So, you walk into Justin Vining's home, and you pull the artwork off of his wall. Everyone who is doing something great here in Indy is applauded. I was like there for the minutes that the match were. Is there something that that you're the most proud of? From South Bend to Evansville and everywhere in between, this is Get In, the show focused on the Hoosier state and the incredible stories happening here today. I'm Nate Spangle, founder of Get Indiana, and I will be your host for today's conversation.
Today, I'm joined by MJ Coil, an innovative interior designer celebrated for his transformative designs on hit HGTV shows like Indy's own Good Bones and Rock the Block. MJ's style is all about telling his clients' unique stories through interior design. Through eight seasons, MJ contributed his vision to many renovations, but after the series wrapped, he embarked on a new chapter with his own company, MJ Coil Homes, where he does design consulting and full-scale design work for his own customers. Today, we're going to be talking about his background growing up in Indiana and and getting into design and and just the artistic expression. We're going to talk about his creative process as well as his new brand, MJ Coil Home. So, MJ, welcome to Get In.
Hey, how's it going? Dude, I am pumped for this one. Me, too. The So, if you want to show you want to show the phone case in the back of that to the Yeah, for those watching at home, he is a Justin Vining guy. So, this was an intro from Justin, and we're super pumped. Go back and listen to Justin's episode.
He is like the most innovative painter, I think, in the state maybe in in the nation. Yeah, awesome. His approach to art, and we had a great conversation there, but that's what led me to an introduction to MJ, and and I'm pumped to sit down and talk today, man. Absolutely. This is exciting. Let's start.
So, I'm going to put it out on the table. When you think of art and design and all of these like creative expressions, like Indiana probably isn't the most well-known state for these kind of activities, I would say. It's not, and it should be because I really think some of the most innovative, creative, just artistic geniuses are literally right here in Indiana. And I feel like Indianapolis is the best base for anyone who is creative or business-minded or innovative to build a brand and a business. I think our city really lends to that creativity and to that like that kind of person can absolutely thrive here, and yeah, I can't I I wish we were known more for that. I love Well, by the end of this episode, we will be, right?
I love that coming out of the gate with the the strong, bold takes like that. Like, that's what I'm here for. Well, then take take us through that. Like, how did the city and the state of Indiana, the city of Indianapolis and the state of Indiana support you on your journey through this this whole process? It's a long story, but we'll keep it kind of short. I am literally from Broad Ripple.
What high school? I went to Lawrence Central when my parents moved eventually moved to Geist, but like I went to St. Matthews. I never meet anyone from St. Matthews, but Dan uh Dan Herrington's out in like the main area here. He's a St.
Matthews guy. Like, his family goes to St. Matthews. That's amazing. That's amazing amazing amazing. I could really pick up my business and move anywhere, but I never would.
Like, I am so from and for Indiana that it's kind of ridiculous, and I know Justin's the same way. I just think it's a great place. I think I think everyone in Indianapolis is exactly where they need to be if they're a business owner or business leader or creative, and I think leaving here would almost be like a betrayal to the state of Indiana. I I couldn't agree more. Well, let's talk about that then, right? Cuz I think there is definitely pros and cons.
So, let's talk about like both sides of the story there. It's like, what are ways that building a design business here in Indiana has helped, and what are some of the ways that it might have been like a limiting factor? I think the way I think the difference here in the design community, the designers that I know, we are all friends. No one is like a competitor. We're all messaging each other, asking each other, checking in with each other, like bouncing ideas off of each other. There's no I mean, in my mind, competition.
There might be somewhere. I don't know. I can't like vouch for everybody, but I feel like everyone's kind of in it. Everyone has their lane, and we all just kind of we we celebrate all of our wins together. It's just it's a different And I think that's for every business. I mean, correct me if I'm wrong.
I feel like everyone who is successful or creative or doing something great here in Indy is applauded, and I feel like that is a big difference from And like the people that are out in front genuinely want to like reach back and help pull up people behind them. 100%. And like And I I always say the same like I get some hate and some stuff in the comments like people from Chicago or whatever, and it's like like anyone that's like putting you down, it's like they're not doing anything that's worth a damn. In Chicago? Chicago. Yeah, right?
Exactly. Not my not my not my place. I won't I won't say anything negative, but like not my not for me. Yeah. Um okay, so let's talk through all like grew up in Broad Ripple, went to Lawrence Central. Where'd you go to college?
I didn't. Oh. Yeah. Bum bum bum. Let's go. Okay, so didn't go to college.
What got you into like design and homes and renovation and all that fun stuff? So, I started kind of apparel merchandising. I moved to New York City, and I worked for Bloomingdale's, Ted Baker London, Marc Jacobs, and As like as what? Uh doing apparel merchandising. So, that mean? Sorry, to someone that's not in the industry.
What does apparel merchandising mean? merchandising is how a store is laid out or how something is uh how like the floor set is done, how it's all visually appealing to the masses to sell. I feel like this part of my life is really boring. Um and Okay, so like kind of like stacking shelves, but like the design of that, right? Like for a store, like the layout of like jackets, men's wear should be here and like the sport jacket in the front or whatever. Yeah, a little bit.
It's like visual merchandising. Okay, I got you. Um and there actually like a huge number of designers that started on that path, and then kind of turned into visual designers. I worked for West Elm for a while. I was there in-home designer. So, they would like So, we're going to go I got a novice when it comes to all this, right?
So, like in-home designer, like they have a customer that's like, "Hey, we want to redo our living room with or our home with West Elm things," and you they would send you out to places or you're like designing sets. Okay, so they would someone would reach out, and they wanted to work with a designer, and I would go to their home and literally do an entire design mood board or whatever they needed design-wise. Oh, that's pretty cool. Yeah. So, So, like in New York still, like you're going to like, you know, This is when I moved back. So, after my time in New York, which was super super expensive and wild, really crazy place to be in your early 20s, I moved back home, and that's when I started with West Elm.
