Linda Merrill

Linda Merrill

Linda Merrill is an award-winning interior designer and decorator based on the South Shore of Massachusetts in the gorgeous coastal town of Duxbury. She is an expert in the fields of interior design, media communications & marketing. A lifelong passion for creating beautiful - and livable - spaces combined with a savvy business mind has brought her design work and writing to a national and even international audience. Her passion for creating beautiful spaces began early on when she was allowed to select the finish color of her first “big girl” bedroom set at the age of six. Linda received a Certificate in Decorative Arts from the prestigious Boston Architectural College in 2002 and opened her own firm shortly thereafter. In 2012, Linda was awarded the IFDA New England/Design New England Magazine Showcase award for Best Living Space for her Back Bay Penthouse project.
Linda offers both in-person traditional full-service design as well as custom virtual designs for those outside the area or who are looking for a great design that they can implement themselves.
A serene modern coastal bedroom in Truro Cape Cod Massachusetts design by Linda Merrill.
Linda’s blog, Surroundings (https://lindamerrill.com/blog/), has an international readership and is often listed on Best Blog and Design Influencer lists. It was most recently named one of the Top 19 Interior Designers in Boston by Expertize (https://www.expertise.com/ma/boston/interior-design). It offers her unique views on wide ranging aspects of the built environment from architecture, photographic tours, product reviews, design inspirations, special events and even movie set decor!
She was moderator of a popular podcast series called The Skirted Roundtable from 2009-2013 (http://skirtedroundtable.blogspot.com/2013/09/chatting-with-mario-buatta.html). Her first book HOW TO START A HOME BASED INTERIOR DESIGN BUSINESS, published by Taylor Trade Publishing (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00XTTIPHE/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1), was released in May, 2015.
Linda has appeared on Martha Stewart’s Sirius Radio Channel; NECN’s “New England Dream House”; WHDH Television’s “Room for Improvement” and WBZ-TV’s “Sundays With Liz”. She has been featured in CAPE COD MAGAZINE, CAPE COD HOME, HOME REMODELERS magazine, THE BOSTON GLOBE Sunday Magazine, BostonVoyager (http://bostonvoyager.com/interview/conversations-inspiring-linda-merrill/) THE WASHINGTON POST, NEW ENGLAND HOME MAGAZINE, SOUTH SHORE LIVING MAGAZINE and THE PATRIOT LEDGER.

Wall monogram from Three Hip Chicks

10 Things in Your House Worth Monogramming

Posted by Linda Merrill | Nov 08, 2011

The urge to stamp our name upon our homes has been around a very long time. It was not invented in the "me decade".  In fact, I recently attended an antiques show in Boston and one...

hello-julie/Flickr

Green and Easy Thanksgiving Centerpiece Ideas

Posted by Linda Merrill | Nov 07, 2011

You can’t enter a store this time of year without being bombarded with holiday music and tacky decorations. As an interior designer, those tacky decorations really get my goat because...

Lotus Head/stock.xchng

Wrinkle-Free Laundry Without Ironing

Posted by Linda Merrill | Nov 01, 2011

Over time, I've worked out an easy system for keeping my clothes wrinkle-free. As a busy interior designer and blogger, I don't have hours to spend ironing. I'm sharing my iron-free...

Oval door knockers by Pottery Barn. Photo: Potterybarn.com

Designer Picks: Door Knockers

Posted by Linda Merrill | Oct 17, 2011

Whether you live in a castle or an apartment, a door knocker is a decorative way to welcome visitors. As one of the first things in your home that greets visitors, door knockers can...

The West Elm Root Candelabra via Westelm.com

Designer picks: Modern candle sticks

Posted by Linda Merrill | Oct 12, 2011

Candles have long been in use, dating back to 200-300 BC. Naturally, there was an immediate need for candleholders or vessels of some kind to contain the wax or other burning medium...

Sarah Kobunski/stock.xchng

4 Ecological Friendly Outdoor Halloween Decorating Ideas

Posted by Linda Merrill | Oct 12, 2011

I'm a decorator, and I believe that Halloween decorations should not require electricity. No fog machines, no blow-up witches, ghosts, goblins or giant illuminated pumpkins. And certainly...

12 cup holder from Salad-recipe.net

Designer Picks: Organizers for Mugs and Tea Cups

Posted by Linda Merrill | Oct 07, 2011

When available storage space is at a premium in the kitchen, we are always on the lookout for great storage and organization solutions. Plus, when we need our coffee, we want our mugs...

Janet LaBerge speaking at an event. Photo: South Shore Women's Business Network

Compassionate Cleanout Company Helps Older People Downsizing

Posted by Linda Merrill | Oct 06, 2011

As our population ages and the Baby Boom generation reaches retirement age, issues related to downsizing are ever more important. Since World War II, our country has seen unprecedented...

Painted wood paneling. Photo: Kurt Dwyer Painting

Good Question: Can You Paint Over Wood Paneling?

Posted by Linda Merrill | Sep 20, 2011

To paint or not to paint old wood paneling, that is the question. When we think of wood paneling, we often picture old, tired knotty pine walls that have darkened or yellowed over time....

Mexchic/Etsy

Designer Picks: Lightweight Late-Summer Blankets

Posted by Linda Merrill | Sep 01, 2011

The days are getting shorter and the nights are getting cooler. It’s the perfect time to throw on a light summer blanket and snuggle in! Take a peek at some of our faves for ...