Meet Melissa Mathieu

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Melissa Mathieu a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Melissa, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?

My resilience as an interior designer comes from the challenges I’ve faced, both personally and professionally. After earning my bachelor’s degree in interior design, I struggled to find a job where I felt truly valued, appreciated, and well-compensated. I jumped from job to job, trying to find fulfillment, but it was always just out of reach. In 2019, my life took a heartbreaking turn when I was 20 weeks pregnant, and we lost our first baby. The loss sent me into a deep depression, and not long after, the world was hit by COVID, which gave me the time to reflect on what truly made me happy. While painful, that time gave me the space to reflect on what makes me happy and what kind of life I wanted to create for myself.

I decided to step away from the full-time grind, took on part-time work, and slowly began doing freelance design. That transition wasn’t easy, but it gave me the freedom to focus on my passion. Once I gained enough confidence and clients, I made the leap to run my own business full-time two years ago.

My past is a constant reminder of how far I’ve come and how much I’ve overcome. Each hurdle has shaped me, not only as a designer but as a person. When I look at where I am today, owning a successful business, it drives me to keep pushing further. Resilience, for me, is about turning struggles into stepping stones and believing in my ability to thrive despite the challenges.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I focus on full-service interior design, primarily working on residential remodels. One of the aspects I truly enjoy and specialize in is creating 3D renderings. This allows me to bring my client’s visions to life in a way that’s both creative and practical. I’m passionate about pushing boundaries when it comes to design—helping my clients discover what truly resonates with them, not just following trends they see on social media. I love playing with color, patterns, and textures, and I’m always looking for ways to bring the outside in, mixing new and old elements. To me, what makes a house a home is the personal character you add to it.

Sustainable design is another area I’m passionate about, and I’m continuously learning how to incorporate more eco-friendly materials and methods into my work. In the future, I’d love to work with clients who share this vision and trust me to design their spaces using sustainable products.

In addition to interior design, my husband and I recently purchased a roll off dumpster company called TD Rolloffs. We’re excited to explore ways to incorporate more sustainable practices in that business as well. Ultimately, I’m driven by the idea of creating spaces that are beautiful, functional, and in harmony with the environment.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

First, not being afraid to learn and grow is crucial. When I wasn’t happy with the rendering program I was using, I took it upon myself to research and teach myself a new one. That decision not only helped me elevate my work but also set me apart from other designers. My advice to anyone early in their journey is to invest time in self-improvement. Take courses or learn new skills that will add value to your work, and don’t shy away from learning things outside your immediate expertise, like business management.

Second, push yourself to network and get out there. Early on, I joined a local networking group that pushed me out of my comfort zone. It turned out to be one of the best decisions I made, as it connected me with valuable people who now contribute to my businesses. My advice is to ask questions and reach out to others in your industry. The worst thing that can happen is they don’t respond, but more often than not, people are willing to help and share their experiences. Don’t be afraid to learn from those who’ve been where you are.

Finally, being ahead of the game is key to long-term success. Find areas where you can stand out from the rest. For me, it was recognizing my love for 3D renderings and finding the best tools to enhance that part of my business. If you can identify what makes you unique and refine that skill, you’ll always have an edge.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

I am definitely looking to partner with interior designers, builders, developers, and investors nationwide who could benefit from my 3D rendering services. My renderings provide a clear and detailed visual representation of projects, helping clients and stakeholders better understand the design concept and potential outcome. I’ve worked with multiple companies in the industry and have seen firsthand how these visuals can streamline the decision-making process, avoid costly mistakes, and elevate the overall design presentation.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

All photos are photographed by SpaceCrafting Photography out of Chanhassen, MN. The photo of the blue vanity with the white subway tile and stool in the center is by The Visual Script out of Maple Grove, MN.

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