Okay. And so, people around Indianapolis are, you know, want to work with a designer, and they're sending you out, and you're designing those homes. Yep. Okay. Um from there, how long did you spend at West Elm? Oh my gosh, I think I was there for 4 years.
like mid-20s now? Yeah. It was kind of crazy. It was a really crazy time. Uh that's fun. And then from there, where did you end up after?
Um I started my own design business on the side, started doing some wild jobs that I don't even want to get into. Ooh. Um and then from there, I went almost like a scratch-and-dent furniture store. Okay. Uh worked there for a while. what there?
I ran the whole place. So, you just like Now, you're a business owner. Kind of a business operator. So, it's like you go from like design, building up on the side, working for West Elm, and you're like, "You know what? I'm going to operate the scratch-and-dent furniture store." Yeah.
Yep. Uh that seems like the opposite side, but but like good way to get business chops. Totally. Totally. Great way to meet people. Where Where was it at?
Um it was in Carmel. Okay, so like scratch-and-dent like luxury furniture, I'm assuming. luxury furniture. Okay. I was still working with clients and doing some interior design on the side. I'm not a person that stays anywhere I'm unhappy, and I I like a lot of change, and I like to go go go.
That's when I got the first call from HGTV. Quick pause in the action. Are you trying to find a gift for the person who has everything? Try a AAA membership. Now, AAA isn't just roadside assistance. There are even more benefits off the road like discounts on Indy attractions, travel, and more.
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com and use code Nate24. Like, you're just operating this furniture store. Yep. And you just like HGTV is calling you like, "Hey, what's up?" The designer who had the job on Good Bones before me had been shopping there, and she met me, and unbeknownst to me, she had passed my name on to production, and then one thing led to another. They called me.
They really wanted me to come work on the show, and then Mina was kind of like, "We I want you to work for me, not for production." So, in TV land, it's kind of like there's the company producing the show, and then there's like the talent, and then there's the network. So, there are these like three separate beings. Yes, I got you. have to kind of agree on something to make that something work, and Mina was really steadfast in, "I want him to actually work for me. Like I for me, not for the production team.
Because they're also and I think if we just dive into Good Bones just a little bit, right? Like they're also like there's a TV in the content side of things, but there's also like the business of homes, right? Right? Cuz like how did that start? I don't even know. Like I know Good Bones and I know it's like down at Fountain Square, but I don't know like I'm not like an expert when it comes to I'm not an HGTV guy.
No offense to all the HGTV guys or people out there watching it, but like I didn't really know how that came to be. So Mina and Karen are mother and daughter. I'm just going to give you like the the kids hand version. Um Mina and Karen are mother and daughter. They were renovating houses together. The network found them.
They really really liked them and they gave them a show and that's the show that became Good Bones. Yes. Mina and Karen started a company called Two Chicks and a Hammer. Yes. For So you were kind of going to work for like the Two Chicks and a Hammer side. Yeah.
Yeah, like so you're going to be the designer for them and then you might get you get some TV airtime. Absolutely. Okay. And uh I was really without really knowing much about the show, I was really good friends with Mina's Stick with me. Mina's brother's wife's little sister, Alexa. Okay, wait.
Let me get the family. Mina's brother's wife's little sister. So like close enough. Like that's like a you know, like you could end up at the same pre-game to go out to a bar or something. we probably did. Yeah, okay.
I was not I wouldn't even say like loosely in the loop. Like it we kind of came to that realization after the fact. Yeah. And it's and it's not like you were sending your headshots around and your reel to like I need to be on television. And like you were like putting out content saying like here like cuz this was what year? Names, dates, and times are not my thing.
Yeah, I'm going to say maybe like uh 5 7 years ago. Like you know, this was like where everyone is a content creator, right? Everyone every 9 years. So this is like 2016, 2015-ish. Yeah, I think my math maths there. Yeah.
Um and and it's not like everyone could just do their like the DIY Instagram reels if weren't even a thing yet. So maybe like YouTube channels, but it wasn't like everyone and their brother is like follow me on my home renovation project. to all of the Instagram designers that are so wonderful and talented right now in this moment. Back then, it was like just word of mouth. And I don't want to sound like a dinosaur, but like it I was a designer via word of mouth. Like you would post some pictures on like Facebook every once in a while, but it wasn't like this is what I'm working on.
This is what I'm doing right now. Like it it was just a totally different time. And I do you think it was Okay, this is going to be fun. Do you think it was harder or easier to stand out as a designer in 2015? I would say that it was much harder because I don't want to say you don't have anything to show for your work, but it's not like we weren't letting people into other people's homes the way that designers are able to now. I mean, I'm sure I if you have a website and you're like uploading photos or like all of that kind of stuff, but it wasn't at like palm access like scrollable work is not what I was doing.
like everyone is like doing it's like whether you're a plumber and you're like documenting the plumbing journey or a designer or anything. It's like everyone can be a content creator in 2025 2024. Totally. Right? But on the other side, it's way more saturated now, right? Where it's like everyone is a designer.
And I'm like Literally everyone. Everyone puts their home project and it's like damn. Like you got to got some skill. Like good for you, but it's like you're an accountant, but like on the side you also like you know, grow this you you flip tables or whatever it is. Like everyone has like their DIY content, I feel like. Yeah, totally.
Um okay, so then you spent you you joined Good Bones around season 3, right? Yeah. So when I joined Good Bones um and I took over for the ex-designer, they were kind of at like a boiling point, I guess. So it was like, okay, people really really like this show. We have to kick it up a notch and we have to keep like this momentum and we got to go. Kind of like in startups, right?
Where you have traction, you have product market fit and you're ready to like, hey, we need to pour some gasoline on this fire and Exactly. Ignite. We were there I was like there for the minutes that the match went off. Like it was gangbusters the minute that I walked on set. So And did you have to give So is that like your full-time job now? It's like you leave the Scratch and Dent store and like now you're working for Two Chicks and a Hammer and all that stuff.
