Transformative Homes with Mitchell Thompson Interiors

The Art of Home Transformation: Creating Spaces That Tell Your Story

• Roy & Diane Mitchell • Episode 4

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What Does Transformative Homes Mean In The Context Of Interior Design?

Ever wonder what truly makes a house feel like home? Roy and Diane Mitchell, co-founders of Mitchell Thompson Interiors, reveal the secret lies in transformation that goes far deeper than surface-level changes. With their combined 50+ years of residential design expertise, they approach each project with a profound understanding that our homes should evolve alongside life's major transitions.

Whether you're navigating downsizing, upsizing, or simply redefining your current space, the Mitchells emphasize that transformative design isn't about discarding everything old for something new. Instead, it's about crafting spaces that authentically tell your story while supporting your lifestyle. They share fascinating insights about how your wardrobe can reveal your ideal home color palette, why some furniture deserves refinishing rather than replacement, and how bringing outdoor elements inside creates restorative living environments.

"We're not only thinking about pieces and furnishings," Roy explains, "we're looking at how the home functions for the family." This holistic approach ensures that design decisions reflect not just aesthetic preferences but practical needs. Diane adds compelling examples of furniture transformation, including a mid-century walnut buffet reimagined with black and white finishes and modern hardware—preserving sentimental value while creating contemporary appeal. 

Ready to begin your own home transformation journey? Visit MitchellThompsonInteriors.com to schedule a complimentary 30-minute discovery call and explore how Roy and Diane can help make your vision your reality.

To learn more about Mitchell Thompson Interiors visit:
http://www.MitchellThompsonInteriors.com
Mitchell Thompson Interiors

Speaker 1:

Welcome to Transformative Homes with Mitchell Thompson Interiors. Join hosts Roy and Diane Mitchell, the creative force behind Mitchell Thompson Interiors, who together bring over 50 years of expertise of residential interior design across the US. Are you navigating a major life transition, upsizing or downsizing your home, purchasing a vacation home or redefining your space? You've found the team to guide you so your home truly reflects your unique dreams. Stay tuned and learn how to schedule a complimentary 30-minute discovery call. Let's delve into today's topic.

Speaker 2:

It's more than just new paint or trendy furniture. A truly transformative home reshapes how you live, feel and experience your space every day. Welcome back everyone. I'm Sophia Yvette, co-host slash producer, back in the studio with Roy and Diane Mitchell. Roy and Diane, how's it going? Awesome, Good afternoon, Good afternoon, and that is great to hear. So Roy and Diane, everyone wants to know. What does transformative homes mean in the context of interior design?

Speaker 3:

You said it very well in your opening statement Our homes are a place where we live out our lives and create memories, and so when we think about change, it's very complicated and sometimes upsetting the transitions that people will go through. But the positive side is that we have the ability to transform a home environment that brings it into alignment with what the family's current dreams and goals are, and that's how we like to look at it. When we approach a project, we're not only thinking about the pieces and the furnishings that are going to make up the eventual plan, but we're looking at how the home functions for the family. We're looking at what their next move is, how they've grown, how they've developed. We're telling their story, and transforming the home is a foundational part of living out that story.

Speaker 4:

But making the story flow throughout the home. Rather than having one story on one wall, we're making the story flow in each room and just makes the home feel homier.

Speaker 3:

the flow throughout the house and the colors, the home feel homier, the flow throughout the house and the colors. Absolutely, the eventual end product will be dictated by the homeowner, because what we're trying to do is draw out what authentically makes them comfortable in their living space. There's a good example. Roy likes to talk about bringing the outdoors in, and we know that the home can be a very restorative space. We definitely need a place for that to happen, and so when we talk about biophilic design or bringing the outside in, it may be that somebody has transitioned from a high rise and now they're in a single family home on a parcel of land and they want to breathe easier and they want to bring the green into the home and they want to be able to open up those patio doors all the way so that they can experience that, that sense of openness.

Speaker 2:

So, roy and Diane, on that note, let's get into those color schemes a little bit more. What does the difference in color schemes speak to the person who owns the home?

Speaker 4:

Go ahead.

Speaker 3:

I'm looking at Roy because this is definitely one of his strengths and I always enjoy it when he talks about looking at your wardrobe.

Speaker 4:

Oh yeah, so I've been invited to many wardrobes, and especially ladies' wardrobes, because that tells me what colors that they love to put on and that generally translates to the colors that they pick out for their furnishings and wall color throughout the house. So it's kind of like you know furnishings and trends, you know follows the women's apparel market. So if you want to know what's going on in the apparel market in the home world, go to a women's apparel shop and you'll see the colors out there.

Speaker 3:

The alignment that we're talking about in color is a comfort level and it may be warm neutrals for one family and it may be bright primary colors for another family. We're comfortable working with all of it.

Speaker 2:

But again, when you look around at the items that have already been chosen the clothing, the accents, the accents- you get a pretty good feel for what that color palette is going to develop into Makes sense and so getting into it a bit more. How do you balance timeless design with personalization in a transformative home?

Speaker 4:

personalization in a transformative home. Well, I think that a lot of people think that they need to throw everything away. They don't. There's great pieces that most people have. Either they can be refinished or reupholstered to be in the current world that we live in today, to be in the current world that we live in today.

Speaker 2:

So, roy, what are some signs of items that can be refurnished or indicators that it should be thrown away.

Speaker 4:

Well, as far as upholstery goes, the old way of making furniture is almost lost, but it's still around there. As far as American-made products Eight-way hand-tied I love to talk about, because when you sit on an eight-way hand-tied sofa you get a nice, comfortable sit. A lot of the inexpensive sofas out there they're kind of like a jagged coil. You sit down and you feel like you're falling off the edges. So just pop your hand up underneath the sofa. If it feels solid, the springs, you know you have a good piece.

Speaker 2:

Amazing and Diane.

Speaker 3:

Well, I think about case goods in the world of refinishing. Really, it just takes imagination. We have got multiple examples of refinishing buffets, tables, entertainment units and heirloom pieces. There was one client who had a mid-century modern walnut buffet entertainment center and it was a decent size. I think it was about six and a half feet long and about 30, 34 inches tall and we just totally leveled it up. We sanded down the walnut parts and we did it in a black and white scheme so that the base was black and the drawer fronts were white and we put some cool hardware on it and it just totally brought it right up to the 21st century. Clients love when you can preserve something that is a part of their history.

Speaker 4:

And I think a lot of clients think that you know, when they hire the interior designer, they're just going to come and say, okay, we need to just wipe this slate clean. I feel like it's about the homeowners, not about Diane and I. We like to find out how that client lives. That is far more important to us making the client happy, making it feel like it's a home that they want to live in.

Speaker 2:

Well, roy and Diane, thank you so much for your helpful insights. We'll catch you on the next episode and have a fantastic rest of your day.

Speaker 3:

Thank, you Bye.

Speaker 2:

Sophia.

Speaker 1:

Thanks for tuning in. That's a wrap on this episode of Transformative Homes. Are you ready to begin the journey toward elevating your home and lifestyle? Visit MitchellThompsonInteriorscom and schedule your complimentary 30-minute discovery. Call Roy and Diane will explore making your vision your reality. Join us for the next episode as we continue discussing elevated lifestyles through the lens of interior design. One unique and exquisite home at a time.