Michael Friedes Design Associates

Michael recently moved his practice into our building in Emeryville and converted what was a dilapidated space into a very beautiful office suite. He rearranged walls into a configuration I would never have imagined. In addition to his vision of what the space should look like I was extremely impressed with his knowledge of materials and use of color and texture. His eye for how a space should look is fantastic, if not magical. I have worked with designers in the past and would easily say he is one of the best designers I’ve ever met. I heartily recommend his services to anyone.

Michael has helped me and many of my clients for interior design. Michale and his team are experts and very easy to work with. Michael is very intuitive when it come to working with people. his experience and network of people are a key when it comes to get the job done. I highly recommend Michael for all of your interior design needs.

I worked with Michael and his adorable associates Halley and Heather on a nursery project. They were some of the best designers I have ever worked with. I’ve been in a lot of well decorated homes in my business, and was super impressed by the beautiful and innovative style and cohesive design decisions made in this home. They are all very kind, easy to work with, and have great taste.

Most of us don’t realize how much of a positive effect your home interior can have on you until it is designed by an amazing designer. I have worked with Michael twice over the last 7 years. Michael and his design staff do incredible work. You will never again come home after a long hard day’s work, step into your living room and think — «living room». You will come home after a long hard day’s work, step into your living room and think «WOW! Lucky me! I get to live here!» That’s the magic of Michael’s work. I highly recommend Michael and his staff of designers.

Beautiful esthetics, very professional, never disappointed.

If you can get Michael, then you’re lucky. Michael is busier than busy!!! I selfishly don’t even want to write this review, but I have to because he’s that good and he deserves the Accolades.
Michael has helped me with numerous projects from two dwelling places and my business. He has helped with paint colors (you should see him picking paint colors. It’s hilarious! He walks around in a zone with Gagillions of paint chips and he won’t let you talk to him or interrupt). It’s his version of curing cancer! He has styled rooms and picked furniture and accessories and works within your budget. His taste is impeccable! I wish I had no budget because his eye is so amazing and his vision is out of this world. He has don’t he games for me in terms of surfer bohemian chic, modern, and traditional. He totally Gets me, listens, and asks questions when necessary.
He has resources and alliances with great contractors, painters, electricians, and handymen so I feel taken care of from beginning to end.
We are about to start our fourth project together. Michael if you ever read this, you. Better give me first priority! We have a lot of work to do!
Love him and his work!

Michael has an amazing eye for design, and I’ve really appreciated his spot-​on color ideas for paint (one of our rooms was transformed by an idea he had) to introducing us to great artists (who are also affordable) so we actually have wonderful art on our walls, to mixing up the textures in ways that people walk into our great room and say «WOW» and I quickly tell them it had nothing to do with me. Although Michael did make sure the designs represented the colors and feelings we wanted in the rooms, so it feels like us but in a way we could have never put together ourselves. I did read the other reviews and get that the «office back end» stuff can be frustrating, but we don’t expect perfection and when anything has gone wrong Michael always corrects it and frankly that’s all that matters to me. The billing approach could be better but I’ve given him my feedback and his office is always open to ideas. I have already recommended Michael to others and will continue do so in a heartbeat. He’s completely trustworthy and high quality, and also fun to work with. I can’t imagine working with anyone else.

