Q&A: Jessica Risko Smith, Interior Designer

Melissa Bodie, co-founder and director of Melissa + Miller Interiors, shares insights into her career as an interior designer and offers five key pieces of advice for creating joyful living spaces. Bodie's upbringing, influenced by her mother's home-building career, instilled in her an early passion for design and architecture. She recalls suggesting a staircase repositioning at the age of eight, which her mother adopted successfully. Throughout her career, Bodie has worked with notable design figures such as Nina Campbell, Martin Brudnizki, and Martha Stewart, learning the importance of meticulous attention to detail from these industry leaders. She emphasizes that while their styles varied, a common thread was their focus on the minutiae, which significantly impacts the overall aesthetic and feel of a space. She also candidly shares a humorous early career mistake, highlighting the steep learning curve in the industry, particularly in styling for high-profile clients like Martha Stewart. Melissa + Miller Interiors, with offices in London and Philadelphia, specializes in high-end, bespoke interior design, prioritizing comfort and functionality alongside luxury and style. The firm offers comprehensive services including knowledge of architecture, textiles, antiques, project management, and custom design. In 2020, they launched an e-design service, providing their custom interior design expertise to clients globally with quick turnaround times. This initiative also serves as a platform for social good, with a portion of fees donated to organizations like Feeding America, NAACP, and Black Artists + Designers Guild. The firm actively reassesses its brand partnerships and sourcing to promote diversity within the design industry. They also host a weekly Instagram series, "Meet a Maker," spotlighting talented BIPOC and female artists, craftswomen, and designers. Bodie's five recommendations for sparking joy in living spaces begin with the principle to "Buy what you love." She believes interior design should transcend trends, focusing instead on how a room evokes feelings, creates ambiance, and offers comfort without sacrificing style. A home should be an extension of one's personal style, as the client ultimately lives in the space. The second tip, "Buy from whom you love," encourages intentional purchasing from artisans, makers, and craftspeople whose stories resonate. Melissa + Miller Interiors supports this by featuring diverse creators in their "Meet a Maker" series and through their gift guide. The third recommendation is "Be well," focusing on mental health within interior design. This involves creating spaces that promote tranquility and peace, often referred to as "zen zones." These can range from a dedicated meditation room to a cozy corner, incorporating soothing elements for all five senses: calming colors and lighting for sight, soft textures for touch, scented candles for smell, and organized playlists for sound. Bodie suggests colors like light blues, soft greens, greys, blush, and lilac for their peace-promoting qualities. The fourth point advises against comparison, stating that "Comparison precludes joy." Finally, "Outdoors, in" emphasizes integrating nature into living spaces, whether through a balcony, terrace, or garden. Bodie views outdoor areas as extensions of the interior, decorating them with beautiful furniture, lighting, and accessories. Due to client demand, Melissa + Miller Interiors plans to launch a garden design arm to create exteriors that complement their interiors. Bodie advocates for democratic design, believing that safe and beautiful environments should be accessible to everyone, including in public schools, daycare centers, and city hospitals. Her firm has demonstrated this commitment by designing a public space for a family homeless shelter. She also supports movements that amplify women's voices, particularly women of color. When asked about a person she'd like to meet, Bodie names Michelle Obama, admiring her influence. Melissa Bodie can be followed on Instagram at @melissaandmillerinteriors. #InteriorDesign #MelissaBodie #MelissaMillerInteriors #HomeDecor #JoyfulLiving #DesignPhilosophy #EdesignServices #SocialImpact #WellnessDesign

Julie Sousa, a 2017 graduate, discovered her passion for interior design during high school when she ingeniously decorated her bedroom using multicolored construction paper and tape, as her contractor father was hesitant about her painting decisions. This early experience taught her to creatively achieve desired effects with available resources, a pragmatism that later became fundamental to her interior design business. In 2020, while working as a digital marketing specialist at PTC and redesigning her Boston condo, Sousa launched Avant Garde Home LLC. She leveraged TikTok and Instagram to document her home decor and design journey, realizing that not everyone possesses an artistic inclination. Consequently, she began sharing insights into the design process, making artistic concepts accessible through practical advice. This strategy helped her rapidly build a social media audience, leading her to leave her corporate job after three months to pursue interior design full-time. Sousa's analytical skills, honed at Bentley, proved invaluable as she monitored website traffic and the performance of her social media posts. Her first viral video, which garnered 5.1 million views, offered tips on how to avoid the 'farmhouse' decor style. Sousa personally favors biophilic design, a concept that integrates nature into indoor spaces. She finds that incorporating plants and greenery into her home provides a sense of calm and helps her manage her attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, stating that walking into a room filled with plants is very relaxing. Beyond plants, other elements of biophilic design include maximizing natural light, opting for natural materials like wood and glass over plastic for furniture and accents, installing small indoor water features, and using natural stone. The core objective of biophilic design, according to Sousa, is to create a seamless transition between the outdoors and the home. This approach not only offers health benefits but also contributes to sustainability by encouraging the use of more natural light and fewer plastic products, which is environmentally beneficial. Sousa's design philosophy is also influenced by her Brazilian heritage. She particularly embraces the 'jungle concept' and is integrating it into her baby's nursery with Brazilian-based furniture, bold colors, and earthy materials, reflecting the significant impact of her culture on her aesthetic style and taste. #InteriorDesign #BiophilicDesign #HomeDecor #JulieSousa #AvantGardeHome #SocialMediaMarketing #SustainableDesign #Entrepreneurship

