Interior Design Influencer Farah Merhi Opens the Doors to the Very Instagrammable ‘Modern Glam’ Home That Turned Her Into an Online Star

Interior designer Farah Merhi has opened the doors to her stunning Michigan home—while lifting the lid on her very surprising rise to social media fame.

Merhi, 40, has become the go-to expert on social media when it comes to home decor, having amassed more than 7.5 million followers on Instagram alone.

Now, the designer and entrepreneur is welcoming fans into her sprawling property, which she has owned for 19 years, in the latest installment of Celebrity Sanctuary.

Speaking about her path to becoming an influencing sensation, Farah revealed that she never intended to pursue a career in online content creation, admitting that her dream was always to become a lawyer.

While that path veered somewhat drastically as a result of her rising online fame, the social media superstar says she couldn't be more grateful for where she's ended up.

"My journey has been an interesting one that I never expected but nevertheless so grateful for," she said. "Growing up, my goal was always to be a lawyer. Going to school and taking classes, gearing up to start applying to law school, I realized that I was going through the motions without fully feeling passionate about my career choice.

"Eventually I realized that I could no longer go through the motions and had to take a step back and reevaluate what it was that made me happy and sparked joy in me. I did not want to go down a path that did not feel fulfilling. During that time, my husband and I decided to embark on a remodel project in our home."

I have always enjoyed dabbling into little design projects but never saw it as a career for myself because I was so focused on the goal of becoming a lawyer. The remodel project gave me the spark of joy I had been searching for.

It was then that I realized how passionate I am about making a house a home. At the same time, a friend had encouraged me to get on Instagram when it was gaining popularity in 2008.

When I joined the platform, I searched for inspiration for my home remodel project that resonated with my aesthetic—modern glam yet warm, cozy, and inviting—but all I saw were design styles that I did not connect with. I decided to start my own page and document my remodel project but also share pictures of designs that I loved and inspired me.

I hoped for 500 followers to keep the engagement going, but soon enough, my account started to gain momentum and grew at such a fast pace. I couldn't believe how much of what I shared resonated with so many people. That's when I realized that the modern glam style is appreciated by many and not many brands or businesses were giving it enough attention.

Making a statement in your home through touches of glam is something many homeowners want and are looking for. Unfortunately, companies and businesses were not catering to that need.

A few years later, I launched Inspire Me Home Decor, my first product collection of home decor and furniture that caters to the homeowner that is looking for elevated and unique pieces that add a statement in their homes. The collections did so well that we just started to expand from there. 

I did not think I would amass the following I have today. To me, it was not about how many followers I would amass, it was always about the opportunity to inspire and share my love for home with a community of people that love this underrated aesthetic.

I wanted to stay true to myself rather than shift to what was being seen as the more popular design styles and continue to cater to the homeowners that connect with me. Growing my community on social media has been nothing short of humbling.

This is the community that grew with me, saw me through my journey and supported me and inspired me. Its important to stay true to yourself and when that results in such an amazing large community it shows you the importance of continuing to share with your audience what made them love you from the start. I am so grateful and forever humbled by the amount of following I have amassed over the years.

Design to me means art. A home, a room, a space, a corner represent the canvas and the designer or homeowner … the artist! The way we design and style is the artwork.

Design is a way of self-expression. I love that through design we are able to tell a story that reflects who we are, share our past, our dreams, our goals, and most importantly, showcase our personality through the little touches and design choices we make.

Every single piece, from furniture to home decor is an added layer that should tell a story. Through our home, we get to appreciate what we love and our guests get a sneak peek of who we are. 

We purchased my home about 19 years ago. It is the first home I ever owned together with my husband. I remember walking into our home after searching for a year and almost giving up on the dream of finding our dream home.

We knew the minute we stepped in the house that this was where we would raise our kids. The house has five bedrooms and six bathrooms. 

It is everything we needed to raise a family. Over the years, we have had to tackle major remodel projects and turn different rooms in our home into more functional spaces that accommodates our needs as a family. 

From changing all of our floors to remodeling our kitchen and different areas of our home, there is still work to be done. But that is the beauty of making a house a home. It takes time, it's a process, projects never end, but the results are always so worth it!

Some of the amenities that we enjoy here is my glam workout room, our outdoor spaces that feature an outdoor kitchen, dining area, seating area, and a gazebo that provides us with a seating area in the middle of our backyard.

We love our walkout basement where we hang out as a family to watch movies or play foosball or play around on our pool table. Our cozy library/office room is where you will find me cozying up to read a book or catch up on work. And my coffee station that I designed is where I start my day every morning. 

I think every room is a favorite of mine for different reasons. Maybe it's because my goal is to design and create moments in every corner no matter where we are.

My bedroom is where I love to go at the end of the day to unwind, catch up on shows with my husband in our seating area before we go to sleep. My kitchen is where I love to cook and bake for my family while enjoying a warm and cozy surrounding that also gives me beautiful outdoor views.

I love hanging out in our family room with my kids and husband with the fireplace turned on. My coffee station is my "me time" when I make my coffee or a hot tea with all of my needs in one area while providing me with beautiful details that help me relax before a long day.

The way I approach every room is to design it so each space provides us with something we collectively enjoy as a family. 

The minute you walk into my home, it is clear that my aesthetic is modern glam. I love going all out with my statement pieces but you will also feel welcomed and feel the cozy corners that make my home feel warm and inviting. 

I love entertaining and I love that I am able to do that through the different design features I have chosen. It's also a relaxing space because that is always my goal in every room. To make each space relaxing and cozy. When I walk into my home every day, I want to feel like I am in my safe space that is designed to help me relax and unwind and I hope my guests feel the same. 

As much as I try to get my husband to be involved in how I design or furnish our home, he has no interest. Maybe it's because he trusts my vision and knows that no matter what I do, he will end up loving it? At least I hope that's why!