Nink Design Studio

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Nink Design Studio Traverse City–based interior design studio creating beautiful, functional spaces for homes and businesses throughout Northern Michigan.

Thoughtful design, clear guidance, and beautiful solutions for real life.

Nink Design Studio doesn’t offer event design as a regular service, but a couple of times a year I get the chance to len...
10/01/2026

Nink Design Studio doesn’t offer event design as a regular service, but a couple of times a year I get the chance to lend a creative hand to a special event. This week it’s the Traverse City Philharmonic’s A Night in Vegas at City Opera House, featuring the TC Phil Pops Orchestra. If you know me, you know I love this part.

The direction is more 1960s Vegas showroom than casino night: black, ivory and gold, a little aqua, vintage Vegas, feathers, lights and just enough sparkle.

Right now, that looks mostly like boxes, half-finished signs, piles of feathers and a dining room table I’d very much like back.

By Saturday, it’ll be a different story!

If you don’t have your tickets yet, this is going to be a fun one. A little step back in time, a great show, and a night on the town at the Opera House.

Event décor + styling by Nink Design Studio.

One of the more interesting parts of running a creative business is that the creative part isn't actually allowed to be ...
07/16/2026

One of the more interesting parts of running a creative business is that the creative part isn't actually allowed to be random.

Projects begin with timelines, proposals, budgets, and start dates. Months before I've designed a single thing, I've already committed to when the ideas need to arrive.

That's an interesting balance. Creativity needs freedom. Business needs structure. Somewhere between the two is where thoughtful design begins.

This morning I met another small business owner for coffee at , followed by a visit to . We wandered the rows, choosing flowers one stem at a time and talked about the tension between creativity and structure. Even on one of these muggy (and smoky) summer mornings in Northern Michigan, this was exactly where I needed to be.

I've learned not to chase inspiration. I simply have to leave room for it.

And yes, everything else in this bouquet started with this incredible lavender poppy.

I only found two blooming, just like the last time I was there a couple of years ago.

Some things are worth building everything else around.

That's usually how I approach a project, too. I'm rarely looking for twenty great ideas. I'm looking for one: a piece of art, a view, or a material. From there, everything else begins to fall into place.

Thanks for a wonderful morning, , , and .

Construction is often the part of a renovation people notice most.But the work that allows a project to move smoothly us...
04/09/2026

Construction is often the part of a renovation people notice most.

But the work that allows a project to move smoothly usually happens much earlier. Planning, coordination, and decision making shape what will eventually be built.

When those steps are handled thoughtfully, the construction phase tends to feel much more manageable.

Observation is often the first step in design.Before materials or finishes are selected, it helps to understand how peop...
04/07/2026

Observation is often the first step in design.

Before materials or finishes are selected, it helps to understand how people interact with the space. Where they enter. Where they pause. Where conversations happen.

When those patterns are understood, the design can begin to support the work happening inside the space.

Trends tend to move quickly.Homes that remain comfortable for years are usually designed around proportion, material qua...
04/06/2026

Trends tend to move quickly.

Homes that remain comfortable for years are usually designed around proportion, material quality, and thoughtful relationships between spaces.

When those elements are considered carefully, a home often feels settled long after individual trends have come and gone.

Design consultations usually begin with conversation.We talk about how the space is used now, what feels frustrating, an...
04/02/2026

Design consultations usually begin with conversation.

We talk about how the space is used now, what feels frustrating, and what the room might need to do differently. Measurements, materials, and sketches start to come into the discussion once the real goals of the space are clear.

Bringing samples, fabric books, and drawings helps translate those ideas into something people can actually see and evaluate.

Often a surprising amount of progress happens in that first meeting.

Interior design is often associated with finishes and furniture.In reality, many successful projects begin much earlier ...
04/01/2026

Interior design is often associated with finishes and furniture.

In reality, many successful projects begin much earlier in the process. Layout, natural light, circulation, and storage tend to shape how a space actually functions.

Once those foundational decisions are clear, the aesthetic choices that follow become much easier to make.

Many professional offices reach a point where everything technically works.The furniture is in place. The layout functio...
03/31/2026

Many professional offices reach a point where everything technically works.

The furniture is in place. The layout functions. Clients can check in and sit comfortably.

But something still feels slightly unresolved.

This happens often in offices where the focus has always been on the work itself. Attorneys, accountants, financial advisors, consultants — people who spend their energy serving clients rather than thinking about the environment those clients walk into.

Over time the space can start to feel a little tired, or simply not quite aligned with the level of care happening inside the business.

Often the difference isn’t a major renovation. It’s the final layer of decisions that shape how people experience the space.

Lighting that feels calm instead of clinical.
Seating arranged to support conversation.
Clearer wayfinding.
Small adjustments that help the space feel intentional.

Sometimes what helps most is simply a fresh set of eyes.

Most offices are already about 85% there. The last 15% is often what people remember.

The rooms that quietly support daily life are often the most important ones in a home.Mudrooms, laundry areas, storage w...
03/30/2026

The rooms that quietly support daily life are often the most important ones in a home.

Mudrooms, laundry areas, storage walls, and small transition spaces carry more daily traffic than almost anywhere else. When they work well, the entire house feels calmer.

Good design is not always about the biggest room. Sometimes it begins with the spaces people pass through every single day.

One of the most surprising parts of renovation planning is lead time.Many furnishings and materials are produced only af...
03/27/2026

One of the most surprising parts of renovation planning is lead time.

Many furnishings and materials are produced only after they are ordered. Upholstery, custom tables, lighting, and specialty finishes can take months to manufacture and ship.

Understanding those timelines early helps a project stay on track later.

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Traverse City, MI

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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