Absolutely. And it was like I was undersold how insane it was actually going to be. Um so when I started on the show, I wasn't going to be on the actual show. I was going to be behind the scenes working with Mina and Karen getting the houses done. Like full-time, it was 24 hours a day. It was absolutely It was like, okay, here you go.
Good luck. Like design this entire house. You have two days. take me to It's like you It's a Monday morning. I don't know what day of the week it was. And it's Monday morning, you're like, okay, now I work on television show.
What you like wake up, grab a cup of coffee and go. What do you do? What take me through the first day? Hi, this is the team. We have all we have a lot of interns. We have a lot of people in and out.
We have a whole construction team also. These are the houses. We need you to fill all of these homes with furniture and like get it done ASAP. Here's a here's a credit card. Like good luck. No budget, no no direction?
Definitely a budget. Like and I think that was part of the draw, especially for Mina was I've always been able to like ball on a budget and like make like stretch everything. I'm super thrifty. So that's something that we were really good at. it all in Fountain Square? So that's what I thought before I actually got the job, but the houses were kind of all over the south side.
Like Bates Hendricks, Old Southside, some in Fountain Square, some here, some there and it got even wilder as the seasons went on. Yeah, it was kind of it was all over the place. Quick pause in the action to talk about a holiday family tradition. Butler Ballet proudly presents a lavish fully staged production of Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker. Come join in the magic and spectacle of live ballet. Be dazzled and delighted by spectacular dancing, beautiful costumes, glorious scenery, and pyrotechnic magic.
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You're going to see The Nutcracker on there. Take the kids, take your significant other. Bellas, for under $100, you could go get dinner, drinks, and see The Nutcracker. Get some serious brownie points with your special someone. Now let's get back into it. And so you joined this season 3.
They're trying to kick it up a notch and you're, you know, designing homes. How did you go from you're like thinking you're the behind the scenes designer to what was your first like cameo appearance on screen? Another part of production is there I mean, there's a wonderful team trying to put the show together and get all the show and create story beats and there's design moments and they're trying to hit these points where like Mina's just trying to get the house built and done and they're filming her doing that, but they also need a through line and a storyline. And for the the hero's journey, right? They need some some adversity. Like oh my gosh, the credit card was maxed out or whatever it is, right?
Which happened a lot, but there's there needs to be that like through line that kind of takes the viewer through the story and um Mina is she's not an actress. Like she's not going to like fake anything. The no one's going to fake anything. If I I would be there like, okay, so we're going to do like a a chair rail on this wall and it's going to be green and like woo woo woo blah blah blah. One thing leads to another and then they're like, okay, that makes sense. Well, I was doing that one day and one of our head producers was there and she was like, "Empty, just get in.
Like just walk walk in. Mic him up, put him in." And from that day forward, I was on the show. just on the show you were like Were you nervous? Palm sweating? Um not really because it had become like second nature.
Like when you're around all these people, we're all comfortable with each other. There's always cameras around. And it just kind of became second nature. And then you spent the next What was that still in season 3? Was that pretty early on? That was season 4.
So season 4. So you did the first season where you did season 3 where you were kind of behind the scenes. Season 4 all the way through season 8, you're like on screen doing fun stuff. You didn't need to be the designer. And it also became a way to like not control the narrative, but like get really cool design beats and like really think about what we wanted to show people how to do or what we were doing or like the the reasons why we were doing these things had value to the houses. It became like that became a job in and of itself.
So four seasons, five seasons, three through eight. Like how many years does that stretch? Like five years. So five years. You spent which is you're like you like new creative things and like that seemed like it was very fast-paced and ever-changing. Throughout those five years on Good Bones, was there something that that you're the most proud of?
Oh man, surviving. Okay. Like is that like Literally. It's the hardest thing I've ever done. And it's like I don't know how much you can want to care to go into detail, but like what made it so challenging? There's just it's a lot of people, a lot of opinions and that's just the people you're with.
There's also like the public and then there's the network. Then there's like it there's lots of layers to it the stress. But we worked so hard every single day. Like you're up at dawn. You're going to sleep 2 hours before dawn. Like it's just like you're you're working so hard to make this product and get it done and I don't think people understand that we're doing like 13 14 houses at the same time and it never ends.
Like so there's not like a cuz some of the they film a full season in like 8 weeks or whatever, right? It's like all the time nonstop. Yeah. And like we're we're filming we're in season 4 filming parts of season 5 filming parts of season 6. Like it's just like we're just going. We're just going house to house to house to get these things done.
Man. Yeah. That's crazy. When when did it kind of hit you when like you started like see like people knew who you were. What was the moment you're like, oh wow, like I might be kind of famous? I think Mina and I both have this in common.
Target is where it hits the hardest. And I'm we're both big target people. I I mean to this day I get recognized at a lot of places, but like Target is like those that is our fan base right there. Everyone at Target all the time nonstop. Yeah, it's like you you go to Target and you're like local sports hero then it's like you go to like a sports bar with beer and wings and they're like and the guy's like, I think my wife likes you maybe. The my wife loves you is constant.
Every time big fat dance guy. Yeah. Every time I go to Fat Dan's some guy's like, can I take a picture with you? My wife really likes you. I'm like, okay. You can like me too, dude.
Yeah, it's okay. Like it's okay. Guys can like HGTV. That's fine. Um okay, so man, 5 years crazy ride. Like It's like that I think that I hear a similar thing too when I have like entrepreneurs on where it's like that growth stage where it's like stuff's going on like and you have to make a lot of stuff happen in a little bit of time and Climb the mountain.
Yeah, exactly. But at some point, you know, you get there's burnout. There's all these things where you're just like, man, like cuz I think it's really easy for people to be like, you were on TV. Like what do you mean? Like that would that's the dream. Like the dream is to be on TV.
And it's like, well, yeah, then you get there and you're like, holy [ __ ] this is a lot of hard work and like you're talking about like 12 plus hour days like just grinding. And I don't think the people understand like the way the sausage is made of like you're working on four It's not like you get to just work on one house for a month. No. It's like you got to like work for next year and next year and like the next season and all that fun stuff at the same time. Yeah, like your brain is never settled on one thing. It's like you you can't you have to like divide yourself.
