EP #229: The Heart of Interior Transformation: Roy and Diane Mitchell's Journey with Mitchell Thompson Interiors

What makes Roy and Diane Mitchell with Mitchell Thompson Interiors  a good neighbor?

Are you ready to elevate your living space but feel overwhelmed by the idea of interior design? Join us as we sit down with Roy and Diane Mitchell of Mitchell Thompson Interiors, who share their insights on the transformative power of thoughtful design. With over 15 years of experience serving clients in the Dallas area, Roy and Diane understand that interior design extends beyond aesthetics—it's about crafting spaces that resonate with our lives and experiences.

In this engaging episode, we delve into how the couple approaches each project with an innate understanding of their clients’ journeys, turning houses into homes. They break down the importance of listening to the client's vision, ensuring a collaborative design process that captures the essence of those who live there. This conversation confronts some long-held misconceptions around DIY design, highlighting the specialized knowledge that interior designers possess, which can save clients time and money in the long run.

We also discuss common transitional circumstances where professional design can substantially impact families, whether accommodating aging parents or redefining spaces as children leave home. Their insights aim to empower listeners with the knowledge that effective design requires strategic planning and foresight.

Tune in to discover how thoughtful design can enhance your quality of life through spaces that truly reflect who you are. Don’t forget to subscribe, share, and leave a review!

To learn more about Mitchell Thompson Interiors go to:

http://www.mitchellthompsoninteriors.com/

Mitchell Thompson Interiors

972-841-4699

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place
where local businesses andneighbors come together.
Here's your host, Sophia Yvette.

Speaker 2 (00:10):
Welcome to the Good Neighbor Podcast.
Are you in need of an interiordesign company?
Well, one may be closer thanyou think.
Today I have the pleasure ofintroducing your good neighbors
Roy and Diane Mitchell withMitchell Thompson Interiors.
Roy and Diane, how are you guysdoing today?
Oh, wonderful.
How are you?
I'm doing great.

(00:32):
So we are so excited to learnall about you and your business.
Tell us a bit about yourcompany.

Speaker 3 (00:41):
Want to start out Di.

Speaker 4 (00:42):
Sure.
So we have been interiordesigners for a very long time.
We've been working in andaround Dallas for about 15 years
together and you know, interiordesign of a home is really an
essential part of our lifeexperience.
You know we spend a lot of timein our homes.
It's a very personal journeyfor people and we guide our

(01:04):
clients along that path, youknow, in a very transformative
way.
A lot of our clients are in themiddle of they're either buying
and you know selling and buyinga new home.
Kids are going off to college,they want to repurpose some of
their rooms, mom or dad may bemoving in with them if they're
in the later stages of life.

(01:25):
So there are a lot of differentlife situations where people
need to be able to function in alittle different way in their
home, and that's what we reallyspecialize in, and we take into
account what the family needs.
We take into account theirexisting furnishings, if there
are sentimental pieces, and wework with them to really meet

(01:51):
their needs and their goals inan elevated way so that they're
really able to live their bestlife in their home.

Speaker 2 (02:01):
So, roy and Diane, how did you guys get into this
business?

Speaker 3 (02:06):
Well, I got into it back in the 1980s and I always
knew that I loved the designworld and well, anyways, got
into it in the furnishingindustry and back in those days
they trained you for theinterior design and of course it

(02:29):
took about two years before Iwas able to even see a home,
inside of a home, with clients,and then I got the bug and the
rest is history.
That's something I don't thinkI could see myself doing
anything else.

Speaker 4 (02:53):
I could see myself doing anything else.
I started a little bit later inlife.
I had a previous career andthen, when my children were
growing up, I wanted to run myown business part time and
really sat down and reflected onwhat I enjoyed doing.
And even as a kid I dabbled ina lot of different materials and
drew space plans for homes andalways had my nose in a magazine

(03:15):
that had to do with interiordesign.
So that's how I got started,and when Roy and I met, we
worked on our first projecttogether.
We quickly realized that weshared the same approach in
designing for clients.
We started out by listening andwe absorbed the energy of the

(03:36):
client in their home and we wereboth striving to create the
environment that the client wasasking for, but then also, you
know, to bring them beyond theirown conception, increase the
function, beauty and the moodand again create a home where it
really reflects the people wholive there.

