Montana Labelle Design & Lifestyle is a standout interior design and lifestyle shop recognized most notably for their elegant marble and stone objects, along with their keen eye for detail. They are opening a pop-up in the Hamptons from July 26 – August 5 from 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. at Michael Del Piero Good Design located at 372 Montauk Highway in Wainscott. Michael Del Piero is a full-service interior designer with locations in the Hamptons and Chicago and projects nationwide, and this collaboration with ML Design & Lifestyle is highly anticipated during this summer season in the Hamptons.
Montana Labelle’s limestone, marble, and travertine objects and furniture, along with limited-edition pieces will be available exclusively at the pop-up collaboration throughout the week, along with the founder, Montana Labelle, herself. They are looking forward to creating connections with the Hamptons design community during this event and they can’t wait for individuals to experience their collections firsthand.
Montana spoke more about the ML Design & Lifestyle brand, their design process, what those visiting can expect from the pop-up, and what sets this collaboration apart.
What is the Montana Labelle Design & Lifestyle brand all about?
ML: Montana Labelle Design & Lifestyle is an immersive design house where the aspirational and attainable coexist. We are passionate about creating timeless, lived in design, and gravitate toward all things vintage and marble. We aim to push creative boundaries, listen to and encourage our clients to think outside the box, and stay true to who we are—our non-conforming, bizarre, and creative selves.
Can you talk a bit about the pop-up at Michael Del Piero Good Design Hamptons? How did it come into conception?
ML: Michael Del Piero Good Design Hamptons is a favorite of ours as we share an affinity for wabi-sabi principles and sensibilities, favoring natural, organic color palettes and materials. When we first visited Michael Del Piero’s shop in the Hamptons last summer we knew we had to collaborate on something special. Michael’s incredible collection of furnishings and fixtures are a natural fit with our ML Lifestyle marble assortment, and we are excited to share this with the community out east.
What is your process like for interior designing?
ML: Each project is unique to its client and special to our team; our main objective is to ensure that the end result speaks to our clients both from a functional and an aesthetic perspective while also pushing creative boundaries to create something entirely unique.
At the onset of a project, we spend a great deal of time getting to understand how our clients intend to use the space, and determining how far creatively we can take them through the process.
Typically, we will start sourcing vintage pieces from day one, as we use one or a few key pieces to set the tone for the entire project. We focus on vintage curation because the uniqueness of those items directly speaks to a client’s individuality, offering them the opportunity to ground their space with one-of-a-kind items that feel deeply personal and specific to them.
Every element we incorporate is thoughtfully selected, from lighting and trims to the smallest vents. By taking into consideration all the minute details—even recommending specific incenses to enhance the sensory experience—we’re able to effectively create a cohesive space that is wholly immersive.
Can you talk about the lifestyle shop and your vision for it?
ML: Our lifestyle store was born in 2019, right before the pandemic. We realized there was a hole in the market for accessible, unique, high-quality home décor and saw an opportunity to flex our creativity and passion more autonomously for vintage furniture and creating one-of-a-kind pieces. Starting from Montana’s basement, Montana Labelle Lifestyle has grown into a globally recognized e-commerce brand with a physical showroom space in downtown Toronto with full time staff and fulfillment.
When we talk about both businesses—we refer to the Montana Labelle Design Studio as aspirational and Montana Labelle Lifestyle as attainable. Both work synergistically—often, we will start by designing a product for a specific design project and then adapt that style for Montana Labelle Lifestyle—that’s why many of our products are private label items that we’ve customized and developed in house. Our mission is always to offer something truly unique to both our clients and customers, and the lifestyle shop has allowed us to engage with more people and members of the design community than we ever thought possible.
Do you have any favorite projects or pieces you have worked on over the years that stood out?
ML: While we of course love working on clients’ homes, one of our favorite projects as of recent was the completion of my home in Toronto. Renovating my own home allows my team and I the ability to test new styles, finishings, and create custom pieces that we have yet to try in either a client’s home or for our lifestyle shop. This project in particular was an evolution of our previous work and we’re so pleased with how it turned out. Beyond that, this really allows us to flex our creative muscles, push boundaries, and test the limits of our designs. All that being said, I’m already ready for the next project.
