About Michelle Ogundehin
Internationally renowned as an authority on interiors, trends, wellbeing and style, Michelle Ogundehin is a writer, author, brand consultant and TV presenter. Dubbed an “interiors guru” by The Sunday Times, she is an influencer with expertise and the multi award-winning former Editor-in-Chief of ELLE Decoration UK.
Author
Her Amazon best-selling book Happy Inside: How to Harness the Power of Home for Health and Happiness, is a game-changing guide to wellbeing based on Michelle’s long-standing belief that your environment is as fundamental to your health and happiness as good food and exercise. And it’s a position now supported by science. A Stanford University study has even proven that your environment is more important than genetics when it comes to the health of your immune system!
Michelle Ogundehin Photographer Emma Webster
presenter
Michelle is Head Judge on Interior Design Masters, a landmark design show on BBC1, alongside Series Host Alan Carr. The first series screened in Autumn 2019, and is available globally via Netflix. Season Two is available on BBC iPlayer. Season Three screens March 9th 2022. Filming for Season 4 starts in June 2022.
Michelle has also co-presented five series of Kevin McCloud’s Grand Designs: House of the Year and appeared on numerous other programmes, including The Great Interior Design Challenge, The RHS Chelsea Flower Show with Monty Don, a BBC4 documentary on the Bauhaus and Channel 4’s Inside Out Homes. See more and some show reels here.
Graphic by Karina Mansfield. Michelle Ogundehin flanked by guest judge Laurence Llwelyn-Bowen and Series Host Alan Carr
architect to journalist
Trained as an architect at London’s celebrated Bartlett School, Michelle worked in architectural offices in both London and New York, where she lived for almost two years. She began her publishing career on the launch of Tate Art Magazine under Tim Marlow (formerly Director of the Royal Academy, now Director of the Design Museum), followed by formative years at Blueprint Magazine with founding editor Deyan Sudjic (previously Editor of Domus, and Director of the Design Museum) rising swiftly to the position of Senior Editor.
In 1997 she was headhunted by Ilse Crawford to join ELLE Decoration as her Features Director. A year later she was promoted to Deputy Editor under Toni Rogers. Then one further year on she opened her own creative consultancy, MO:Studio Ltd, shuttling between bases in Los Angeles and London, but maintaining a connection to ELLE Decoration as its Editor-at-Large.
Interviewing Robin Day in his home town of Chichester.
In this period, she also regularly contributed features to The Observer Magazine; penned columns for Esquire (Sept 97 –April 99) and directed shoots for Nova Magazine (April 2000 – April 2001), alongside writing articles for numerous other publications around the world including Arena; Design Week; ELLE; The Evening Standard; The Face; Frank; Hoch Parterre (Zurich); iD; Interiors (New York); The International Design Magazine (New York); Numero (Paris); Scene; Sunday Times Style and Tate Magazine.
Flexing her commercial muscle, Michelle created copy for clients including Habitat, DFS and Benetton; and styled homeware shoots for Tesco, Sainsburys and Debenhams to Marks & Spencer, Heals, Selfridges and Vitra.
editor
She was appointed Editor-in-Chief of ELLE Decoration UK in May 2004. During her 13-year tenure, the magazine rose to its highest circulation alongside achieving record revenues. She led the magazine to repeatedly win the coveted Consumer Lifestyle magazine of the year award, as well as achieving the personal accolades of both Lifestyle, and Consumer, Editor of the Year.
Her ELLE Decoration was lauded for its relevance and style: from her Editor’s letters to the beauty of the style shoots; the variety of the homes featured, and the breadth and quality of the writing. Think original short stories and thought pieces by well-known authors (Rachel Cusk to Jeanette Winterson), book extracts and provocative articles all seeking to explore what ‘home’ means in the 21st century.
She launched ELLE Decoration Collections in 2008, an annual survey of the best new designs in the world. This was followed by ELLE Decoration Country, a bi-annual bookazine celebrating the world’s most beautiful rural homes in 2012. Three years later she successfully debuted the ELLE Decoration Style Consultancy, an interior design service aimed at commercial property developers.
She also masterminded the relaunch of Real Homes magazine, achieving the fastest growing readership for all consumer magazines, up by 72% to 343,000; and its profitable sale one year later.
