Meet Melanie Raver

We had the good fortune of connecting with Melanie Raver and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Melanie, what do you attribute your success to?
The most important factor fueling my design success is taking risks and trusting my gut. In life I prefer to mitigate my downfalls by assessing risk and most likely I prefer to toe the line on less risk less downfall. However, when I step into design my style is fueled by taking risks. Mixing colors and patterns, adding elements that are unexpected or whimsical. I push the limit fearless of consequence or reprimand, because I am trusting my gut and working for that “WOW”, the pop. I think my designs have been successful because I have led with wonder and boundary pushing rather than safe.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I left my Interior Design job to be a stay at home mom. I felt called to spend the time with them. I knew it would affect my career, but not creating when you are an artist is impossible. When my youngest was two, I needed to jump back into design in any way possible. I started to style areas in my home. Create snapshots and post photos with captions that described my torn desires. To work and create or to mother and nurture. I think my posts resonated with what others were feeling. I was open, honest, and raw. I think people wanted and craved the authenticity. Within weeks of starting my account a photo of mine won a huge contest within the design influencer community and I was shared on several major pages. My page took off. My next room design which felt with transitioning from a toddler to a big girl room. It resonated with those dealing with change, letting go, and embracing the the next chapter. The cactus room was a viral success and I was featured on major platforms such as the NY Times, a major Australian decor magazine, and HGTV print. It was a great transition from full time stay at home, creative exploration, and then into working with major brands and getting paid! My next design success was the renovation I did on our vintage Airstream. It was a project we worked on as a whole family. Completely gutting and restoring this old trailer. We spent over a year working in our spare time to get the trailer on the road in major elevated style. We traveled during covid and the trailer was featured in HGTV online, The Washington Post, and the Seattle Times. My latest and most personal project is my Pacific Beach Airbnb. I spend 8 months renovating and preparing my old home into a stylish boutique style short term vacation rental. Featuring my signature design style, mixing pattern on pattern, and unexpected design risks.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would host them at RAVE BEACH, my beachside vacation rental. We would spend a few days exploring local beaches. I would take them to a local favorite spot called Windansea. We would grab some sandwiches, cold drinks, chips, and a bag of ice at PB Market and Deli. Pack a cooler then head to the north end of Windansea and get ready to be in awe of the crystal clear water and super light soft sand beaches. Take a walk and explore the connecting beaches like Marine St. Or if you catch the tide right you can jump off the rocks. We would get takeout from the Orient Thai Cafe, drunken noodles with chicken add cashew nut……mmmmmm so good. Then rent bikes and find a nice spot along the boardwalk to watch the sunset and nosh on dinner. Grab a drink at Lahaina Beach House before heading home to relax and enjoy at the view from the rooftop deck.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My shoutout is to my family. They are my biggest fans of my work in the home and as a small business owner. My husband has encouraged me every step of the way. He has believed in me when I felt like giving up. When I worried all my effort would be for not. My husband and my girls kept my head in the game when I felt I didn’t have anything left to give. The girls enjoyed watching me transform my unit, the design steps along the way, the little details. This is a legacy for my girls and generations to come. It is all for them! So here’s to them….woot woot!!!

Website: https://www.raveinteriordesign.com

Instagram: raveinteriordesign

Image Credits
Images by Myself and Professional Shots done by TruVUE productions