My name is Michaela Shields, and I am a wife, a mom, and owner of M. Shields Design. I am so glad you are here and allowing me to share my experience and expertise with you. For years now, I have had friends and family encouraging me to start a blog and share about design, my lifestyle, or motherhood, but I didn't know where to carve out the time to make that happen. So, it is one of those dreams that has lived on the back burner a little too long.
My goal with this blog is to share tidbits and advice for how to make your own home a space that truly serves you and your family. My outlook on design has changed tremendously over the years, but especially since becoming a mom, so I hope to share a little about myself along the way too. I believe everyone deserves to feel comfortable and at peace in their home, and it is my mission to help make that a reality for my clients.
"Your home is meant to be lived in. It should serve you and your family, and make you want to come home"
How Did I Choose a Career in Design?
I remember watching the very first episode of Trading Spaces on TLC with my mom when I was about 9 years old. When I was 10, my mom told me we could redo my room however I wanted but I needed to pick something I could live with until I went to college because she wasn't going to pay to redo it again. That wasn't going to stop me. I learned how to work on a tight budget for a project at a very early age. I saved and spent every penny of my allowance and babysitting money on redoing my room from then until I did go off to college. I was constantly buying new bedding, new furniture, repainting the walls, I even replaced the flooring on my own when I was 12 years old. My mom always encouraged my love of design, and never once complained about the noise of me rearranging my furniture right above her craft room every other week.
At 13 years old, I already knew I wanted to be an Interior Designer, and my mom helped me explore schools with design programs, and encouraged me to check out her alma mater. I resisted at first because I wanted to blaze my own path, but their program was the best fit for what I was looking for. I finally caved and I enrolled in the program at Murray State. Go Racers!
My professors were excellent, but I didn't understand why they had me laying block foundations, framing walls, running plumbing and wiring. I wanted to design spaces, not build them... But I quickly learned how critical it is to understand the building process when it comes to design. It was because of those classes that I realized my love for taking a space apart and putting it back together. I fell in love with remodeling, and ended up getting into the construction industry and working as an in-house designer for a General Contractor. I have focused my entire career on the drafting and planning aspects of design, rather than the decorating aspect. I prefer the smell of sawdust to that of furniture showrooms.
Why Did I Start M. Shields Design?
I have worked in the industry for over 10 years, and never had much interest in going out on my own. To be honest, the thought intimidated me. The idea of managing the books, and all of the legalities just turned me off.
In 2020, I took a new job with a local contractor, and was able to work from home 2 days a week. That ended up being the biggest blessing, because a month later I found out that we were expecting our first baby. And just a couple of weeks after that, the entire world shut down... I got to work from home for several months as we all navigated our "new normal" which anyone who has ever been pregnant knows was a gift from the Lord himself.
When Weston was born, I was fortunate enough to get to spend two days a week working from home with him, and the rest of my work week in the office. It was the perfect balance and kept me doing what I loved, but I didn't feel like I was missing out on all of his big milestones. It also gave me a reason to get out of my sweatpants and have adult interactions each week which I desperately needed. I love that precious boy more than anything, but I needed something that was just for me.
I found out I was pregnant with our sweet Delaney Lynn on Christmas Eve, and we realized we would have two under 2. We knew our world was about to change drastically with two babes. My husband encouraged me to go out on my own and do freelance design, or general contracting. It started as a joke, but the more I thought about that 45 minute commute to the office, pumping all day at work, getting up at 4am to do my PT and get the babies ready, I was really dreading going back to work.
So, M. Shields Designs was born. It may have been a bit ambitious to start a new business with a newborn on my lap, but it has been the best decision we have ever made. I have been able to balance the demands of motherhood, managing our household, and still doing what I love for some of the absolute best clients.
My Why?
At the end of the day, my family comes first. That is why I started this business. Not only to be able to be home with them, and enjoying all of these early moments that I would have missed otherwise, but also to show my children what hard work and chasing after your dreams really looks like. I want to model to them what it means to follow what the Lord is calling them to, and to trust in His provision. I know that His plan is far greater than any life I could ever design for myself. This season has truly taught me to trust that He works all things for my good and for His glory, and I feel so blessed to get to share it with you too.
My family is why I do this, and so is yours... To help you in making your home a space that you and your family can connect, unwind, and make lasting memories.
I can't wait to see how this business and this blog grows and evolves. If you want to follow along as that happens, click the link below to subscribe!
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