Michelle Ogundehin in the show apartment she designed at the Greenwich Peninsula via The ELLE Decoration Design Consultancy. Photographer: Ben Anders
design authority
Michelle has served on numerous juries and advisory boards and was a Trustee of the Victoria & Albert Museum for 7 years. In 2021 she was appointed to the board of Trustees of The Design Museum; as well as being announced as a Visiting Professor to the Manchester School of Architecture.
She is a Contributing Editor to The FT: How to Spend It magazine and a frequent contributor to Dezeen, the world’s most influential online design portal. She writes regularly for many other prestigious publications including Vogue Living, Femail, Harrods Magazine, Neptune Stories and Waitrose Weekend alongside penning her popular Home Whisperer column for the John Lewis Home magazine.
Appearing on Newsnight with Kirsty Wark alongside Tom Dixon to discuss the demise of Habitat after its sale to Argos.
design champion
She gained industry notoriety for her Equal Rights for Design campaign. Backed by Sir James Dyson and Sir Terence Conran, the proposal to change the UK copyright laws with respect to design culminated in new laws being passed in 2016 that made knock-off designer classics illegal.
Showing a fake design what it’s worth outside The Conran Shop.
consultant
Since leaving ELLE Decoration in 2017, under the aegis of MO:Studio Ltd, some of the brands Michelle has worked with include the Affordable Art Fair; Arteriors; Calligaris; De Longhi; Dulux; Geberit; IKEA; Made.com; Magnet Kitchens; Microsoft; Rated People; Ripples; SilentNight; Very.co.uk.
Michelle Ogundehin in the Made.com studio with some of the limited-edition pieces she commissioned.
Michelle was born in Manchester, grew up in London, lived on both the East and West Coasts of America, and now lives in East Sussex with her young son and two very laid-back Basset Hounds. She is a self-confessed detail queen and clutter-clearing obsessive.
For any enquiries please email hello@mostudio.co.uk
TELEVISION CREDITS
Interior Design Masters S3 BBC1. Eight-episodes. TX March 2022.
Series Judge alongside Series Host Alan Carr.
Grand Designs: RIBA House of the Year Channel 4. Four-part series. TX November 2021.
Co-presenter alongside Kevin McCloud and architect Damion Burrows, visiting the the UK’s best new houses.
Interior Design Masters S2 BBC2. Eight-episodes. TX February 2021.
Series Judge alongside Series Host Alan Carr.
Grand Designs: RIBA House of the Year Channel 4. Four-part series. TX October 2019.
Co-presenter alongside Kevin McCloud and Damion Burrows, exploring the pick of the year’s best UK houses.
Interior Design Masters S1 BBC2/Netflix. Eight-episodes. TX September 2019.
Series Judge alongside Series Host Fearne Cotton on a new competition format Interior Design show. Think Project Runway meets The Apprentice!
Grand Designs: RIBA House of the Year Channel 4. Four-part series. TX November 2018.
Co-presenter alongside Kevin McCloud and Damion Burrows, exploring the pick of the year’s houses nominated for this prestigious award.
Grand Designs: RIBA House of the Year Channel 4. Four-part series. TX November 2017.
Co-presenter alongside Kevin McCloud and Damion Burrows, exploring the pick of the year’s houses nominated for this prestigious award. Watch clips here.
The Great Interior Design Challenge BBC2 TX March 2017
Joined judges Daniel Hopwood and Kelly Hoppen as a guest judge in the semi-finals. Watch here
Inside Out Homes Channel 4. Seven-part series. First four programmes TX July 2016
Contributor to new home and design series exploring the contemporary trend of Indoor/Outdoor living.
Chelsea Flower Show BBC2. Episode 13. TX May 2016
Interviewed by Monty Don. Presenting pick of the best designed stands.
Grand Designs: RIBA House of the Year Channel 4. Four-part series. TX November 2015
Co-presenter alongside alongside Kevin McCloud and Zac Monro, exploring the pick of the year’s houses nominated for this prestigious award. Watch showreel here.
Newsnight BBC1. TX June 2011
Live discussion on the demise of Habitat with presenter Kirsty Wark and Tom Dixon. Watch here.
APPOINTMENTS
Visiting Professor. The Manchester School of Architecture
November 2021 – to date.
Trustee. The Design Museum
March 2021 – to date
Ambassador. CoolBrands
2021. 2020. 2017. 2016. 2015. Invited to select and nominate brands for this prestigious annual accolade.