Michael, Michael, Michael. Can’t live with him, can’t live without him. (In a good way!)
I met Michael through a mutual client whose house he decorated and I absolutely fell in love with his aesthetic. Modern, yet cozy… elegant, yet hip… but ultimately immaculate.
Fast forward a year later, I look to opening my new nail salon in Jack London Square, called Rock & Polish. (Yes, shameless plug!) I knew what I wanted, but didn’t know how to achieve it. I knew I loved organic items, wood, polished cement, I loved the masculine design yet with the perfect feminine touches.
Michael was kind enough to spend the time with me really understanding my taste, my vision, my wants, & my desires of how I wanted the salon to look. I wanted it too look like no other nail salon anyone had seen before.
He took my hand and guided me through the process. Picking out wallpapers, paint colors, artwork, furniture. I will say, sometimes you’ve got to just blindly trust him. As a self-​confessed control freak, it was hard, but I’m so SO glad that I did.
Michael’s eye for details and perfection and absolutely exquisite taste makes you feel like a million bucks. He stayed within my color palette and understood working with a budget, but he made it happen.
There were moments in the process where I’m pretty sure I had an ulcer from worry and relinquishing control of my project, but the moment it all came together, I knew it was perfect. I couldn’t have asked for more.
Thank you Michael Friedes, along with your team, Halley, Anna, Ann, & anyone else I may have missed. xoxo Hire MFDA, you’ll be so happy you did.

I have had the pleasure of working with Michael Friedes Design for a number of years. Michael is super talented and is a joy to work with. His design ideas and concepts are beautiful and it really shows in his work. His associates are great to work with as well and are very well organized. I highly recommend working with MFDA!

Well, first I’ll say that I hate anything that has to do with interior design or shopping — just to get that out there. I do know what I like, but I can’t tell you until I see what I don’t like. I appreciated working with Michael because he was willing to keep my style present, but gently push me to experiment a bit.
I needed to do a make over of my house after a recent transition. Michael was really great at showing me a lot of new furniture possibilities, but he was also totally willing to let me hang on to some of the old stuff that I really liked. He made the old and the new work really great together. I had the entire interior painted and all the colors looked great. He brought in new art for the walls that really made the place feel right.
Michael was great on all the little details. Every single piece of furniture and every piece of art was strategically placed to look their best.
I had Michael back recently to help me with new window coverings. Had a great experience once again and everything was installed carefully and looks great.

Our dear and trusted realtor recommended Michael Friedes to us. She had raved about his work as a stager for residential properties and assumed that his design business would be stellar as well.
Michael may be a good decorator and I can see him work well in an environment where clients let him «do» without setting parameters of their own.
However, the way he runs his office is sub-​standard. Having an office staff of «junior designers» who did not always know what was discussed between Michael and me made things frustrating at various occasions. There is a clear gap in communications. And even small emails or phone calls are billed, similar to a lawyer’s practice. $ 160/​hr. for Michael and $ 85 for his junior designers adds up quickly. The whole operation appears very bureacratic and lacking in efficiency.
I could have tolerated that. But the actual design work did not produce the results that I had expected. I had confirmed a sofa fabric with Michael which, when delivered, turned out to be the wrong choice. Luckily, the furniture store took the piece back and I could get an exchange with the right fabric at very little extra expense. Michael also advised me incorrectly on the shape for an ottoman. Again, I had to shop around more on my own after the piece was delivered. Luckily, I could use the ottoman that MDFR had recommended in a different room so that I did not have to return a 70 lb.-heavy piece of furniture through the mail.
What broke the proverbial camel’s back, however, was a disastrous experience with a window treatment project, which took 4+ months to complete. Michael advised me incorrectly about the folding properties of some roman shades that I had ordered. The shades bunched up horribly when they were installed, and the valances were also mismeasured. Michael had been here to advise and direct when the project was initiated with the workroom. In my mind, MDFR was responsible for this mishap.
Eventually, I had to take over and deal with National Blinds directly to get the job finished. That was much easier than going through MFDA who just acted as messengers and lacked follow-​through on the window treatment issues. I discovered that the shades had to be remade with new linings and that I also needed new valances (plus motorization). After an entire remake of ALL blinds, the blinds were finally installed in late August. I had started the project with MDFR in late March! Crazy. To their credit, National Blinds re-​did the blinds at no extra expense to me. I am surprised that they did not ask MDFR to help with the expense…
Anyhow, I am now working with a decorator who has no assistants, a «one-​woman» shop, and am getting much more personal and efficient advice than I did with MDFR. I am glad that I switched!