For sisters Nadi and Ellie, a passion for design runs in the family. So much so, that the Iran-born siblings joined forces to launch m+, an innovative boutique interior design and architectural services firm based out of Vancouver.
"What brings us to design is a sense of placing our mark on society in an everlasting way," says Nadi Miri. "We really like to create spaces with a unique mark."
Nadi says she was always "passionate about design and geometry", and attended the architecture school at Art & Architecture Azad university in Tehran. She credits her more holistic and big-picture design sense to her global understanding of design trends.
Ellie's path was similar. "I gravitated to learning about the organizational thought behind spaces," she says. She completed her MID in interior design before she and her sister decided to join forces to create a holistic approach to interior and exterior design in the Lower Mainland.
Something the Miri sisters share is that they never limit themselves to one type of project. "We have worked on so many types of projects, including single family houses, custom design throughout Vancouver, yoga studios, offices, coffee shops, bakeries, restaurants, a juice bar, some commercial stuff," Nadi explains.
While some might think it would be challenging to run a business with a sibling, Nadi says,
"We meet halfway. We make compromises too. Our priority is the project – if we can create that unique healthy design, we have that in mind, so that we don't get personal.”
They describe their technique as working opposite one another: Nadi works from the outside, plotting the grounds and landscaping before tackling the exterior structure. At the same time, Ellie works on the interior of the building, planning colour schemes and the seamless movement from room to room. All the while, they consult with one another to ensure that the two facets of the project complement one another as naturally as possible. While they work, they make efforts to ensure that materials used are as environmentally friendly as possible.
The sisters are excited to expand their work, be it residential or commercial, in Vancouver, Squamish, Whistler, Maple Ridge, and Surrey.
They are confident that their winning streak together will continue, with Ellie adding, "We are very integrative and detailed. In terms of styles and goals, our visions are very similar. It helps to have similar ideas."
If you'd like to find out more about the Miri sisters and their architectural work, head to https://mplusdesign.ca/.
