Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Melpo Mankin. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Melpo, appreciate you joining us today. So, naming is such a challenge. How did you come up with the name of your brand?
I actually had a really hard time coming up with a name when I started my business! I kept brainstorming, researching, thinking through catchy names, etc. and I finally decided that I needed help. I asked my husband and a few friends to come over and do a brainstorm together. We talked through my vision for the company, what I want to be known for, what my philosophy was for my business, and after several iterations, we came up with Intentional Interiors Home Staging & Design. It seems so simple on the surface, but the exercise was really beneficial because it forced me to really define who I wanted my company to be, and the name perfectly represents that.
As a company who focuses on real estate staging and renovation design, everything we do is very intentional. It’s based on more than a feeling or what looks good. On the staging side, that means that we need to place every piece of furniture and every accessory in a way that showcases the fixed assets of the home. It’s as much design as it is psychology and science! For our renovation design projects, intentionality comes into play when considering budget, resale, aesthetics, and market trends.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
I was born and raised in the midwest, and am a first generation Greek-American. I really pride myself on my heritage because it was such a big part of my upbringing. I got into the staging and design business by accident. That little seed was planted when I was in my first year of college. My good friend’s mom and aunt had opened a furniture store, and they hired me to work for them during my breaks from school.
After earning my art degree, they hired me to manage their third location in St. Louis, MO and that was where I learned so much about interior design and decorating. A couple years later, I bought a condo right before the big housing crash in 2008. It was just my luck that I would need to sell my condo during the crash due to relocating to be closer to my boyfriend (who I am now happily married to!)
That experience is what exposed me to home staging. I still had all of my furniture in the home, and “staged” it to sell in a market that was crumbling. I experienced the impact that intentional, strategic staging can have on a property in any market, and that was when I knew I wanted to start a staging business someday.
Fast forward several years later, I moved to Nashville, TN. This was my chance for a new beginning! I worked a couple of corporate jobs, and after an unexpected layoff right before the pandemic, I took my side-hustle to full-time status!
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
I decided to pivot about 2 years after opening my business. As glamorous as it seemed on the surface, I learned a lot about myself and the kind of work that really gives me joy. I learned that I really didn’t enjoy designing peoples homes with furnishings and accessories as much as I thought I would.
And I really beat myself up over that. I kept thinking, I can’t change my mind now. I’ve already told the world that I do residential design and there’s no turning back. But that was a lie I told myself that wasn’t at all true. You CAN change your mind. As soon as I gave myself permission to step away from jobs that were draining my energy, I felt so empowered to do the things I really enjoyed. That was when I decided to shift my focus to staging consultations and renovation design services. These are services I can provide that actually help people make money!
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
My work with investors has really helped me build a good reputation in the Nashville area. They know that I care as much about their budget as they do, and I also care a lot about resale value and creating appeal to their potential buyers. Having this shared interest gives people more confidence in working with me, knowing that my priority is their priority. I want to be a good steward of their time and resources, and having their best interests at heart is key to building a strong reputation in business!
Contact Info:
- Website: intentionalnashville.com
- Instagram: @nashvillestager
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IntentionalNashville
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melpo/
Image Credits
Headshot – Rein and Rye Photography