Meet Mil Kikos | Owner and Principal Designer of ME Design Group

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mil Kikos and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mil, putting aside the decision to work for yourself, what other decisions were critical to your success?
Surrounding myself with solid tradespeople who specialized in specific areas of the industry provided me the hands on education I didn’t have the luxury of by way of a formal education. Learning never ends, asking questions, seeing how things work in each specific trade, and then asking more questions is really the only way to improve on your skillset and become more knowledgable. That, combined with taking classes to fill in knowledge gaps as needed (for example, accounting for small business, or learning CAD software) allowed me to grow, evolve and become better equipped to work with a range of clients. This is a challenging industry that is constantly changing, one where so many hats are worn at any given time particularly when you first launch.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I own a Design/Build firm. Traditionally a Contractor’s role involved overseeing and managing a renovation or new build, managing subcontractors, working in tandem with architects and engineers while adhering to state laws, codes and requirements. In contrast, an Interior Designer’s focus is to not only consider functionality and form but to create thoughtful, elevated and cohesive spaces that are in alignment with a client’s vision and goals. Our firm manages the entire project from concept to fruition from initial planning, renderings, finishing selection, execution of high level architectural details, and management of trades and procurement and tracking of all materials throughout the process allowing for a seamless process until project completion.

I began with just offering furnishing design services, but then obtained licensing to work in residential remodels and that took precedent for quite a few years. As time went on clients were interested in turn-key design service as well so we began a more full-service holistic approach to our clients.

This journey has been anything but easy. No two jobs were the same and the learning curve was steep, and you don’t know what you don’t know until you live and learn through new experiences and challenges so I leaned very heavily on my crew of tradespersons and subcontractors and those who specialized in those areas where I did not. I also think many assume design is a very light-hearted and fun business but the level of detail and specificity involved in each project as well as the administrative aspect of tracking, invoicing, billing are all a part of solopreneurship those first few years until you can hire team members to remove some of those things that aren’t your “jam”. Those first few years was a lot of sweat equity and throwing myself in sometimes feeling like I was free falling but then reveling in the fact that I made it through and somehow managed to still love the process in spite of.

I think it is so easy to become discouraged before even beginning. There are a million reasons why not, and just a few that whisper why you should. I never look at an end point and define success for myself that way. Success is trucking through even when challenges hit, success is getting to year 7 and being approached for the type of work you only dreamed of when you began. Success is loving your clients, in making those first few hires, and really just getting to do the thing you are passionate about- the bonus is making a beautiful living of it. I am so grateful to be a part of the most intimate part of someone’s life, their most sacred spaces. To be entrusted with that is humbling and thrilling all at once.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Well. Design is so intertwined with everything I do and love so I would probably take them to the Santa Monica Proper Hotel designed by Kelly Wearstler for lunch on the rooftop. It is a trip for the senses. The textures, color palettes, furnishings, materiality is a testament to why Wearstler is who she is. The rooftop deck of the Santa Monica Proper is quintessential California with coastal views cocktails and delicious bites.

After that we would pop over to West Hollywood to visit some of my favorite showrooms such as Una Malan, Lawson-Fenning, Nickey Kehoe, and Apparatus. On Friday’s I always love to stop by LACMA for live jazz, some wine and pizza at Ray’s and Stark Bar after visiting the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, LACMA or the Petersen Auto Museum across the way. There is no way I am letting a friend visit without driving on PCH, and would probably stop and have some wine at Rosenthal winery and lunch at Geoffrey’s because the view is so serene. I would also take them on a drive around Hancock Park, Beechwood Canyon and above the Sunset Strip to see the beautiful historic homes in the area. A visit to the Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens for High Tea in Pasadena would be on my list as well.

A two-day trip to Santa Barbara with a pit stop in Carpenteria and Summerland for wine tasting, shopping at Mary’s Antiques, the Well, and Porch continued with wine tasting in the Funk Zone and dinner at Loquita, and massages at El Encanto with a glass of champagne overlooking the Pacific is how I would end our stay.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My husband Eli was instrumental in encouraging me to pursue interior design. He worked in the industry and after we remodeled our first home together and saw how passionate I was he knew this was it for me. I had worked in the fashion industry (Luxury Consignment) for many years and the transition felt right, and there was absolutely no denying it. In 2017 I offered my design services in an LA based mom group on Facebook and the response to my home was overwhelming and the work kept me busy for the entire first year. From then on it was entirely word of mouth. The first few years were a whirlwind but he cheered me on the entire way, I do not take that for granted, he knew my success was his- that is true partnership in every sense of the word.

Website: www.medesign.group

Instagram: instagram.com/medesigngroupinc

Facebook: facebook.com/MEDesignGroupInc

Other: Email: info@medesign.group

Image Credits
Melissa Murciano Photography https://www.melissamurciano.com/