You have to like multiply and like be working on a hundred different things at the same time or you're going to drop the ball. when it comes to like a TV show, this is not doesn't have to be Good Bones. Just like from your experience in there, like who is like the final like the CEO or like who is like the person who has the control? There's something called the reveal. Mhm. And the Like the bus driver move that bus you know from that one.
So like the minute like the Mina and Karen walk the potential buyer or the client or the whatever through the house and then that is done that is when I would like take a deep breath personally. And then like a producer be like, great job. You did a great job. I'm like, thanks. Thanks. And like I'm dying.
But when when like you get to see that moment, like I mean that has to make it worth it, right? Or no? In 5 years I think I saw that moment maybe three times because I was onto the next one. Man. And so it's like you don't get to sit back and like appreciate the work that's put in. Never.
We don't have But like the America gets to sit back and appreciate the work put in. And then I watch like my first few seasons we'd have people over on Tuesdays and we'd like watch the show together and then that turned into like I was like, no, this is pure PTSD for me. Like I I'm so happy everyone else enjoys it. I cannot. There's a lot of creatives I feel like that have a trouble going back to watch their work. Yeah.
Um and it's like sometimes it's important, right? Well, I would say yeah, I say it's important to like see like, oh, I could be better. Yeah. And I spend my time now like listening to a lot of other podcasts and I don't ever get to listen to them for fun anymore. Like you know, oh, like especially interview shows cuz I'm like, oh, I'm listening to like like I loved I before I like kind of started mine, I loved Guy Raz's show like How I Built This. Now when I listen to the show, I'm not listening to the guest and their story.
I'm listening to I'm listening to how he interviews and transitions and like that's a really good segue into that question, Guy. Like great work, buddy. And it's like you're it's even more work and it's not real So I switched to audiobooks. I'm an audiobook guy now. It's like that's my my my release there. But like I think from a from creative perspective, it's like everyone loves to see the final piece of artwork and you just have to like relive the hard work that went into that.
Yeah. Yeah. 100% And I know too much. Like I know too much. I can't watch it. And you're like, that's not exactly You know, you get to see how the sausage is made.
It's like that's not exactly how it went down, but like they have to like, you know, you have to build an engaging piece of content. And that's the piece where um that like as I, you know, continue to get into the creative space and learn more about this that it's like a lot of that is you have to have the storyline. You have to have this hero's journey so that like people come back and watch so that like you can keep the show going and and get the ratings and all those those fun things. And we're also like it was a very character driven show. I think we had the biggest cast of like any HGTV show ever. Like there's a lot of us and a lot of characters and a lot of like fun to be had with that many people on a TV show and I think people really liked that too.
But like we're all actually doing the work is the difference and I think that really shows on Good Bones. When you think back to it, how did your time on Good Bones change your life? I don't know that a lot of people in Indy know what filming a reality based TV show looks and feels like. I think that is the biggest change. Like there's there are very few people I can like shoot the [ __ ] with about like filming a TV show here in Indianapolis outside of the cast of that show. You know what I mean?
I think that has changed my life. Like Not to keep comparing to like my only experiences, but right like hosting a podcast like for a full-time job, like there are very few people. There are even fewer in Indiana that get to like It's like you and Ashley. Yeah, right. It's like yeah, yeah, that's not like we don't just chat it up on our weekly one-on-one like I designed her nursery. Uh, that's so cool.
I love that. That's dope. Like see behind the scenes. But it's like like you go to like talk like, oh my gosh, like work has to be so cool and it's like, yeah, but it's still work. Work. You know, like and it's like and I feel bad sometimes like, am I really complaining about talking to people on a microphone for an hour like blah blah blah.
But it's like it is still work and like you don't have the like the tribe besides your the people that went through it with you. the trenches with you. Yeah, so like you can't just like go chat at like Christmas and they're like oh, like every you're famous and it's like so glamorous. It's like, well, no, I almost died. Oh, man. Um that's that's crazy.
What did you learn about like your craft like design from your time on the show? How quickly I can get something done like is kind of crazy. And I I've turned that into my business now. Like I am the guy if you want your home done in like a week I'm the guy for you. Like I do major refreshes for my clients that will take I mean the only thing that can stop me is like a furniture delivery being pushed back. Otherwise your your your home is getting done like ASAP and I'm probably the only one doing it.
Like Wow. because that's just the mentality I had on that show. Like there was a lot of teamwork and there was a design team, but like we went hard and we did everything very quickly. And I think that when I did not expect you to say that. I kind of expected I kind of expected like quality, right? Of like, oh, now you're like a celebrity designer.
Yeah. So it's like you can be like, oh, yes, like I'm very selective and I pick the and it's like, no, like I'm the quick guy. I'm the quick Like I you turn that over to which is I think the instant gratification in the world that we live in like that's probably like a good position to have as a business, right? It's like, oh, no, like we see this. We go through this process like we uncover their story and then in a week or 2 weeks or whatever, you know, like we turn around and like you have a new kitchen or whatever. If I had a dollar for every time I walk into a Crate and Barrel and then the person behind the counter is like, well, that was fast.
Like I'd be rich. You're efficient. Yeah. I'm just like that's just how my brain works. That's how I operate. I'm just very quick.
So so when you think about like the creative process and just your experience thus far, where are you drawing this inspiration from? And like where do you like like design is just like so abstract It's abstract and foreign to me cuz I'm like, oh, it's like Pinterest and all this stuff. I'm like, I don't really know anything about this. Like you and I live in the same city, but like somehow you can see this like beauty and create this thing. Like talk to me about the design process. So my design process, I think people and spaces inform design.
So it's getting to know the customer or the client and how they live in the space. How they work in the space. A second nature thing. Like I see a space and I see a person and how they live and then I'm able to translate. How do you like uncover that? Do you go in there and like ask them questions?