What’s different about this pop-up compared to some of your other projects?
ML: While we have done some incredible partnerships and collaborations with ML Lifestyle that we are so proud of, this initiative is our first official pop-up shop in the US. We have seen our audience in this market expand rapidly over the past couple of years, often outpacing Canada, and we are so excited to be able to showcase our collection in real life. Not to mention, NYC and the Hamptons are some of our favorite locations. The design talent located in these areas is truly exceptional and we look forward to connecting with the design community out east!
What’s different about design in the Hamptons that can’t be found elsewhere?
ML: The Hamptons is very much a reflection of its surroundings and location—organic and natural. This means that it does not feature design elements such as ornate decor, glossy materials, and “stuffy” environments. Typically, the first thing that comes to mind when people think ‘Hamptons’ is often a more traditional almost nautical look. While this still exists, we feel in recent years Hamptons style has evolved in a number of ways to showcase a more modern take on these traditional elements. While still bright and airy, this modern take now incorporates elements of both west coast and contemporary modern styles.
What sets Montana Labelle Design & Lifestyle apart from other interior designers or lifestyle shops? And how would you characterize the style of Montana Labelle Design & Lifestyle?
ML: I think that we have become experts in curation and product development, and have been able to create a niche for ourselves in the design world, both through our unique utilization of marble and vintage as well as by creating an online marketplace focused on private label products at a time when many design firms were not.
Our interior designs artfully weave together the best of modern and vintage elements, embracing a timeless aesthetic, while also pushing creative boundaries and encouraging our clients to think outside the box. We transcend fleeting trends, opting for neutral interiors that exude a sense of understated elegance, comfort, and sophistication. Our passion for the one-of-kind has led us to emphasize marble as well as vintage, as its whimsical and non-uniform markings are entirely unique.
What are your favorite spaces to design?
ML: Bathrooms are definitely my favorite spaces to design. This is one of my personal favorite rooms in the house, especially the primary, as this is where I spend time at the end of the day winding down.
Bathrooms are often the smallest spaces in a home, which brings both a challenge as well as a ton of opportunity to play with the small details. From unique marble tiles to decorative plumbing and finishes, you can often get more creative in these spaces.
Do you have any favorite pastimes on the East End?
ML: We love exploring all of the individual towns on Long Island, from Southampton to Montauk. To no surprise, antiquing and visiting all of the unique vintage shops on the Island is one of our favorites. You never know what hidden gems you are going to find.
Does your location ever influence your design process and style?
ML: Yes, completely. While many styles are timeless, often design is impacted by its surroundings. For example, we are currently working on a townhouse in Brooklyn and part of our process is really being able to maintain the charm and heritage of the area. The design that we would incorporate into a project like this will differ from one of our projects in Miami given that the location has a very different feel. We always draw inspiration from the location as well as the existing structure if that is being incorporated.
Can you talk a little about the services you offer?
ML: Montana Labelle Lifestyle is a full-service interior design studio and lifestyle shop for everything from custom furnishings to marble decor, curated art, hardware, ceramics, textiles, and one-of-a-kind pieces sourced from vintage markets around the world.
We sell private label products, curated decor bundles, and vintage selections; additionally, we offer a Trade Program and a Styling Service to support our clients in many different ways. The former allows us to partner with and develop custom styles for companies and individuals in the design business, while the latter allows us to work with individuals, curating product packages and offering design support on smaller-scale projects. Most recently, we’ve launched our Marble Tile Program, which offers our signature marble styles adapted for home-tiling.
What do you want people to take away most from the pop-up?
ML: With our pop-up we really want to be able to engage with the local design community and individuals in the area on a personal level. Our marble collection is very tactile, and no two pieces are the same, we feel this will be a great opportunity for individuals to see the collection firsthand, feel and see the quality, and learn how they can easily integrate these pieces into their own homes or projects.
Head over to Michael Del Piero Good Design any day from July 26 – August 5 during the hours of 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. to immerse yourself in the Montana Labelle Design & Lifestyle experience.
