We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Michelle Ford . We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Michelle below.
Michelle , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s start with a story that highlights an important way in which your brand diverges from the industry standard.
I offer both residential and commercial design services. As a commercial designer I work with companies needing full design services for commercial remodels and new builds. This may be for a medical or dental office, a small or large corporate office or a multi-family property. Where I differ is that I also offer design consulting services to the homeowner that prefers the do-it-yourself approach. Over the years I’ve learned that there are many clients that enjoy managing their own renovations. There are also clients that need and want interior design services but the cost doesn’t fit into the overall renovation budget. Most residential interior designers strictly offer full service design. These services are very hands on and require a lot of time from a designer and financial resources from the homeowner. After years of turning away clients because projects were small or their budgets wouldn’t accommodate full service design, I decided to offer design consulting services. These services start with a design consultation which gives the homeowners the opportunity to meet with me at their home to discuss the project, get opinions on everything needed for a renovation including flooring, paint, tile, cabinets, countertops, furniture, window treatments, etc. This allows the homeowner to do the legwork but it eliminates the risk of making poor, uninformed and potentially expensive decisions throughout the process.
Michelle , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I worked in a corporate environment for many years. My career was in health insurance as well as workers compensation insurance. I knew from the time I was young that I had a strong interest in interior design but I didn’t see it as a potential career initially. After helping a family member with a design project, I began offering part time interior design services along with my full time job. After several years of this I decided it was time to leave the insurance industry, return to school and complete an interior design degree. At the end of my education, an opportunity arose through an internship that opened the doors to starting my own interior design business in April of 2014.
I bring a somewhat unique perspective to my commercial projects. As designers, we all live in residential spaces so the residential designer has the benefit of knowing what makes a home function. As a commercial designer, coming from years of working in commercial environments, I know what works and doesn’t work well in a commercial space.
I also appreciate that projects aren’t one size fits all. I enjoy working with many design styles and budgets. I rarely work with a client that shares my exact personal design aesthetic. I find it challenging and very rewarding bringing a clients vision to life. I also enjoy helping a client that hasn’t identified their personal style, find what they love and tailor their space accordingly.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
At the time I started my design education, I was a single mom. It was challenging but I planned for the possibilities. I encourage anyone wanting to make a change, to research, find resources and make a plan. Change can be tough, it takes patience but it can be done.
Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
If you’re interested in a certain creative career, don’t be afraid to reach out to someone in a profession you’re interested in. Plan a phone or in person meeting. Spend a little time asking questions that help you determine if a change is right for you. As a designer I spent hours reading home magazines and books that outlined other designers journey into their career. Follow others in the creative industry you’re interested in on Instagram and Pinterest. It may enlighten you and help you find your path.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.michelleforddesign.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michelleforddesign/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-ford-0ba237a/
Image Credits
Amber Dawkins Photography, Justin Lopez Photography, Brian Shumway. The in town projects were photographed by Amber Dawkins, the Texas project was Brian Shumway and the California project was Justin Lopez.