Judge. The Davidson Prize
2020/21. Invited to join a panel of judges for this inaugural architectural prize celebrating transformative architecture for the home.
Ambassador. The Museum of Home
2017 – to date. Representing Britain’s foremost museum of the home with interiors dating from 1600 to the present day.
Judge. The Restaurant & Bar Design Awards
2018. Invited to shortlist the best bars and restaurants, both in the UK and globally for this annual award.
Trustee. V&A Museum
Sept 2008 – Sept 2015
Non-Executive Director. V&A Enterprises Board
March 2009 – Sept 2015
Ambassador. Diversity in Public Appointments
Government Equalities Office Nov 2009 – Dec 2011
Non-Executive Director. South Coast Design Forum July 2008 to Dec 2013
Non-profit organisation promoting good design along the South Coast of England.
PUBLICATIONS
Happy Inside: How to Harness the Power of Home for Health and Happiness. Ebury Press. 2020
300pp book explaining why environment is as fundamental to wellbeing as good food and exercise.
Read more about it here. Happy Inside
House of Hoppen: 40 Years of Kelly Hoppen Jacqui Small Publishing. 2016
330pp book charting 40 years of influential interior designer Kelly Hoppen. Interview and text.
Swarovski Crystal Palace: The Art of Light and Crystal Swarovski/teNeues Publishing. 2010.
216pp book documenting the Swarovski Crystal Palace project.
LA Lofts Chronicle Books, San Francisco. 2006
194pp book on Los Angeles’ Loft apartments. By Barbara Thornburg. Foreword Michelle Ogundehin
Bringing Architecture Home: A layperson’s Guide to Architects 2003
Published in association with the Arts Council, Habitat, The RIBA and ELLE Decoration
Understanding Plans: A layperson’s guide to architectural drawings 1997
By Peter Murray and Michelle Ogundehin.
Drawings by Louis Hellman. Funded by the Arts Council
The Glasgow International Festival of Design Catalogue, 1996
64pp guide to Britain’s first design festival published in association with Blueprint Magazine.
Tasty: Introduction to New British Design
Exhibition Guide. In association with Selfridges
AWARDS
PPA Magazine Awards 2017
Nominated for Specialist Consumer magazine of the Year
PPA Magazine Awards 2013
Winner Specialist Consumer magazine of the Year
Nominated for Consumer Editor of the Year 2013
BSME Magazine Editors Awards 2012
Nominated for Lifestyle Magazine Editor of the Year
Highly Commended for Campaign of the Year
PPA Magazine Awards 2011
Winner Specialist Consumer Magazine of the Year
Highly Commended Consumer Editor of the Year
BSME Magazine Editors Awards 2011
Nominated for Lifestyle Magazine Editor of the Year
PPA Magazine Awards 2009
Nominated for Specialist Consumer Magazine of the Year
BSME Magazine Editors Awards 2007
Nominated for Lifestyle Magazine Editor of the Year
PPA Magazine Awards 2006
Highly Commended Consumer Lifestyle Magazine of the Year
PPA Magazine Awards 2005
Highly Commended Consumer Lifestyle Magazine of the Year
BSME Magazine Editors Awards 2005
Nominated for Fiona Macpherson New Editor of the Year
PPA Magazine Awards 2004
Highly Commended for Consumer Lifestyle Magazine of the Year
POSITIONS
Director MO Studio Ltd
2002 to date
Editor-in-Chief ELLE Decoration UK
April 2004 – August 2017
Creative Director, ELLE Decoration Style Consultancy
October 2015 to August 2017
Editor-in-Chief ELLE Decoration Country
May 2012 – August 2017
Editor-in-Chief ELLE Decoration Collections
September 2007 – October 2009
Editor-in-Chief REAL HOMES
August 2007 – November 2008
Editor-at-Large, ELLE Decoration UK
April 1999 to March 2004
Deputy Editor, ELLE Decoration UK
March 1998 — March 1999
Features Director, ELLE Decoration UK
Jan 1997 — Feb 1998
Senior Editor, Blueprint Magazine
June 1996 — Dec 1996
Assistant Editor, Blueprint Magazine
Jan 1995 — May 1996
Editorial Assistant, Tate Art Magazine
Jan 1994 – Dec 1994
Office Manager, Creative Media Planning, New York
Dec 1990 – August 1991
Architectural Design Assistant, Voorsanger Associates, New York
June 1990 — Dec 1990
Architectural Design Assistant, Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, London
