“We are passionate about designing spaces that truly reflect the essence of those who use them, believing that a thoughtfully crafted interior can elevate the quality of life. Our goal is to create environments that inspire and make our clients feel truly at home, no matter the setting.”
MEL Interiors is an Amsterdam-based design studio founded by Brazilian architects Marilia Callou and Elayne Alves.
As foreign architects living in Europe, we quickly realized that to fully express our creativity, we needed to create our own opportunities. This vision led us to open our studio in Amsterdam in 2014.
Specializing in bespoke interior design for a wide range of spaces, MEL Interiors excels in transforming any environment—be it residential, commercial, or hospitality—into a unique, functional, and beautifully designed experience. We collaborate closely with our favourite brands to bring our clients' visions to life, ensuring every project is infused with attention to detail.
MARILIA
CO-FOUNDER & DESIGNER
I’m Marilia Callou—the “M” in MEL.
Growing up, my mom always told me, ‘Whatever you choose as a career, make sure it’s something you love, because when we truly love what we do, we will naturally excel at it. My father, an engineer and entrepreneur, inspired me long before I knew I wanted to study architecture. What I did know from an early age was that I wanted to build something of my own, just as he did.
I earned my degree in Architecture from UniFor in Fortaleza in 2012, but during my studies, I discovered a deep passion for furniture and interior design. This led me to pursue a Master’s in Interior Design at Domus Academy in Milan in 2013, where I immersed myself in the world of aesthetics, functionality, and craftsmanship.
After gaining experience working on residential and retail projects in Europe, I felt ready to carve my own path. That’s when I met Elayne, and we had an instant click—she’s the dreamer, and I’m the realist. We were the missing pieces that brought balance to each other, and together, MEL Interiors was born.
For me, designing homes is about more than just aesthetics—it’s about translating feelings into a unique experience. Everyone is different, and beauty is subjective. That’s the biggest challenge and the most rewarding part of our work: stepping into people’s private worlds, understanding their lifestyles, and designing spaces that truly bring them joy.
At the end of every project, we sign off with “Made with Love”—because that’s the essence of everything we do at MEL Interiors.
ELAYNE
CO-FOUNDER & DESIGNER
I’m Elayne, the “EL” from MEL.
My dream of becoming an architect came when I was little listening to my mother talk about her unfulfilled dream. I grew up learning to love architecture and dreamed of building buildings that would change the life of society and that would not be just a junction of walls, but an architectural experience.
I graduated in architecture in 2008 at UFPE, in Recife - Brazil. During college, I did an internship at a well-known Interior Design Studio and that's when I learned to love this area too.
Shortly after graduating, I went on to oursue a Master's degree in sustainable architecture at Universidad Politécnica de Madrid.
But when I moved to Amsterdam, I saw that my true passion was interior design and I have been working with Marilia since 2014.
Together we do each project with great affection, and all of them are like our babies to us. For me, the most important thing is to try to read the client's taste and create the dream house that fits their style and needs, so that when they enter the house they feel comfortable and happy there.
For me, the best payment for my work is to hear from a client that our design changed their life in a positive way and that they are happy living in their new homes.
ANA
INTERIOR DESIGNER
“My name is Ana Laura but everyone just calls me Ana. I'm an Architect and I've been part of MEL for almost 3 years now. I was born and raised in the countryside of São Paulo - BR and I've been traveling the world for 5 years. All the places I've been have made my passion for Interior Design grow even more. I like to be fun, I love my dogs, Friends, I love to sing and I am driven by the privilege of being able to turn houses into homes.”
ALLINY
INTERIOR DESIGNER INTERN
“I'm Alliny, born and raised in the Brazilian capital, the city where I worked as a lawyer for over 6 years until I moved to the Netherlands in 2019. Between 2019, I planned and executed many stages of my own renovation, including DIY. This experience made me fall in love with interior design and pursue a career change. Now, I am working as an intern at MEL.
I love expressing myself in different ways, which is why I chose aerials as a hobby.
Being creative comes naturally to me. It's part of my essence, part of who I am. I couldn't be happier working in a place that inspires me with such a creative team – helping Elayne and Marília turn people's dreams into reality.”
YI
FINANCE & SALES MANAGER
My name is Yi. I was born and raised in China. In 2014 I came to the Netherlands for my master's study, and I've been living here ever since. After 10+ years working as a finance professional, corporate life became too constraining for me. My desire to travel and experience the world kept growing. Therefore, I started as a freelancer in 2024.
I love the work of MEL. Being able to leverage my knowledge and skills, while working with amazing people who are passionate about their work, while being a flexible freelancer, is quite a fun experience. This is a great team that delivers amazing homes and I'm more than happy to be part of it.