Have you noticed that 2024 has become the year of Artificial Intelligence? Seemingly overnight, AI has evolved from being the stuff of futuristic science fiction movies, into what is now a household staple, and it is growing as rapidly as wildfire. The Glam Pad has been exploring the future of AI and Interior Design, and even though we were a little scared at first, we are becomingly increasingly excited about the opportunities at hand. This summer we featured a creative director/home decorating enthusiast who utilized AI as a tool to help redesign her home. Today, we visit with Traditional Home Rising Stars Leslie Martin and Kimberly Meardon, founders of M + M Interior Design, as they have begun utilizing AI in a brilliant way within their business, creating “dream spaces” that are replicable and shoppable!

Welcome Leslie and Kimberly!

Q:  What do you think the future of Interior Design looks like in terms of AI?

A:  Like probably all designers, I (Leslie) was anxious over the thought of AI. So in an attempt to tackle my fears head-on, I decided to learn how I could use it to my advantage. I think if we all look at AI as a tool, for things like renderings, process, inspiration even, we will soon discover that it’s going to make us better and more efficient at our jobs. So I think the future looks great with AI.

Q:  How are you utilizing this new technology, and how has it been beneficial?

A:  As designers we most always have the challenge of scale. We can only take on so many projects at a time, even if our heads our brimming over with great design ideas. I’d had the thought for sometime, that if we could produce renderings that were, not necessarily for clients, and made those rooms shop-able, it would be like creating a virtual showroom and then scale would be limitless. The dilemma there is renderings can be slow, labor intensive, and incredibly pricey. In waked AI and suddenly all those gorgeous rooms in my head were visible. The caveat to this, is that even with AI the deigns didn’t contain actual products. So we use AI to build a very basic room, and then with Photoshop I am able to insert all the products and details like wallpaper, lighting, paint color, etc. It’s been fun to create all these rooms that someone could shop and turn into reality. If anyone out there has done that with one of our “Imagined by M + M” rooms, let me know, I’d love to see it!

Q:  Can you share some of the tools you are using to create your beautiful images?

A:  For the initial rendering I use an AI tool called MidJourney. I’ve played with many of them and this one in particular seems to understand the detail of interior design in a way that other platforms don’t. I also use Photoshop to really bring the design to life and infuse it with all the design details (colors, patterns, actual products, etc.).

Q:  Anything else you would like to add?

A:  One of a designer’s most important jobs is to be able to translate their vision into images that can be understood by clients, vendors, trades, etc. When I am trying to explain exactly how I want the fabric and the trim to look on a sofa, it’s fantastic to have tools that allow me to create an image I can then share with my upholstery workroom. When I am sharing my vision of a space with my client it’s enormously helpful to be able to show them a rendered image that can help them see it before it exists. AI is one more tool in our tool belt that can help make that happen. For that reason I hope all designers are exited about learning how to use AI to their advantage.

Thank you Leslie and Kimberly, for joining us today and sharing the innovative ways you are utilizing this ground-breaking new technology!

To see more of from the actual portfolio of M + M Interior Design, please click here to read our “Design Crush” feature of their work. You can also visit their website at mandminteriordesign.com and here for more “Imagined by M + M” rooms. For ongoing inspiration, please follow @m_m_interior_design on Instagram.

Now, we would love to hear from our readers… Are you starting to dabble with AI? What are your thoughts? Please share your thoughts and/or work with us!