We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Melissa Fields a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Melissa, so glad you were able to set aside some time for us today. We’ve always admired not just your journey and success, but also the seemingly high levels of self-discipline that you seem to have mastered and so maybe we can start by chatting about how you developed it or where it comes from?
I would say that my self-discipline comes from two sources: the way I was raised and serving in the military for 20 years.
My dad was in the Navy for 21 years so I’m considered a “military brat”. Although loving, my dad was always so strict and rigid, but my mom was quite the opposite, very lenient and laid back. It was a tough way to grow up with my parents parenting differently. My parents divorced when I was in second grade, so my and my brother’s time was split between two households. We were with my dad a lot of the time, so he taught us discipline and structure. He didn’t just do everything for us. He cultivated an environment where we were to be on time, have a daily routine (systems and processes of how we were to get things done), and learn to motivate ourselves rather than depending on or expecting others to do what we were responsible for doing. That was my life!
So, it wasn’t much of a transition when I joined the Air Force a year after I graduated high school! Being in the military just reinforced and fine-tuned what I had already been taught as a child. In the Air Force, we had a checklist for everything! There were systems and processes we used every day to get the mission accomplished.
I didn’t have the luxury of waiting around for someone else to get the job done. If it was assigned to me, I better ensure it gets done with a high level of excellence because that’s what was expected. We had annual performance reports and future promotions were impacted by those reports, so I wasn’t going to play around and risk future career opportunities.
I initially came into the Air Force as an enlisted member, but received my commission as an officer five and a half years into my enlistment. Once I became an officer, it took me to a whole different level! Not only was the responsibility greater, but so were the standards. I didn’t plan on making it a career when I was 19, but as I started to climb the ranks it changed my perspective. I blinked and 20 years passed!
I retired in 2018 and it’s been 6 years since I’ve worn the uniform…that’s so crazy! Time really does fly. But even though I’m no longer active duty, all that I learned over those two decades is still in me. Every tool I have put into my “toolbox” has been applied to my interior design business. The structure, systems and processes, and discipline have helped me as an entrepreneur and business owner. I don’t wait around for something to be done — I just do it.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am a certified residential interior designer and I’m in the business of transformation! I have always had such a strong passion for all things interior design…from architecture details to the creative use of colors, patterns, and textures in a space. Often times people use the term decorator and designer interchangeably, but there is a difference. Decorators focus on making a space pretty. They select all of the right colors, fabrics, and finishes. Designers don’t just look at the “pretty”. We look at how a space functions and ensure a proper flow, how clients will use the space, and what feelings they want to evoke when they spend time in that room. There’s so much more that goes into designing a beautiful and functional home that is way beyond aesthetics.
What I feel is so special about what I do is the fact that I’m creating modern, fresh spaces that people actually want to be in. I love having the creative freedom to design someone’s home so that it looks and feels like them. I believe people should surround themselves with what brings them joy and reflects their unique personality.
We often are looking for ways to leave our homes to go on vacation and be somewhere else. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but home is where we spend most of our time (besides our workplace if that’s not at home), so why not love where you live? Why not create a place where you have an every day “staycation”? I love to design a home that makes it extremely hard for people to leave!
Home is where memories are created. It’s where we gather with friends and family and share our hearts. People invite me into their most intimate and personal space. That’s why I don’t ever take that for granted. It’s a level of trust that I don’t take lightly…it means everything to me.
My military experience has taught me how important attention to detail is. In interior design, the details matter. Details make the design. It has also taught me the structure and discipline needed to manage successful interior design projects. My business is all about touching mind, body, and spirit. I always say, if home isn’t right then nothing else will be right. If you dread coming home every day, that affects every other area of your life. But if you have a beautiful home that is truly your sanctuary, it becomes a space you can’t wait to come home to each day. That’s the ultimate goal!
Interior design is a luxury service. It’s not an everyday purchase you make at Amazon. It is an investment in your home and your family. We love to work with people who truly understand that and who value a well-designed home. They’re willing to make the investment because they know they will get a return — not only in the increased value of their home, but an intangible return like the peace and harmony they’ll have when they’re at home.
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?
Looking back, I would say that tenacity, critical thinking, and basic business knowledge were probably the most impactful in my journey. Being tenacious and staying the course really got me through those tough times when I felt like throwing in the towel. I learned that I don’t have “give up” in me.
I feel that I really developed my critical thinking skills when I was an officer in the military. In essence, that experience practically forced me to really dig deep and not just take what people said as the end all, be all. I learned to do extensive research and really question how we conducted business and how we could execute our mission more effectively. You can’t be a yes-person. You need to think for yourself and do the work.
Basic business knowledge is crucial! Most entrepreneurs can do what they love to do almost effortlessly, but don’t necessarily know or understand the business side of their business. Learning about business from a textbook is completely different than learning as you go. I think most of us take for granted how valuable business knowledge is today. If you don’t know how business works, you’re going to get left behind quickly.
My advice to people who are early in their journey, is to keep showing up! Even if you may feel inadequate or you don’t know enough, keep going. Continue to do your part and let God do what only He can do. None of us knows everything. All of us are learning as we go. As long as you don’t give up, you still have a chance.
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 always looking for the right people to connect with! I believe that relationships are everything. One of my goals this year is to focus on strategic partnership development. I would love to connect with more custom home builders, architects and luxury realtors and real estate brokers.
It’s all about cultivating those relationships and creating a win-win scenario for all involved. I know that what I have to offer would be valuable to these businesses and help them provide exceptional client experiences. Homeowners have higher standards than ever before and they expect the best for their homes. So, it’s really important that we come together and join forces to provide this level of excellence!
In this industry, we are in the business of transformation. In our own unique way, we are transforming people’s homes and elevating how they live. I truly believe that industry partnership is where it’s at and if we come from a place of giving, we can really make something magical happen!
If there are any custom home builders, architects, realtors or even general contractors who would be interested in collaborating with our interior design firm, they can contact us at 210-400-6799, visit our website at www.shadesofgraydesign.com, or send an email to melisssa@shadesofgraydesign.com.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.shadesofgraydesign.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shadesofgrayinteriors
Image Credits
Professional interior photography: Mallory Hewitt