Like what do you like When you So you're doing a living room. Set the scene in living room and they want to like totally refresh it, you know, like change it up. You go in there and you just like watch watch them spend an evening there like watching TV? No. Uh I mean kind of, but no. It's just asking someone about their style and what they like is probably like if I were like, what's your style?
What do you like? Uh Exactly. Yeah, right. It's more of like You just got my ass. He says, what's your style like I was going to say like sports? Yeah, there you go.
That's So that's why I have like I have like I have like posters of sports [ __ ] in my living room. I have Yeah, I'm a bachelor. I got to live by myself. So up an appointment. Oh, yeah, right. But it's kind of um translating those thoughts into what that person actually wants is a skill that like I think is the most important skill for a designer.
Okay, how do you balance efficiency? So let me give you my my perspective on this, right? So um My girlfriend loves design like throw decorative pillows. And I think Sorry, Lauren. I think they're just so inefficient cuz every night you just like take all those off the bed and you use your two pillows you actually sleep with and are we talking? I don't know.
Like I feel like girls have like or anyone that love Not necessarily just girls, but like my experience is with girls that have like 10 throw pillows. And I'm like, why? Like So how do you balance? So the root question is how do you balance efficiency and aesthetic? Well, that's like livable design. Like what is serving a purpose, what is not serving a purpose, like what is what is decoration verse like something you actually need in a space.
And I think that's a really fine balance because I mean, you can go to Target and fill an entire cart with pillows, take them home, and now you have 100 pillows on your sofa. It's also like getting rid of things and adding and subtracting and it's just like there's there's a big balance to it. There's HGTV, if you're watching out there, this would be a really fun show of like someone who's like very design focused and someone who's not and just like, "Bro, what are we talking about here?" Yeah, exactly. Okay, so if you had tips, cuz I'm sure we're going to get, you know, people that that want to renovate their home or do it something like that and like maybe they don't have the budget to actually hire a full-on interior designer. What are a few tips you'd have to like help transform a space?
I think if you're doing it yourself, I think it's important to take your time. And like find mindful pieces, things that you really like, things that you love. Um thrifting things, antiquing, like a collect a well-collected, thought-out space is priceless and is never really really done, but I think the people that rush a space, you can tell. You can tell if someone just like filled a Wayfair cart and then like dropped it into their living room. Yeah, and how much of it like when you're giving the advice, it's like you obviously look places for inspiration, but you also don't want to just like control, copy, paste Yeah. like, you know, someone else's stuff into.
So what are questions people should ask themselves when they are like, you know, looking through their space? What is my budget? So start with the budget. Yeah. Cuz it's like, you know, you got to be efficient, right? Start with your budget.
What are like uh if you are balling on a budget, what are places or things people need to be checking out to, you know, find uh the the intersection between uh efficiency and price and aesthetic? You got to hit up Midland. What's Midland? What? Yeah, remember uh sports posters? Okay.
Uh Game Game of Thrones poster, Tyrion Lannister is literally behind my Yeah, come had in my early days I had a request for a Game of Thrones basement. Did you do it? No. Uh Um anyway, so Midland is an antique store. It's two stories. It's downtown Indianapolis.
It's off of New York Street and I can get lost there. I think I filmed there like six times during the show. It's an incredible store. Well, as the guy who can walk into Crate & Barrel and be out in like two seconds, you're saying you're getting lost in Midland. Exactly. That That's Yeah, that's exac- Thank you.
Exactly that. Like Midland, there's so much to see. I even I'm like so addicted to Midland that I would take months off. So I'd be like, "Okay, I want this place to like change drastically. So I'm going to I'm going to not go for like 2 months and then I'm going to go in and it's going to be a totally new experience." addict like recovering.
He's like He's like, "No, I got to take 2 months off. Then I get back in there and it's like a whole new world." Absolutely. Okay, I want to dive into this cuz I don't know any like literally I am probably the worst design eye in Indiana. So quick pause in the action to tell you about my friends from Hard Truth. This is my favorite bourbon in the state of Indiana.
I was down at the distillery in Nashville. It is a place you have to check out. This holiday season, if you're looking for a getaway, go down there, get a spot at the cabin, hang out at the restaurant, the distillery, go on all the tours. It is an amazing time. As you're thinking about holiday gifting, go pick up a bottle of Hard Truth at the nearest liquor store and and give that to the special someone in your life. It is a gift that you definitely won't forget.
There's plenty of recipes and fun stuff that you can make with their bourbon as well. I love what they have. They have some amazing collabs with people like Mellencamp Whiskey Co. Hard Truth has been an amazing partner of mine. They were at the World Mixology Championship. They were the bourbon of choice there.
Their journey over the past few years has been incredible to watch. I'm a huge fan of Hard Truth and they've been a great supporter to us. Make sure you go check out Hard Truth. Now, let's get back into it. If there are listeners out there that want to Let's say they want to impress someone. Like mom and dad are coming to check out with your Let's say you're in your 20s.
Yeah. Um mom and dad are coming, boyfriend, girlfriend. You're don't really have a design eye, but like you want to fix up the space and so that people walk in and are like, you know, impressed that you're like not living in a pigsty. What would you What advice would you have for that let's say 25 uh young professional that doesn't have a design eye? It's kind of like a like a pyramid. Like you have to like if you start with some basics, like nice dishes or like nice wine glasses, that will kind of inspire the next thing and you kind of like it's almost like growth within the tools that you use every day.
When you get the nicest or your favorite version of that thing, then that will kind of escalate onto were giving me advice, right? 27, you know, I have a house here in Broad Ripple. I I would say I like everything has been either bought at like a I don't have anything that's like I'm like, "Oh, this is really luxury piece." It doesn't have to be luxury. Or like these like I get my stuff at like like the very big like Meijer or like Kroger or whatever. Like it's not like I just have never pri- I prioritize like, "Oh, I need plates.
I'm just going to buy plates on Amazon like Amazon Basics or whatever." So if you were saying like like the five dominos to just like up my aesthetic level, what would those like first five things you would go through and do? Curtains hung correctly. What if I told you I'm going to post a picture of it? No, I got to embarrass I have a one of my curtains is a blanket. I Everyone struggles with them.
