Hello, I’m Mikel Welch, Actor, Interior Designer, On-Air Personality, and today, Celebrity Guest Blogger for An Orange Moon!
HAPPY 11TH SHOP ANNIVERSARY TY & LYNN! I met Lynne on a sunny afternoon when I stopped in to purchase items for a show house! Below are some of the tricks of the design trade. Grab a glass of vino or iced sweet tea and dig in!
So, last week I was posed with a major task…Several of you commented on how you loved this dramatic bedroom design and wanted to know where to shop each piece. To be honest, this bedroom was created for an interior design showhouse, so I was a bit scared to divulge the individual price of each piece. Let me put it in context for you. A showhouse is essentially a fantasy room where interior designers pull out all the stops, in hopes of securing a new high-end client. Typically, there is a mansion that is up for sale and to attract attention to the home, the homeowners will attach themselves to an interior design-based charity organization. The charity will then invite several hand-selected designers to the house and allow each of them to create their ideal vision for their given room in the home.
After the house is decorated, it is then open for the public and magazine editors to view (sort of like a luxury interior design museum). The goal for the designers, is to create a room that turns some of the visitors into actual clients. Since the rooms garner much attention, every designer is doing their best to add the most intricate custom detail to every piece in the space. The more exclusive the piece, the better (in most cases…money can’t but taste). With that being said, every item in this photo of my room comes with a pretty hefty price tag.
So, I decided to do something a little unorthodox and basically re-imagine this bedroom for the everyday person. Now keep in mind, the skill and craftsmanship in the original pieces is unparalleled to any of my knock-off finds. Out of respect for the original creators/showrooms, I wouldn’t dare list their names. This post may get me in a bit of trouble within the design world, but my goal is to show everyday people how to create magazine worthy rooms as well. What good is an inspiration photo, if the goal isn’t realistically attainable. I’m not trying to count anyone’s dollars, but a $30,000 sofa isn’t in everyone’s wheelhouse. Although…if budget isn’t an issue, shoot me a DM or email, and I’ll tell you where you can find the original pieces.
Pro Tip: Mix it up! Don’t you love how the Windsor chairs fit so nicely with the modern sofa and how the barn doors (hand made by moi) pull everything together nicely. Ready to update your home? You can practically antique shop with just a couple of clicks, right from your phone!
ABOUT MIKEL
As a young boy growing up in Southfield, Michigan, Mikel Welch busied himself with the construction of sofas and dining tables using toy Legos for imaginary houses. It was evident to his family that an innate sense of creativity and a passion for design were embedded in Mikel from birth.
Today Welch runs a New York based interior design business, Mikel Welch Designs, and works as a host and design expert on Quibi’s Murder House Flip. On camera, Mikel shows viewers tips and tricks for renovating homes, designing sophisticated spaces and creating luxury looks at affordable prices. Mikel is a former on-air personality of TLC’s Trading Spaces, and his designs have been featured on HGTV, The Real Housewives Of Atlanta and Good Morning America.
In January 2020, House Beautiful named Mikel as one of the 2020 NEXT WAVE designers. His work has also been featured in Architectural Digest, Traditional Home, Elle Decor, People, The New York Times and several other shelter magazines. Mikel has also had the honor of designing lavish VIP green rooms for prominent personalities, including First Lady Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey, Faith Hill, Steve Harvey, Harry Connick Jr., Joan Rivers and Halle Berry.
Watch my latest show!
OPEN BY APPOINTMENT
Friday-Saturday Noon-7pm
Sunday Noon-5pm
RING/TEXT 773.276.6726
2418 W North Ave
CHICAGO!
*Mikel Welch kicks off our Celebrity Blog Design series!
**Its An Orange Moon’s 11th Birthday!! Join us for our MAY BIRTHDAY SALE! We are offering “Retail To Go” by APPOINTMENT ONLY per Governor Pritzker and will be open BY APPOINTMENT from: Noon-7p on Friday & Saturday. Sunday Noon-5pm. RING/TEXT for an appointment! 773.276.6726 SHOP OUR SALE!
***NON-ESSENTIAL RETAIL: Retail stores not designated as non-essential businesses and operations may re-open to fulfill telephone and online orders through pick-up outside the store and delivery. Please shop with confidence! Thank you! See you soon, Ty & Lynne McDaniel, Owners & Founders of An Orange Moon