Michael Simon has earned renown as an interior designer, furniture creator, and collector. A rare talent, he spent his formative years training to become a music composer. Starting at age 15, his private studies with the legendary composer Stephen Sondheim led to a concentration in classical music at Carnegie Mellon University and the Manhattan School of Music. But, Simon evolved to interior design and in 1995 established his own firm. Today, he is working around the world, setting a standard for excellence in 21st century design. The New York designer says he "composes rooms, bringing the discipline and thought process of his formal education to his clients' homes." Leitmotifs, rhythm, counterpoint, balance and harmony form his designs, showing stunning rooms in a range of styles where architecture and decoration seamlessly integrate and all elements "coalesce to sing."