’s Property Envy and more. She has won many awards, including some from K+BB. Her projects have spanned the Tri-State area including New York City, The Catskills, Westchester, Long Island, The Hamptons, Connecticut, New Jersey, and Florida.

MWL Design Group collaborates with architects and engineers to realize unique and custom designs suited to their client’s wishes and needs, while respecting the desired budget. Their consideration and appreciation of the details and a sensitive awareness of the inherent environment and conditions are what enables Miriam’s designs to transcend many periods and looks, including traditional, contemporary, transitional and modern environments.

Miriam’s work is consistently outstanding, adhering to a high standard of excellence and professionalism.

In focusing on the applied art of Interior Design, Miriam says “Although attention to detail is what makes the difference, one may not remember every component that went into the design, but one will always remember how the space made them feel”.

On a personal note:

I am kinetic, energetic, artistic, communicative, athletic, loving, compassionate and curious. I love adventure, travel, meeting people and so much that life has to offer. Equally as important is my family; my 4 sons who are young men, my parents who live in Boca Raton, Florida, two brothers and their families who live on the west coast. I am often the hub of communication and activity for my family, extended family as well as my friends. I love to spend time outdoors both passively and athletically. Dressing up is as easy for me as wearing jeans and sneakers. Being quiet with a publication as well as socializing and doing things are both fulﬁlling for me.

Miriam Weinreb Lissak's Project Showcase

Our Interview with Miriam Weinreb Lissak

Q

Describe your childhood bedroom

A.

I grew up in a house built at the turn of the 20th Century that was formerly owned and inhabited by a renowned artist named Si Lewen. “Si was born in Lublin, Poland, on November 8, 1918, is an internationally known artist who has put his indelible imprint on 20th century art and the Modern Art Movement in America”. The house had detail everywhere you looked in the most interesting of ways from a custom room divider between the living room and dining room that had leaves between two sheets of parchment, to a powder room snuck in beneath the staircase, to exquisite 5 panel doors and hardware, and more. My bedroom was a 9’ x 9’ room in the front corner of the house. Every 15 months I would re-organize the layout and redecorate the entire room. I would paint everything: all of the furniture, the walls and the trim. I made drapes and completely changed the look and orientation of this small room. My parents gave me artistic license and support to explore my creativity, along with $20, which back then just about covered the costs of all supplies needed.

Q

How did you get started in this field?

A.

Since my parents enabled and supported my decorating endeavors, I gained confidence and passion for interior design. At a young age, they would ask for my opinion on wallpapers for the house and placement of furniture. As I was sent to college after only 3 years of high school, I was in my first year of college at the age of only 16. I took an interior design course as part of the home economics department, fell in love, applied to FIT and got accepted as an Interior Design major. While still a college student, I began to work for Angelo Donghia. I ran the sample room in his office, keeping all of our samples in order, returning to the showrooms what was not ours and made appointments with vendors for new finishes, materials, etc. After I graduated FIT with a BFA degree, I became the first female assistant on the Donghia design team in NYC. I worked for Angelo for 5 years and then went off on my own. I became so busy that I then collaborated with the late and extraordinarily talented Greg Schultz, and we formed Weinreb-Schultz Design Associates, Inc. Greg sadly passed away in 1996. At that time I had two sons and went on to give birth to another two sons. I paused my business to raise my family, but always kept working on one fantastic job at a time. In 2015 I resurrected my business as MWL Design Group and am working on amazing projects with wonderful clients.

Q

Who is your favorite designer other than yourself?

A.

No coincidence as the late Angelo Donghia was my favorite designer and biggest inspiration. I learned so much about the design process and especially about detail while working for him. His sense of style was second to none. Angelo’s designs transcend the decades.

Q

What’s the best thing about shopping in person?

A.

As Interior Design is an applied art and not a fine art, the forms, texture, volumes and all else are so important. One cannot get a true sense of color online nor in a brochure, nor the comfort of any chair or sofa, nor a true sense of relative scale. I will rarely purchase a piece of seating from a photo. It should be sat upon for comfort and quality. Visiting antique dealers adds to the fun as sometimes the history and background of the piece can be discussed. Sometimes “old school” is simply more enjoyable, productive and the way to go (as long as we are not in the middle of a pandemic). Even during the current pandemic, once the showrooms opened up, rules and guidelines kept, I was able to return to the showrooms to continue my work and shopping in person through the design showrooms and various venues.

Q

What do you like to do in your free time/outside of work?

A.

As much as I love interiors – much of my free time is spent outdoors whenever possible. I bike everywhere for commuting through the city for both work and pleasure. In winter I love to snowshoe and snowboard. In summer I enjoy long bike rides, surfing, scuba diving, snorkeling hiking and camping. Love to travel when the world is “open”. Refinishing old furniture or found objects is a fun pastime. I love to cook, especially with my sons who by now are better than I at it. Perusing antique centers, flea markets and garage sales. Travel.

Q

You are stuck on an island, you can pick one food to eat forever without getting tired of it, what would you eat?

A.

Peanuts. They are so versatile: unsalted, salted, roasted, seasoned, peanut butter, sauces, shakes, etc.

Q

Are you a dog or cat person?

A.

Both: I have 2 black & white brother cats now and one 12 year old Golden Labrador (and a fish)

Q

What is your favorite time of day?

A.

Sunrise. Before the rest of the world awakens. There is a special quiet, calm, wonder and beauty.

Q

What was the last text you sent and who did you send it to?

A.

To a current client that I am excited her husband loves the palace size silk area rug we selected yesterday (and that last night I had a sheriff escort while driving my car for 10 miles through a white out blizzard and snowboarding today was wonderful).

Q

Biggest pet peeve?

A.

Displayed decorative candles with wicks that will never get lit & powder room soaps and towels that are not to be used. And what really drives me crazy is what Starbucks names the sizes of their drinks.