Today we’d like to introduce you to Michele Howell.
Hi Michele, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I have been designing and decorating homes for over 25 years.
From 2012 to 2018, I also had a storefront on the downtown square in the town where I live.
Having my own store was a fun and wonderful experience.
I loved creating displays, decorating the store for the seasons, and hand-selecting unique items to sell in my shop.
I was on the board for our Downtown Association a few of the years I had my shop. In 2017, I had an idea to organize a Holiday Home Tour as a way to raise funds for our downtown events.
Our first home tour event was in December of 2018 and was a huge success.
As much as I loved having my own store, I missed having the time to decorate homes for clients and made the decision to close the store.
Even though I haven’t had a shop on our downtown square since 2018, I have continued to coordinate the Holiday Home Tour every year.
It has grown so much over the years and continues to be a great fundraiser for our downtown. I love being able to give back to the community by organizing this event.
In the past few years, I have traveled to many states in the US as well as another country to decorate homes for clients.
It has been a wonderful experience, and I am incredibly grateful to get to do something I love for my job.
In 2020, I started an Instagram account for my business and also started a blog.
I love sharing home decor ideas, creating unique tablescapes, and offering budget-friendly ideas for decorating your home.
In 2023, I was honored to have my home featured in the Summer issue of Country Sampler Farmhouse Style magazine. You can only imagine my surprise to find out it was also the cover photo of the magazine.
You can follow along at Vintage Home Designs on Instagram and Facebook and also my website and blog at www.vintagehomedesigns.com.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
As with any job or career, there are both ups and downs.
When I owned my own store, predicting supply and demand was certainly a constant stress. There was always the concern if my customers would love a product as much as I did or would I end up with a lot of excess inventory.
You are somewhat “married” to a storefront, meaning it is very hands-on and can be very demanding for your time.
In the past few years, I have been traveling for design work a lot, and that has been a lifestyle change I have had to adjust to.
I love being at home and spending time with family and friends. Traveling a lot has made it more difficult to stay caught up on things at home or plan gatherings in my home.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I love what I do and have been fortunate to work for wonderful clients, travel to beautiful places, and work on some amazing homes.
I enjoy searching for perfect pieces to help clients curate beautiful and functional spaces in their homes.
Also, sharing ideas and inspiration for home decor, tablescapes, and seasonal decorating on my blog has become a passion and something I look forward to.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
A few years ago, I had an incredible opportunity to team up with another designer, and together, we have worked on some amazing homes and enjoyed traveling together.
I have to give credit to my family for being understanding of my very busy schedule.
My husband has been very supportive of my work even though I am traveling and away fairly often.
Fortunately, a couple of my clients live close to my daughter’s home, which is a few hours away, so it has been a blessing to spend time with my daughter, son-in-law, and 2 granddaughters when I work in the area.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.vintagehomedesigns.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vintagehomedesigns/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vintagehomedesigns