Sept 1989 — June 1990
TRAINING
QuarkXpress. Advanced Applications, The City Literary Institute, London
Completed January 1995
Management Diploma. Marketing Option, CITE Associates, London
Completed January 1994
Diploma in Architecture, Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL, London
Sept 1991– June 1993
Typography: design and application in magazines. Fashion Institute of Technology, New York
Completed June 1991
BSc(Hons) Architecture 2.1 Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL, London
Sept 1986 – June 1989
TALKS
For the many recent talks, podcasts and interviews associated with Happy Inside please see Happy Inside: Press Coverage
Chelsea Harbour Design Centre March 2019
Chair of panel discussing the business of design. Speakers included Maria Speake, co-founder of Retrouvius, Shalini Misra director of the Shalini Misra Studio and Staffan Tollgård, co-founder of Staffan Tollgård Design Group
Talking Interiors Soho House 2018/2019
Curated a trilogy of talks discussing Brands, Influencers and the Power of Colour to celebrate the launch of Soho Home. Details here
Design Matters April 2018
In Conversation with On-Design founder Justyna Sowa. Watch film here
Liberty London April 2018
Meet the Experts ‘Speed Dating for Design’ event in store
Liberty London March 2018
In Conversation with Fine Cell Work founder Katy Emck OBE
FoundHer Festival July 2017
In Conversation with made.com founder Chloe Macintosh
British Institute of Interior Design June 2015
Keynote speech at annual conference: ‘Interior Design on TV: Good, Bad or just plain ugly?‘
Victoria & Albert Museum 2015
London Design Festival debate: ‘Designing for Today’s Digital World.’ Chair with guests Sebastian Conran, Ruth Wassermann, Katrin Baumgarten and Fabio Del Colle. V&A. Lecture Theatre. Watch talk here.
Chelsea Harbour Design Centre 2015
Conversations in Design with Doshi Levien (March 15)
Chelsea Harbour Design Centre 2013
Conversations in Design with Michael Anastassiades (Mar 13)
Tom Dixon: The British Maverick (Sept 13)
Eighth Annual Design Leadership Summit, New York, 2013
Talk: The Alchemy of Modern Magazine Publishing alongside Lucia Van Der Post and Marco Velardi
Victoria & Albert Museum, 2013
In Conversation with Cath Kidston, Lecture Theatre talk
Victoria & Albert Museum, 2012
London Design Festival debate: ‘Does British Design Matter?’ Chair with guests Tom Dixon, Cath Kidston, Tristram Hunt MP for Stoke. Hochhauser Auditorium, Sackler Centre
Chelsea Harbour Design Centre 2012
Conversations in Design: Paul Cocksedge (Mar); Rosita Missoni (Sept)
Chelsea Harbour Design Centre 2011
Conversations in Design with Lee Broom (Mar); Barbara Hulanicki (Sept).
Victoria & Albert Museum, 2011
In Conversation with Tricia Guild, Lecture Theatre talk
Chelsea Harbour Design Centre 2010
Conversations in Design with Ilse Crawford
Victoria & Albert Museum, 2009
In Conversation with Edmund de Waal, Lecture Theatre talk (Sept 09); ‘Fantasy and Fear in Contemporary Design’, ticketed gallery discussion with exhibition curator, Gareth Williams (July 09).
The Barbican, London, 2009
Guided Exhibition talk: ‘Le Corbusier, his private domain vs public projects’.
The Brighton Art Fair, Brighton, 2008
Opening evening introduction: ‘Why Art Matters’.
Selfridges, London 2007
Opening evening introduction: What is style?
Hachette Filipacchi International Editor’s Conference, Paris 2006
Keynote speech: ELLE Decoration: the evolution of the brand
Habitat, London 2005
Keynote conference speech: ‘Promoting desire in design; how to seduce and sell’.
Hachette Filipacchi International Editor’s Conference, Paris 2004
Keynote speech: ELLE Decoration: filling the gap between interiors and inspiration
A detail of my HappyInside living room. The vintage Ercol dining chairs were dipped to remove their shiny yellowed 1950s varnish and re-stained, with a satin finish, to match the floors. Photograph: Emma Harris
Portrait at home. #happyinside Photograph Marianna Wahlsten
Happy Inside: How to Harness the Power of Home for Health and Happiness by Michelle Ogundehin. Published 30 April 2020.