Interview with Melissa Fields
Photography by Mallory Hewitt
Military veteran-turned-interior designer Melissa Fields describes how her Air Force experience advantages her customers and talksabout a job in St. Hedwig, Texas.
Tell us about your military profession:
I served in the Air Force for twenty years, beginning as a medic and then endingupbeing a necessitated contracting officer when released to the Middle East. Later, I got my MBA in acquisition and agreement management and, when stationed at the Air Force Academy, was tabbed as the speechwriter and deputy personnel director for Lieutenant General Michelle Johnson, the veryfirst female to lead a service academy. Eventually, I endedupbeing the chief of contracting evaluations for the Air Education and Command inspector basic and was takingatrip every month.
By that time, though, I was a partner and mother, and having a military profession was putting a big pressure on my household. I would neverever get too comfy at home since I may have to leave onceagain in an immediate. So I chose to retire as a significant at the start of 2018.
Was your shift to interior style a smooth one?
I hadactually been talking to my partner about doing style well previously my retirement. Whenever we would takeatrip, I’d be interested by how the hotel lobbies and spaces were laid out, and I’d soak in the style and design of design homes whenever I could. I’ve likewise developed every home we lived in; it constantly felt simpleandeasy to me, and I definitely liked it.
So in 2016, I established Shades of Gray Design. It was a home staging and redesign business at veryfirst, however after a year, I understood I desired to produce areas for houseowners who would remain in their homes, takepleasurein them, and get a return on their financialinvestments.
How did your firm’s name come about?
It was my otherhalf’s concept. At veryfirst, I idea he was joking. He dislikes the Fifty Shades of Grey films, and that’s what individuals would instantly believe of. Also, I didn’t desire individuals to get the incorrect impression. [Laughs] But I was offered on his thinking. The color has so numerous various tones—subtle and light, dark and moody, and whatever in inbetween—and it offers a excellent background for any design. Like the lotsof tones of gray, there are lotsof various style designs.
You call your style technique “military motivated.” Would you intricate?
My experience offers me a rather distinct take on style. In the military, information can be a matter of life or death, so I am incredibly arranged and information oriented. I likewise have a lot of project-management experience and worked with lotsof various characters in my military profession, making it simple for me to manage my customers’ different requires for their homes.
How would you explain your style design?
I lean more towards modern-day and modern vibes, however I wear’t force either on my customers. It’s their cash and their home, so their prefe