Life & Work with Michelle Fahmy

Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Fahmy.

Hi Michelle, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My whole story and journey to date has been a lesson in the art of manifestation and speaking things into fruition. Thoughts become things. After a ten year career in event production, the monotony of it all and the realization that I wanted more was beginning to become stronger than the complacency and comfort of a job with benefits and predictability. I grew up in a home with parents who not only appreciated the arts but are art collectors themselves and now that both are retired, my dad is able to pursue his artistic passions freely. Aesthetics were always a big part of my life and once I moved out on my own, the joy of putting together a space, going to thrift and antique stores became a love and one of my favorite things to do in my downtime. As I perused more, the more I learned about the antiques I fell in love with and about the designers and makers that would showcase them in the most astounding ways. I wanted to be in that world. I wanted to be one of those designers and in that realization, about six years ago, I started documenting my journey on IG…showcasing the cool little corners and vignettes I would put together in our little condo. Soon after (5 years this September), my husband and I purchase our first home in Inglewood, CA (dubbed the Boutique Barnhaus)…a run down POS that we immediately fell in love with. All while working our full-time jobs, we dove headfirst into renovating and turning it into a world all our own. Most of the items we used to furnish and accessorize with were thrifted, found on Craigslist or found on the side of the road. Our home became a stage in which I was able to showcase my creativity with interiors, collecting of unique items and showcasing of bold colors and patterns. Through that process, my 9-5 became harder and harder to cope with. I was unhappy and didn’t know what to do about it. I knew I wanted to design, but how, I had no experience, no portfolio, nothing except my passion and my IG account to show for it.

On my 36th birthday, we had a party and one of our friends who happens to be an architect asked me what I wanted to do with my life. For the first time, I was vocal to someone outside of my head and the words “I want to be an interior designer” came out without hesitation. At the time, she was working on a project with Willa Ford of WFord Interiors and offered to make an introduction…no promises, but she thought there may be a good fit there. After several months of staying in touch here and there via email, I was in a hotel room in Indianapolis, there for work, miserable, wondering what I was doing with my life when the phone rang. It was Willa! She wanted to see if I would be able to come and help style a home for an upcoming photoshoot! Needless to say, I had no idea what I was doing, but I jumped at the opportunity. I was also so miserable at my job at the time that I decided to quit. Leap and the net shall appear, I kept telling myself. That photoshoot led to two years working with WFord Interiors, learning the trade, bringing in my own clients, designing! I was doing it…I was a designer. In that time, I also had the opportunity to guest star on Flip It Like Disick on E!…a pretty crazy start to say the least. From there about nine months ago, I decided I wanted to branch out on my own and with Willa’s blessing, encouragement from everyone in my corner, I took another leap of faith and took Haus of Meeshie solo…all during a pandemic. It has been the scariest, most stressful, busy and crazy ride I could have never imagined or prepared for. I am working with some of the best people in the business, incredible clients and creating beautiful, out there spaces. It is overwhelming when I sit to think about it all and how it has happened so quickly (but then, when I look back…it’s been happening all along, the minute I decided I wanted to lean into it).

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It is (and always will be) a work in progress. Running a business and navigating waters that are all so new can be very intimidating at times. The biggest struggle I experience on a day to day is the business side of things…the time it takes to handle all of the bookkeeping, billing, orders, tracking, followup… it’s about 80% project management and 20% design. At the end of the day, all the back end drains the creative mind leaving little energy for it. I quickly came to the realization I needed help and am so fortunate for my Design Assistant, Hayley Yerington. She helps with so much of the back end so I can focus more on creative direction and design. I think with any business, the struggles along the way are huge learning lessons that if payed attention to, can help you grow and build. Pay attention to what you are lacking, areas you need help in so you know where you need to grow and how to hire.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Michelle Fahmy, founder of Haus of Meeshie, an Interior Design firm based out of Los Angeles, CA. Michelle, named one of Apartment Therapy’s 2021 Design Changemakers, is driven by her love of connecting with clients and the creative alchemy that comes from collaborating with a diverse circle of artisans and tradespeople. Her passion for color and patterns, her inside track into vintage sourcing and art curation, and a fearlessness in mixing different eras and styles defines the viewpoint of Haus of Meeshie: bold, eclectic, and with a keen eye for artwork, but always making spaces a true reflection of the people they are designed for.

Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
I am obsessed with finding efficiencies in processes and am always looking to refine mine. Asana has been an amazing tool/ app to help keep us organized and on track with tasks for all our projects on a day to day basis. In addition, podcasts are a regular go to for me…I listen to them while working, driving, and at bedtime. I love a good inspiring entrepreneurial or advice story and How I Built This is one of my favorites. Every time I listen to it, I imagine Haus of Meeshie will be an episode one day. A few other favorites to note: Clever, A Podcast About Design/ The Chairish Podcast/ Financial Feminist/ We Can Do Hard Things with Glennon Doyle.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.hausofmeeshie.com
• Instagram: @haus_of_meeshie

Image Credits:
Headshot photo – Sequoia Emmanuelle For Small-Cool photo – photographers name to follow (confirming with Apartment Therapy) the Apartment Therapy Small Cool photo is Rikki Snyder