Following Her Passion: Melissa Fields' Journey From the U.S. Air Force to Interior Designer

Many—well most—of us have a natural talent for the work we do in the interior design industry. We remember rearranging and redesigning our childhood bedrooms over and over again. And we practiced that skill in more ways than we can probably count. But when it comes down to the nitty gritty of what makes each of us successful, and aspires us to be successful for those just starting in the industry, it comes down to passion.

 

And that's what designer Melissa Fields discovered was driving her love for interior design at the end of a 20-year career in the U.S. Air Force.

 

"Toward the later part of my career is when I really started thinking seriously about getting into design," says Fields, who is Founder, CEO and Principle Designer at Shades of Gray Design Studio in San Antonio, Texas. "I enjoyed my career [in the Air Force] and it was an amazing experience, but I was ready to do what I was absolutely passionate about doing."

 

She opened her firm in 2018 and has been able to utilize a lot of her military experiences and lessons in her work. Scroll to learn more about Fields, the passion that drives her successful business today and the insight she shares if someone in the military is considering a switch to interior design in the future, and be sure to check out the full interview.