You're not alone. so curtains number one. Your curtains is a blanket? Yeah, I hung it from Kroger? Uh it might have been a gift at some point, but it was like there was a glare on the TV and I was like, "Oh, I didn't have curtains yet." And so I just hung the blanket and 5 years later I haven't moved the blanket.
Okay. True story. So Lauren is going to be so pumped to for us to Okay, so first thing is curtains. Great. We're going to go Curtains number one. What's two?
Nice bedding is really essential. I did upgrade bedding recently. I have a duvet now. I'm fancy. Okay, bedding is two. Curtains, bedding, art.
Art. So then we got to hit up Justin Vining. Yeah. Grab a painting. Yeah, Justin and I Excuse me. Justin and I actually share a studio.
I'm also a painter. Oh, you're Have you been painting your like entire life? Pretty much. What's your like specialty? So I do a lot of abstraction and like large So my design work led to the art and like I was doing art first and then design and then art again because I always find that in spaces people don't have the right scale of art. So I started making custom pieces for my clients.
That turned into me becoming a full-time painter. How did that It's like What did it happen before the show? No. So on the show they're like, "We need art." You're like, "Fine, I'll be an artist." Yeah, basically.
Yes. Yeah. Like they're like, "Yeah, we need a we need a fancy piece of artwork next Tuesday." And you're like, "Great, I'll go home and get a canvas." And something they also don't tell you about TV, everything has to be licensed out. So if the actual artist can't sign off on the art, it can't be on TV.
What Why couldn't a an artist like sign off on a piece? Like I couldn't put the Mona Lisa on TV because no one legally would be able to sign off for the copyright of the Mona Lisa. picture of like a kitten like just hang in there. Like everything like everything has a copyright. So you can't put anything on TV that the actual physical artist can't sign off on. Wow.
So yeah, these like priceless pieces of history like yeah, no there's no owner or whatever. Yeah. Wow. That's literally how Justin and I met. Okay, wait. Take me back to how you met Justin.
So So you had needed art in a pinch? Yeah. And or you used one of his pieces and then you had to like reach out like, "Hey man, we're going to use your painting on the show." So essentially, like I said, I never quit. So like I'm fast guy. I reached out to Justin.
I was like, "Hey, I need some art." And he was like, "Uh I just had a show. Like my art's all kind of tied up in a show, but I have a lot of art that I did at my home. You're welcome to come to my house and like take whatever you want." And I literally just like went to his house, walked in, and I was like, "That, that, that, that, that, that, that." Like cleared his walls.
He packed all of it up and it was gone. And he was like, "Who is this crazy person?" You walk in So you walk into Justin Vining's home and you pull the artwork off of his walls to take it to put on Good Bones. Yeah. And like he never got it back? No, he got it back.
Oh, it was just like the staging. Yeah, just for the staging and the reveal. Yeah. Well, and like for him, he's like an aspiring artist. He's like, "Holy [ __ ] my art's going to be on TV." Yeah, bury that.
And I was like, "And also, any artist that you know, any of your friends that are artists, let them know I'm on my way." Like it's going to be crazy and I move fast. And he was like, "Okay." He just like made it super easy. just running around to artists around Indianapolis pulling off wall Yeah. wall art.
Like, "Yep, this is mine now. We'll give it back in a month." Yep. Wow. That's a fun story. Uh and then you But he ended up getting to do more stuff with you guys throughout the show, right?
Yeah. So, we got to a point where I was making art in a pinch and he was making some art for the show and then we just started collaborating and working together a lot. And then like working together a lot led to like us grabbing beers together a lot and then we just became best friends and now we share a studio. Heck, yeah. And that's his the Vining Gallery, right? Like his whole cuz that was his piece of like helping promote art in Indianapolis.
Um, and so are you like working out of there like your everyday? That's so fun. Yeah. Uh, I love and that's like all we're on the Near East Side, right? Yeah, Tenth and Rural. It's right by the Tick Tock.
Right by the Tick Tock? You haven't been to the Tick Tock? What's the Tick Tock? Oh my gosh. What is I don't know what that is. Okay, so it's a little bar that's been there for like a hundred years.
They have the best Bloody Mary's in town. The Tick Tock? Okay, weekend you are going you're taking your girlfriend to the Tick Tock. Yeah. to get a Bloody Mary. Okay.
And then you're going to go to Midland. All right. going to have the best Saturday I'm I'm sold. Let's go. Uh, I love that. Well, let's talk about transitioning from your time HGTV all that stuff into building your own business and how that's been going.
And I mean that's like like show ends and where you kind of pick up from there. Like let's start the story there. Okay, so the show ends which we kind of like we self-closed out the show. It wasn't canceled. There were great ratings. We self-canceled essentially.
And Mina went on and did her thing. We still like work together. We still talk all the time. But I started my basically made my I created my dream job for myself. So, I am doing interior home design and home building all in the MJ way. So, I am doing things a lot slower than I had to on TV and it's been very nice and very refreshing.
And all of my clients have been great. I'm also having art shows and painting a lot. Does that interest you? What are Yeah, well, no, it does. So, like a home building like where would a customer come talk to you at what point of the journey and what would you help them like just from like nothing? Like, you know, I have I have a piece of land somewhere and I want to build a house?
Yeah, so people either I mean for not being the like social media guy that I used to be, people a lot of people reach out on Instagram, a lot of people end up in the DMs or they email me or it's word of mouth. It's always one job leads to the next job. So, like if if it's not that you remodel the kitchen and then they want their basement redone, it's oh, now their neighbor loves their kitchen, now they want their kitchen redone. It's just kind of like it's just like a revolving door of clients. Yeah. I love it that way and Okay, so and what are you focused primarily?
What's your favorite thing to work on or favorite kind of type of customer? All of it. I Well, my favorite kind of customer is the customer that just trust me to do exactly what I want to do with their intentions in mind. So, it's like they come to you say, "Hey, my budget I'm I want to do a renovation of my living room and kitchen. My budget is a hundred thousand dollars." And you're going out there like finding the contractors as well to do the work?
