Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Dew.
Hi Michelle, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I started my career in youth non-profit work, working with youth aging out of the foster care system. It was very difficult but rewarding work. I always enjoyed interior decorating, but it always felt like more “shallow” work and might not be rewarding or relational. I wanted to make a bigger impact on people’s lives than picking out throw pillows. While I was working for the non-profit, I went on a cruise with girlfriends in order to get away for some much-needed self-care. While on the cruise, I was assaulted by 2 men. I came home, and my entire world changed; I was no longer able to help others because I needed to help myself heal. I was diagnosed with PTSD from the event, went to therapy twice a week, started yoga, anger therapy, getting massages so I wouldn’t be afraid of touch, left my job, had a triage team of supportive family and friends, detoxed my food, beauty products, and anything else someone told me would “help me heal”. I bought house plants, surrounded myself with beauty, and realized that everything in my surroundings had GREAT power over my healing. While I was attempting to heal what was inside of me, I HAD to work on what was around me. I had to work on the external in order to heal the internal. During this time, I also had a few small clients for interior design work as a way to make money and to have a creative outlet/hobby for healing. It was during this season that I realized I could help others heal in their own homes and environments. Help them heal from “little t traumas” and “big T traumas” like abuse and divorce. This was when my business began. When I realized interior design work doesn’t have to be shallow, it doesn’t have to be about keeping up with trends and impressing the neighbors, it can be about creating a safe place for people to land- their homes.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has not been a smooth road at all! Covid was very difficult, but I completely pivoted my business to online in a matter of weeks. Everything I was doing was in person, and in a matter of days, I went virtual only. It ended up being great for my business- everyone was stuck in their homes and dealing with mental health issues from the lockdown. I pivoted everything to help clients exactly where they were. The main struggles have been hiring and letting people go, being a boss, constantly feeling the need to market myself and my business, the changes of social media and the algorithm. I believe in my business and believe in the help I’m able to provide people, but getting the message out is the hardest piece of my business. Running your own business has many ups and downs financially, and that causes immense stress as well!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am an interior decorator who cares about how your space FEELS and functions, just as much as how it looks. I believe my biggest gift to my clients is my intuition, my ability to listen and truly hear my clients’ needs (no matter what their style is), and be attuned to what they’re NEEDING in their space, not just how it looks. I am also intuitive about the physical space, how does the space need to flow, I can visualize it and offer that dream and vision to clients. I believe my ability to think about your mental health and how your space is impacting you is what sets me apart. The interior design field is known more for keeping up with the Joneses’ and impressing others, and that is not what my business is about.
My most proud projects are where I have designed mental health therapy practices. I’ve designed over 30 therapy offices and love knowing that thousands of people have been impacted by going to therapy and feeling physically safety in the intentionally designed offices.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
I, of course, would love to help clients with interior decorating in the Austin area and all over the world virtually. I would also love to educate people through speaking engagements, the news, media, and press regarding how they can impact their mental health for good through some of my tips and strategies of interior design.
Pricing:
- $997- specific vision board for one space (as many as needed) you purchase in your own time, all links are provided
- Speaking Engagements- reach out for pricing
Contact Info:
- Website: www.cultivateyourspace.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cultivate.your.space/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cultivate.your.space/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-dew-206995111/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@cultivateyourspace
Image Credits
Bailey Jack
Philip Wilham
