Creative design for everyday lifestyles
Melissa
Licensed Interior Designer
Bespoke Design
I will work with you from start to finish to create a bespoke design that you can then take to your contractor. Included is a set of construction drawings and material selections or just conceptual sketches, depending on which phase of the process you are in and how exactly your contractor works. I can also provide construction administration on request!
Design + Build
With design + build services, we take on the whole management of a project from start to finish. With my connections in the construction industry, I have paired up with an excellent local construction company to provide the best service to my clients. Not only do I provide the design and material management (ordering/receiving finishing products) but we also manage the permit process, subcontractors and construction schedule. Our goal is to provide the most seamless (as seamless as construction can go) for each of our clients.
"The details are not details. They make the design"
- Eames
DESIGN PHILOSOPHY
Eames said, "The details are not details. They make the design." These are words I live by. To me, the details of the design are important because it is ultimately the difference between surface decoration and thoughtful design. Of course everything should be aesthetically pleasing but if my client's space isn't functional; it just isn't good design. I pride myself on blending budget, aesthetics and functionality in one design that will make your house feel like a home. Each project is a bespoke design from initial concepts to completion.
MY PROCESS
My process starts with having a conversation with my clients. I want to know how you live, function, and relax in your space. But ultimately I want to get to know YOU. What do you love, how do you see yourself, what would be your idea space and what does home mean to you. It is those details that I work into every design so your home becomes a reflection of your values, interests and personality. I have found that our most casual conversations reveal the most about you instead of using a stuffy questionnaire that only illustrates a small portion of who you are.
MY BACKGROUND
My passion for abstract and technical creativity lead me to become a licensed interior designer for the last 20+ years. I studied design at Michigan State University, earning my bachelor's degree, then after many years of practice I completed my MFA graduate degree to become a professor of interior design. I have published various book chapters, academic research articles, as well as worked for several years as a senior contributor for a design magazine. After many life changes, I am back practicing interior design as my full time career; which I love. My academic specialty is historic preservation and adaptive reuse and my professional specialty is residential design and small scale commercial design.