Monica Duncan, owner of The Duncan House Fine Interiors, shares insights into her 24-year career as an interior designer. Duncan, who has lived in North Carolina for 26 years, reveals her current favorite color to wear as blush and taupe, but notes it changes frequently. When it comes to interior design, her preferred approach involves sophisticated neutrals accented with splashes of color. Duncan recounts that her inclination towards design was evident from childhood, as she engaged in space planning games in the woods, a clear early sign of her future profession despite initially pursuing a law degree in university. Her mother recognized her design aptitude before she did. Regarding current design trends, Duncan expresses appreciation for edited interiors that are both forward-thinking and sophisticated. Conversely, she cites 'Harvest gold ruffled ‘Dorothy’s originals’' as a design trend she wishes had never occurred. When asked about her favorite national interior designer, Duncan names Barbara Barry, commending Barry's exceptional restraint and ability to judiciously incorporate statement pieces into her designs. The best career advice Duncan has received is 'If it moves you, it can stay,' a principle she applies in her work. Duncan finds inspiration primarily in nature, describing it as 'God’s handiwork.' She is moved by the soft hues of sunrises, the grandeur of sunsets, and the changing moods of natural landscapes, such as the misty gray of a pond. When beginning a new room design, her initial focus is always on the clients. She meticulously observes their personal style, their lifestyle, and their aspirations and dreams for their living spaces. Upon the completion of a home design project, Duncan hopes her clients experience feelings of awe, profound emotion, and genuine happiness. She notes that 'tears of joy are always a good thing!' This interview was originally published in the December 2017 issue of Home + Garden, highlighting her expertise and philosophy in interior design. #InteriorDesign #MonicaDuncan #TheDuncanHouseFineInteriors #DesignTrends #CharlotteMagazine #HomeDecor #DesignerProfile

An interior designer named Shannyn Weiler sparked a debate on TikTok by asserting that an excessive display of family photos, termed a “shrine,” indicates poor taste in interior decor. Weiler’s argument centers on the idea that homes should not solely feature personal photographs but should incorporate a variety of art and design elements. She provided an anecdote from her own life, recalling how she and her husband, as young newlyweds with limited funds, filled their first apartment with wedding photos, creating what she now refers to as a "shrine." She extended this idea to parents with a single baby or grandparents with one grandchild, suggesting that such focused displays of one subject can dominate a living space. Weiler advocates for a more balanced approach to home decoration. She recommends integrating diverse artwork, including prints from sources like Etsy, and mirrors to create a varied visual environment. Her suggestion is to avoid having photographs of family members on every wall, emphasizing the importance of mixing different types of decor to prevent a "shrine-like" appearance. This perspective garnered significant attention and criticism from social media users. Many commenters expressed strong disagreement, emphasizing that their homes are primarily for their own comfort and enjoyment, not for impressing visitors. A popular sentiment was that displaying pictures of loved ones brings joy and personal connection to a home, making it feel lived-in and cherished. Some users highlighted that they prioritize photos of their children and family experiences over generic art or flowers. Commenters also pointed out that the idea of designing a home to avoid appearing "tacky" to others misses the fundamental purpose of a personal living space. They argued that individual preferences should dictate home decor, irrespective of external opinions on taste. Some shared personal experiences, like one individual who disliked growing up in a home that prioritized aesthetic over personal touches, feeling that their mother valued material things more than family memories. Conversely, a minority of respondents agreed with Weiler’s professional opinion. These individuals shared the view that too many personal photos can appear narcissistic or visually unappealing. They noted instances where homes filled exclusively with wedding photos, for example, suggested a lack of broader interests or a somewhat dated aesthetic. One commenter mentioned a friend’s home with an abundance of wedding pictures, which they found tacky, and ironically, those friends later divorced, reinforcing the idea that such displays might not reflect a well-rounded interior. Despite the backlash, Weiler's viewpoint is not unique within interior design circles. Sarah Han from Apartment Therapy echoes a similar sentiment, suggesting that an abundance of self-portraits in a home can be perceived as vain. Weiler posted a follow-up video acknowledging the varied reactions and explaining that while some design advice may initially seem unappealing, trying new ideas can sometimes lead to unexpected satisfaction. Her follow-up stressed that individuals may find some design principles resonate with them after experimenting, even if their initial reaction is resistance. #InteriorDesign #FamilyPhotos #HomeDecor #TikTokTrends #DesignPhilosophy #PersonalExpression #AestheticDebate