Design Self-discipline

Interview with Melissa Fields
Pictures by Mallory Hewitt

Navy veteran-turned-interior designer Melissa Fields explains how her Air Drive expertise advantages her purchasers and discusses a challenge in St. Hedwig, Texas.

Inform us about your navy profession:
I served within the Air Drive for twenty years, beginning as a medic after which turning into a warranted contracting officer when deployed to the Center East. Later, I acquired my MBA in acquisition and contract administration and, when stationed on the Air Drive Academy, was tabbed because the speechwriter and deputy employees director for Lieutenant Basic Michelle Johnson, the primary lady to steer a service academy. Finally, I turned the chief of contracting inspections for the Air Schooling and Command inspector common and was touring each month.

By that point, although, I used to be a spouse and mother, and having a navy profession was placing an enormous pressure on my household. I might by no means get too comfy at house as a result of I may need to go away once more straight away. So I made a decision to retire as a serious in the beginning of 2018.

Was your transition to inside design a easy one?
I had been speaking to my husband about doing design nicely earlier than my retirement. Each time we might journey, I’d be fascinated by how the lodge lobbies and rooms had been laid out, and I’d soak within the design and decor of mannequin properties every time I may. I’ve additionally designed each home we lived in; it all the time felt easy to me, and I completely liked it.

So in 2016, I based Shades of Grey Design. It was a house staging and redesign firm at first, however after a yr, I knew I needed to create areas for householders who would keep of their properties, take pleasure in them, and get a return on their investments.

How did your agency’s identify come about?
It was my husband’s concept. At first, I believed he was joking. He hates the Fifty Shades of Gray films, and that’s what folks would instantly consider. Additionally, I didn’t need folks to get the mistaken impression. [Laughs] However I used to be bought on his reasoning. The colour has so many alternative shades—refined and light-weight, darkish and moody, and every little thing in between—and it supplies an awesome backdrop for any type. Like the various shades of grey, there are lots of totally different design kinds.

You name your design method “navy impressed.” Would you elaborate?
My expertise offers me a considerably distinctive tackle design. Within the navy, particulars could be a matter of life or dying, so I’m extraordinarily organized and element oriented. I even have a ton of project-management expertise and labored with many alternative personalities in my navy profession, making it straightforward for me to juggle my purchasers’ numerous wants for his or her properties.

How would you describe your design type?
I lean extra towards trendy and up to date vibes, however I don’t drive both on my purchasers. It’s their cash and their house, so their preferences matter most, although I encourage them to maintain an open thoughts. I prefer to say, “Allow us to present you what’s attainable” as a result of it’s actually a collaboration.

Your web site emphasizes your credentials and has up-front pricing. Is authenticity a giant a part of your small business?
Sure. I really like transparency—it permits folks to know who I’m and what they’ll anticipate in the event that they work with me. I debated up-front pricing for a couple of years however in the end discovered that after I didn’t have it, I acquired extra calls but fewer follow-ups after discussing the price. It’s a solution to weed out those that usually are not my splendid purchasers.

I additionally prefer to be sincere about how I work. Should you’re calling me to imitate an image from Pinterest, I’m not your designer as a result of I don’t need to copy what any person else has achieved. Your design ought to mirror you. Should you’re curious about that, then we will discuss. I’ve had so many individuals inform me that I’m the very same in individual as I’m on Instagram; it’s nearly like they already know me. Meaning every little thing.

How do you identify your shade selections?
Primary is the sensation the shopper needs evoked within the area—for a shiny, open, and ethereal room, I gained’t take into account darker colours. Second is how the shopper plans to make use of it. For instance, if we’re engaged on a inventive space, I’ll need the design to encourage them and get their concepts flowing, so I’d counsel daring colours that make them really feel joyful or a enjoyable sample that sparks pleasure. I’ll even have a baseline and ask them to point out me their inspiration. All these concerns assist me put the colour scheme collectively.

Inform us how the St. Hedwig challenge happened:
We did the lounge first, and a yr later, the shopper requested us to replace her master suite and loo. She didn’t need to do an entire toilet rework, so we did some small updates, akin to changing the builder-grade fixtures. These adjustments actually made an enormous distinction in that area, which was initially very vanilla.

Did your shopper need you to proceed the type of the lounge design within the bed room and loo?
In her front room, we barely modified the colours—she most well-liked including touches of blush, grey, and beige. This prolonged to the up to date decor and furnishings we added just like the stylish spherical nesting tables and plush shag rug.

When she was able to replace her bed room, she initially needed the identical scheme. As a substitute, I created two temper boards: one which was similar to her front room and one other that was daring with darker, moody colours. After I confirmed them to her, she instantly pointed to the darkish one and mentioned, “That’s what I would like.” She defined that it regarded very high-end, like an opulent lodge, and had a glam vibe.

The bed room and loo appear to enhance one another. Inform us about that design resolution:
In her bed room, we went darkish with the partitions, trim, and doorways, added a hearth, and stored her mattress and window coverings mild. Nevertheless, she already had darkish cabinetry within the toilet, so it might have ended up very cave-like if we had carried the bed room scheme into that area. As a substitute, we flipped it, preserving the partitions and flooring mild by retaining the unique shade.

How did you incorporate the fan in the lounge and the fireside within the bed room into the respective designs?
She needed to maintain a fan in her front room, so my first dilemma was how may we glam it up throughout the performance of the area. I discovered this cool fan with just a little crystal chandelier, which was eye-catching however not excessive. For her material {hardware}, we went with finials that had been crystal-like to match the chandelier. Conserving her material mild, having a pleasant cordless Roman shade, and layering it with floor-length curtain panels created a luxe really feel.

The hearth is generally for atmosphere. That mentioned, we do generally expertise chilly nights in Texas, so it’s good to have just a little warmth and coziness. She spent good cash on that room: her mattress and material rods had been custom-made, and the accent wooden paneling was very particular. All that gave her precisely what she needed—one thing very sudden.

For more information, go to shadesofgraydesign.com