I have a contractor that I work with. I have like a whole team. I'm a control freak. I can't like work with a stranger. bring in you like work on the design, run by them, then Like like give me an example of a project that you're really proud of that you've worked on and like can I take me through it? Oh, man.
I'm proud of all of them and they're all kind of like it's it's a really interesting thing. There's never like a finish line. Like it's you finish a space and then the person wants the next space done and like it just it's kind of like just an ever evolving and growing design project. Yeah. I hope that makes sense. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
And then are you going from like custom home build like beginning? I don't I've not done any custom home building at all. all like renovation. So, like you know, we have this house and we want to make it not suck. Yeah. I love that.
That's super fun. That's that's my whole vibe. I I would much rather like help someone get the home that they want than like build from the ground up. Yeah. Um, I love that. I think that's that's super cool.
Especially we know in in Indianapolis and Indiana in general it's like there are a lot of old homes around in the city. Beautiful. So many. Like what's your favorite part of the city? Or where do you see the most potential? Like if someone wanted to buy I hate to be I'm going to be so cliche, but a house with some good bones, where would they go?
There are a lot of really really cool mid-century neighborhoods that are like wooded and super established and just kind of like off the beaten path, but like 10 minutes from downtown. Like anytime people come over to our house, they're like, "Whoa, where are we? What is this?" And it's just like there's so many neighborhoods like that and I feel like if young couples or young first-time homeowners just like leaned into some of these mid-century ranches they would like get the home of their dreams, but it's not you just have to be you have to have the mindset and the vision. Well, and I think a lot of people are intimidated Totally. on like a big renovation project.
Yeah. What would you say cuz okay, so I've had a lot of um, 20 low 30-somethings like buying a home is impossible. Like I either have to get something that's terrible that I don't want or it's just really expensive and I have to spend an arm and a leg. And what would you say of like, "Hey, don't be intimidated to take on this the renovation project." Like what advice would you have for first-time home buyers that want to like make the house of their dreams? Um, buy a one-story house without a basement.
You'll be fine. Really? Yeah. And like, you know, when when it comes to like I don't know anything about renovations. I can't swing a hammer like what would you say to those people? Hire someone.
There are like I find my I find my pricing to be super super affordable because I want to work on every level. Like I want to work on every tier. And I will price every tier accordingly based on my clients. When you say like like starter ranch home versus like mansion on Geist? Yeah. Okay.
I've done it all and I know like I know what that pricing looks like. I know what that outcome kind of looks like. I know where we're going to land in the end. And I understand that the people that buy the nine-bedroom home on Geist are going to be completely different from the person that buys the two-bedroom, two-bath ranch on 42nd Kessler. Like I there's just such a difference in the pricing and I don't foresee like a first-time home buyer buying the giant home in Geist and being happy. Does that make sense?
Yeah, yeah, yeah. That might be the dream, but it's not you're not that you don't want to do that your first home. So, when you're thinking you've you built your dream job. Like you love what you do. Like is it, you know, I'm just content doing this for the next forever or like what do you think's on the horizon for you and what's the future look like? That's the million-dollar question.
I'm just really really happy. I love my clients. I love my projects. I love making art. I love taking my time. I'm it's almost like I'm having my like I don't want to say like my retirement phase, but it's kind of like I'm in the honeymoon era of my business and I'm just really really happy with exactly how it is.
I love that. Yeah. Uh, that's that's super fun. And especially like mean you talk about like grinding going so so fast so long like a little bit of time to you know, catch the breath is well needed, well deserved. Yeah. I know what I'm capable of and I'm just kind of in the slow down.
Yeah, there we go. Okay, well, we're we're coming to the end of our hour and I have some fun questions here at the end. We got to like do a lightning round. So, we have like a few of some interesting questions that we curated for you. Okay. So, I would say when it comes to design what's the biggest mistake you see a lot of people make?
Um, people using blankets as curtains. [ __ ] I just got called out. That's fair. Don't do that. Don't do that. That's definitely not impressive to anyone who comes into your house.
Fair. Okay, I love that. What's just your favorite guilty pleasure TV show in general? pleasure, Real Housewives for sure. Real Is there one that's the best? I I even like got my husband into it.
He's like in the kitchen like, "What's Tamra getting into?" It's like I love that. Okay, that's fun. Um, what property in Indianapolis would you love to get your hands on? Williams Creek. No, there's not And it's going to happen.
Oh, there we go. Like there's a specific property. Like I have one in mind for me. I'll give you my example. There's one on Kessler, Crestview maybe? There's this like big white house on the south side of the road.
Like right before you get to the Monon Bridge. Okay. Um, so if you were going if you were going east west if you're going west on Kessler Okay. driving down, you pass Shartard you're going you're going you're almost to the Monon Bridge. Oh, I know exactly what you're talking about. Massive like balcony thing up top.
Huge space. I love that house. that house, too. it's so cool. It's like kind of like old school like the giant balcony, the the pillars. I love it.
So, if I can I want to get my hands on that someday and just like that would be the the home inside of 465 for me. I'm such a freak. Like if there's a property that I cannot get off my mind, I will straight up like write a letter or like email someone like, "I have to see the inside of this building. Hi, my name's MJ and I need to see the inside of this building." Hi. Is there one right now where you're like I want to get inside?
at the moment, but if for a while there that was like my thing. You just send them an email like, "Do you have your have like subtly hit flex like I'm MJ. I was on Good Bones." That's the only flex I'll ever make, yeah. Yeah, right? It's like please please let me inside your house.
They should you knock it on the door like, "Hello." No cameras, I promise. That's so fun. What's like been your I'm going to say quirkiest piece of decor that you've added to a home where you're just like, "Man, I found this crazy thing down at Midland and I put it somewhere." There's so many and I think anyone who's watched Good Bones has seen them and been able to point them out. There's there's too many to name.
