Get to know O’Leary Interiors, the people behind the work, and what guides us today.
O’Leary Interiors has been part of the Lansing community since 1970. The name is familiar, but what you’ll find at O’Leary today has grown. Along with the services O’Leary has long been known for, the showroom now offers cabinetry, countertops, tile, and a wider selection of materials for kitchens, bathrooms, and other spaces. It’s a natural extension of what O’Leary has always been about: quality materials, personal service, and a home that feels unmistakably yours.
Good design is personal, and so is the experience of creating it. Get to know the people who bring their perspective, care, and attention to detail to every project.
Owner
Taylor Teachout is the owner of O’Leary Interiors and Teachout Builders. While growing Teachout Builders, Taylor started Tailored Design Studios, creating another way for homeowners to work through the design and material selections that go into a project. Several years ago, he rented space at O’Leary Paint, where the connection between the two businesses began.
When the opportunity came to purchase O’Leary Interiors in 2026, the name itself mattered to Taylor. O’Leary had been part of the Lansing community for more than five decades, and he saw something worth carrying forward. He didn’t want to change what O’Leary was. He wanted to continue the services and relationships that had made the name familiar, while adding the design and material resources he had developed through Tailored Design Studios. For Taylor, it was a chance to bring together things he had spent years building while respecting what was already here.
Taylor likes that there is always something new. New people to meet, new things to figure out, and new ways to help someone make their home feel more like their own. He enjoys seeing the before and after, but the relationships that come from the work are just as important. He gets to know people through their projects, and some of those relationships continue long after the work is finished.
Interior Designer
Heidi grew up around building and construction, with several members of her family working in the industry. She began flipping houses, and she was never drawn to the easy ones. The homes she chose were often run-down and in need of plenty of work, but she could see what they could become. That eye for potential has become an important part of how Heidi approaches homes and spaces.
Heidi’s work in building and remodeling gave her experience in both project management and design, along with a practical understanding of how the pieces of a home fit together. Taylor already knew Heidi through her work in the industry and began calling on her when his clients needed help with design decisions. Those occasional projects eventually led to her joining O’Leary Interiors full-time.
Today, Heidi works with clients on selections throughout the O’Leary showroom, from cabinetry and countertops to flooring, tile, and other finishes. She brings her experience in building and remodeling to those selections, helping clients find options that fit their home, style, and budget.
For kitchen and bath projects, Heidi also creates 3D designs that allow clients to see their choices in the space before moving forward. She can walk them through the design, helping them understand how the different elements will come together.
Interior Designer
Marilyn’s story with O’Leary began in 1970, when Silver Lead Paint Company brought her in to start the design department. She helped shape that department into the O’Leary Interiors design studio it is today.
Every home Marilyn works on is different. She has a natural sense of color, an eye for detail, and a talent for bringing the different elements of a room together. She considers how the furnishings, finishes, and accents work as a whole, then looks for what might still be missing. Often, that final touch is the right piece of art.
Marilyn has spent her career working in all kinds of homes, each with its own character and challenges. Among them were the Lansing and Mackinac Island residences of the Michigan governor. The Lansing home, with its abundance of marble, challenged her to bring warmth to the space. On Mackinac Island, she helped create a restful retreat. Those projects remain part of a career filled with homes, rooms, and people she remembers fondly.
“Keep the best and upgrade the rest” has always been Marilyn’s philosophy. She listens to what clients want, offers her honest opinion, and works within their budget. Whether she is designing an entire home or helping with a single piece of furniture, she gives the project the same care.
And the relationships matter just as much as the design. As Marilyn puts it, “I end up with a lot of clients being really good friends by the time we’re done.”
We start by understanding how you live, what you want from your space, and what matters most to you. From there, we help narrow the possibilities and find the right mix of comfort, style, and function for your home. Your budget is part of the conversation from the beginning, helping guide the selections and the overall direction.
For kitchens and bathrooms, 3D plans help you see how the space will take shape before decisions are finalized. Cabinetry, countertops, tile, flooring, fixtures, and other details can be considered as part of the whole space, making it easier to see how the selections will work together before anything is ordered.
Every project is different. Sometimes the right answer is a complete change; other times, a few well-chosen updates can change the way a space feels. We help clients determine what to change, what to keep, and where an investment will make the greatest difference.
Bring your ideas, questions, or plans. We’ll help you figure out what comes next.
