Michele (Cozy) Salazar was born in Miami, Florida, daughter of Suzanne “Sissy” De Maria and Joseph De Maria. Her childhood nickname “Cozy” stuck, evoking the warmth and charm she exudes. "Cozy" eventually evolved into her burgeoning brand name.

Clients turn to the celebrated designer because of her keen sense of eclectic layering and mixing antiques with contemporary design furnishings, as well as her robust use of color pops and extraordinary way of mixing patterns, textiles and art. First and foremost, her interiors reflect clients’ lifestyles and personalities, with her guiding motto that, “Design is nothing if it doesn’t reflect the individual.”

Michele approaches each project with a level of creativity and enthusiasm that’s hard to match. Her overarching desire for clients to fall in love with their home and the process makes the project enjoyable rather than overwhelming. Her viral success is rooted in the captivating environments she creates and her digital-forward process of achieving them.

Part of a new guard of designers who can communicate through online renderings, rooms are fully concepted digitally upfront, providing clients with the comfort of a known end-product. Clients appreciate her passion for collaboration which ultimately produces intimate spaces with a depth of richness that comes from shared understanding.

Having completed over 50 projects big and small, Michele’s portfolio is a study of design styles ranging from classic traditional to contemporary modern. She is a lifelong student of design with an impressive resume and international client list. Married to successful estate agent Jorge Salazar (Douglas Elliman’s David Siddons Group) and mother to two beautiful little girls, Gianna and Chiara, find her colorful life blossoming daily on the Cozy Salazar Instagram page.