Melissa Milaković
Having studied and worked in the creative arts for over twenty years, it was Melissa's education in Interior Decorating where she made the natural connection between the fundamentals of decorating, design and her fine art background.
Within weeks of graduating, Melissa began assisting and working in New York City, Vancouver and Toronto alongside leading set designers and prop stylists for clients such as Verizon, Bloomingdales, Schumacher and Shopify. This was where she was able to refine her instinct for composition, point of view and visual impact.
Soon after these transformative experiences, the pandemic became a reality for us all. Melissa had to reconsider her path forward.
An idea began to emerge about creating space where all your senses would come alive. A concept shop where she would design it to feel like you were walking into her home—Melissa ready to welcome, to host, offer a coffee or a small glass of prosecco and a conversation would ensue. Where people would come to find the perfect gift for a dear friend, a unique coffee table they didn't know they needed or to simply be inspired to bring a little more joy into their own homes.
From hand sketching and drawing to graphic design and brand development her varied experience working as a creative has only deepened her love and understanding of the value of interior decorating and design: creating impactful spaces evokes creative expression, personal story and intrigue.
artist statement
My approach is simple: listen, observe, brainstorm, create.
After years of exploring a multitude of creative avenues, working in three-dimensional space is where I can most confidently bridge my skills, talent and deep desire to connect to the human story. It is through our environment and the spaces we keep that we can find true peace of mind, refuge and solace.
My motivation to do this work lies in my earnest belief in the collective power of space and beauty and the way in which it influences our lives. There is no question that space can inspire or impair us, that mindful decoration or thoughtful design can change the landscape of our experiences. Visual storytelling has immeasurable reach, the ability to affect lives and history, to provoke change globally or emotionally, or to simply offer a small dose of pleasure to an anonymous passerby.
This has been my own personal discovery which I continue to investigate wholeheartedly.