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Hey there, I'm Michelle.

the founder and lead interior decorator at Cultivate Your Space—interior design with your mental health in mind.

While I was always the kid who rearranged my bedroom without asking, sponge-painted my walls, and snuck decorating magazines into my mom’s cart at the grocery store, the interior design did NOT feel like a calling or a career path.

I wanted to do something with more impact, so I started my career in non-profit youth work where I supported teens who were aging out of the foster care system. I enjoyed the meaningful work and being able to see visible changes in the lives of the clients and kids I would work with, but the work was heavy.

While I was working and questioning my life path, I took a week off to vacation and recover from what I know now was the early stages of burnout. On that trip, I experienced a trauma of my own that caused me to reassess everything I once held sacred.

I was assaulted by two men on an international cruise and returned home completely undone. I was unable to take care of anyone else but had formed a truly amazing support network that helped me as I took a year off to heal in an incredibly intentional way. 

I went to yoga and joined a gym of supportive women who let me process my anger physically. I flew to the mountains and witnessed beauty. I went to weekly therapy and started meditating so I could practice more mindfulness. I even got a little crunchy, started diffusing essential oils, and became a proud plant mama.

At the time, I also decided to let go of furniture I didn’t love so I could cultivate a space of intention. And once I cleared what wasn’t serving me, I only filled my living space with keepsakes, furniture, and family heirlooms that filled me with hope—that healed me from the inside out. 

My healing happened slowly, over time, with intention of what surrounded me. I strategically created a space around me that promoted healing and it was at this time that I realized I can help others do the same: create spaces that heal. 

Whether you’re navigating life after divorce, grieving the loss of a loved one, or ready to feel as grounded at home as you do in your power blazer, I’m here to design for you. 

At Cultivate Your Space, we care about how your space functions and how it makes you feel.