There's a lot. There's a lot. No, there's I've done some wild stuff. What's the wildest? And a lot of it has been with Karen, so if you've seen the show, you know what I'm talking about. Is there's not there's not one wild one that that comes to mind?
Give me a give me a good story from your time on the show. The thing about PTSD is you can't remember it all. that's fair. We'll keep going. What's something that the world needs to know about Indiana? Midland.
Daisy know about Midland? get it. We just There's an incredible design scene. There are a lot of really cool home stores. We have incredible food, incredible people. Everyone's super friendly.
Yeah, you need to come and you need to like get outside of the like areas downtown where like the hotels are. You have to like branch out. You got to hit Mass Ave. You got to hit Broad Ripple. You got to go to Fountain Square. You There's just so many like interesting and cool places.
Yeah, I love that. You're talking about like the stores. Have you been to the Restoration Hardware? I have. I mean I was assuming you I haven't Shockingly good lobster roll. And I mean my family goes to Maine every year.
So, it's like yeah, The Restoration the the new like renovated one or whatever? Yeah. Lobster roll. All right. it's truly it's shocking. So, this is like my signature question I ask all the guests and and you get to give the the shout-out to a place.
We We know Midland. We have that, right? That's a good one, but what's a hidden gem in Indiana? The Chatterbox. Oh, what do you love about that? What is Chatterbox?
People don't know. Man, I I've gone to the Chatterbox for a million years. It's a tiny little hole in the wall jazz bar. On Mass Ave? Yeah, right on Mass Ave. Like if you ever walked up and down there, you're kind of like Is there a place like Sub Zero ice cream maybe right there?
Right there? There's something right next door that you're like and you like go back and you're like, "What? They're rocking in there." It's It's a small venue. Yep. Uh it's awesome.
Super tiny. It's great. I love that. That's a good hidden gem, for sure. What would you say What advice would you have for anyone Let's say they're an up-and-coming Maybe they're even a high schooler college get wants to get into the design living in Indiana. What advice would you give to them?
Start with your friends and family. Start there. Start working on their homes cuz they're going to be the most honest with you and they're going to create the most growth for a designer. Yeah, cuz there's the the level of trust, right? Where they're like, "You know what, Nate?" Like that is terrible.
Versus like if you get your first random customer, they're not going to like straight-up tell you they hate it. They're just going to be like, "Don't work with Don't work with Nate. Like he sucks." And if you can't take the criticism and from your friends and family, then it's probably not the And how do you Oh, that's a whole like a whole other How do you balance like what you know and feel and like Like if you were designing for me, you're like trying to get into my head and like see Oh, I think Nate's really going to like this. And you present them something and I'm like, "Bro, I don't like that." Like How do you balance that with like knowing what's right and knowing what they want?
Because I think that's kind of like the main service that I ultimately provide for a client is I'm a liaison between like their mind's eye and actual like construction and a contractor. Like I am kind of transitioning their thoughts into actions and like it's really hard to explain like when a client's like, "This is what I want, but I don't know how to get from A to B or actually like I don't have the vocabulary for it what I'm thinking." That's where I kind of fill in the blanks and work through the process with them. I think there's such a skill set in like I can't even like I look at a space and I'm like I can't even like envision like, "Oh, this could look Like you could do this here and this here and that there." And I'm like Like I have to like really grind on like looking at pictures online to be like, "Oh, yeah, that could kind of look cool if I did that there." So, I think it's super impressive.
Final question, you get to share the love with someone else some someone else in the Hoosier state. Who's a Hoosier that we need to keep on our radar? Justin Vining. Oh, yes, I love that. He's He's incredible. He was an amazing guest.
And he just like he grinds. Yeah. Like like when you when I I see it every day. Yeah. Yeah, definitely. When I think of like the artist and the creative side of things, like I I don't know if my first word that I think of is like, "Oh, yeah, like hard working, grinding."
It's more of like, you know, it's art and it comes as it goes and stuff like that, but it's like he made a painting from Christmas until like June every single day. Yeah. Like hundreds of paintings in back-to-back-to-back days. That's incredible. I think Justin is is awesome and I know he's an avid listener of the podcast, so Totally. uh Justin, appreciate you, brother.
Uh MJ, thank you so much for coming on. This was awesome. Thanks for sharing your story. How can uh Hoosiers support you and what you're doing? Um hit me up on Instagram or uh I also have an art show coming up December 6th at the Vining Gallery. It is so fun.
And I it's growing every year and it's just a beautiful thing. Heck yeah. What uh What Is it all paintings? All paintings, all abstract paintings. Um I think there's going to be like 65 paintings. Yeah.
I Like how long did it take you to curate a show with 65 paintings? Well, Justin has to kind of crack the whip, but I'm It's It's getting there. We're almost done. Oh, so we're having a December 6th. What time? 5:00 to 9:00.
5:00 to 9:00 at the Vining Gallery downtown, 10th and Rural. Next to the Tik Tok. Next You can go get beers afterwards. Yeah. We'll We'll be serving beer and wine also. Oh.
Yeah. Money. There we go. Social media handles, all that fun stuff. Where do I go find you at? Super original.
MJ Coyle Home. Heck yeah. MJ, thank you for all you do when it comes to art design in Indiana. Keep up the good work. We'll have to check in. Maybe like, you know, we're in this like phase of slowing down, but there's going to be a time where you go back and you're like, "You know what?
This is the next thing that we're doing and we're launching the like the like designer and non-designer TV show." Like give me a call, right? Yeah. Cool, man. Hey, thanks for coming on. Thank you.
Thank you for listening to this episode of Get In. If you like what you heard, make sure you leave us a review wherever you listen to podcast. This show is made possible by our friends up at Sweetwater. Whether you're trying to start your own podcast or looking to take your show to the next level, make sure you check out sweetwater. com for all your creator needs. If you want exclusive behind-the-scenes content on all things Indiana, make sure you follow me on Instagram and Tik Tok @natespangle.
Thank you for being part of what makes the Hoosier state so amazing. We'll see you next week here on Get In.
