ABOUT THE STUDIO
Beautiful homes begin with the people who live in them
At Earth & Elm Design, we believe a home should feel as good as it looks. It should support the way you live, feel comfortable enough for everyday life, and still have the details that make it feel special.
Our approach is thoughtful and personal. We take the time to understand how our clients live, what they are drawn to, and how they want their home to feel. From there, we bring each element together with intention, creating spaces that feel warm, layered, collected, and entirely their own.
Inspired by the natural beauty of California, our work embraces organic textures, natural materials, thoughtful color, and a sense of ease. The result is a home that feels elevated without feeling untouchable, beautiful without sacrificing comfort, and designed to be lived in.
At its heart, Earth & Elm Design is about creating homes that feel personal. Spaces that tell your story, welcome you in, and feel unmistakably like home.
Meet Melissa
A LIFELONG LOVE OF HOME, DESIGN, AND THE BEAUTY FOUND IN NATURE
For Melissa Winston, the connection between home and nature began long before Earth & Elm Design.
Growing up in the mountains, Melissa spent her childhood climbing trees and surrounded by the colors, textures, and quiet beauty of the natural landscape. Later, she followed that love of the outdoors to the California coast, where the relaxed beauty of coastal living became another lasting source of inspiration.
Her love of interiors began just as early. From rearranging and imagining spaces as a little girl to eventually creating homes for her own clients, Melissa has always been drawn to the way our surroundings can influence how we feel.
Today, that perspective is at the heart of Earth & Elm Design. Melissa approaches each project with creativity, organization, and a deeply personal commitment to the people who will ultimately live there. She believes great design is not about imposing a particular style, but about listening carefully, seeing the possibilities within a space, and bringing together the details that make a home feel complete.
Her designs balance beauty with real life, creating interiors that feel warm, refined, comfortable, and personal. Above all, Melissa wants her clients to walk into their finished home and feel that it could belong to no one else.
A HOME SHOULD FEEL LIKE YOU
Every Earth & Elm project begins with listening. Your lifestyle, your story, the things you love, and even the way you move through your home all influence the design.
Because the most beautiful spaces are not simply designed to be looked at. They are designed to be lived in.