Speaker 3 (03:55):
That's what I liked about you, di, when we first got
together, as you listened,because there were a lot of
times that I had clients newclients that I was working with,
and they worked with otherdesigners and the designer
wasn't quite listening to themand putting pieces in that they
weren't comfortable with, and assoon as the designer left, got

(04:18):
through with the client, theymoved everything out, and that
shouldn't be the case.
They spent very good money,should listen to your client and
get what they're what they need.
So I found the approach oflistening to your client,
looking at their home life, howthey live, is the best approach.

Speaker 2 (04:43):
Most definitely.
I agree 100%.
And so what is the number onemost common myth or
misconception you both comeacross in your industry?

Speaker 4 (04:55):
Well, we hear a lot of people who, you know, want to
do DIY and that professionalinterior design is really just
an opinion.
You know anybody can do it Afterspending the years that we have
in this industry.

(05:15):
It really is a professionalservice, just like when you hire
an accountant to do your taxesat the end of the year.
It is a professional servicethat, if you recognize, you
either are constrained on timeyou just don't have the time to
delve into the industry anddedicate yourself to that
project or you really are not aperson with strengths in design

(05:41):
and color, space, space planning, spatial awareness all of that.
Then, just like like I said,just like reaching out to have
somebody do your taxes you needa professional who is well
rooted in the industry, has anefficiency about finding those
services and products that youneed.

(06:02):
It will eventually save youtime, money and energy.
Even in the retail world, theretail consumer only has access
to a sliver of the furnishingsindustry.
That's available when you workwith an interior design team
like us.
We have trade-only resourcesthat are broad and abundant and
we've also vetted them, so weknow who takes care of their

(06:24):
customers.
We know which companies to workwith for the quality of the
product and the quality of theircustomer satisfaction.

Speaker 3 (06:32):
Yeah, I say that you're only getting about 10% of
what's out there.
As far as, say, say, if you'rea client and you're looking
around in stores, you're goingto see the same things pretty
much.
And as far as the world ofdesign, you go to a trade center
or you go to North Carolina orChicago or Italy, you're only

(07:00):
seeing, again, 10%.

Speaker 2 (07:05):
And who exactly are your target customers?

Speaker 3 (07:11):
On average, I'm going to say 40 and up or do you know
?

Speaker 4 (07:23):
okay, we have, um, a client base.
I alluded to this a littleearlier that generally people
tend to reach out for help, um,when they're in some kind of
state of transition in theirfamily.
And, uh, roy's correct, most ofour clients are 40 and 40 and up
.
And what really makes what makesa great client interior

(07:44):
designer relationship is the isthe understanding that when you
commit to do an interior designproject in your home, you need a
strategy, you need a vision ofhow the whole project, the
entire scope, whether it's justa bathroom or whether it's your

(08:06):
living room, dining room,kitchen, powder bath, you know,
all bundled up together.
You need a vision up front inorder to be able to select the
right furnishings, artwork, wallfinishes that will accomplish
that vision.
And so it's an investment oftime and reflection and

(08:32):
understanding how your familyuses all of that space up front,
and we dedicate a good bit oftime to that part of the process
.
It's like the preparation forthe success of the project.
So a client who's coming to uswith a project in mind, we've

(08:54):
talked about that a lot and wereally want their commitment and
we're we're giving them ourcommitment that we will flush
out that vision to the finestdetails before we start looking
at purchasing products andservices amazing, amazing, and I
I do agree that that's alwaysimportant to make sure that

(09:17):
you're listening to what theclient wants and making that
vision come to life.

Speaker 2 (09:22):
Right, exactly.
And so, roy and Diane, wherecan our listeners go to learn
more about Mitchell Thompson'sinteriors?

Speaker 4 (09:34):
Yes, we can.
You can find us online at ourwebsite.
It is just our company nameMitchellThompsonInteriorscom.

Speaker 2 (09:45):
Well, Roy and Diane, I really appreciate you guys
being on the show.
We wish you and your businessthe best moving forward.
Thank you so much.

Speaker 1 (09:56):
Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor
Podcast.
To nominate your favorite localbusinesses to be featured on
the show, go to gnpfriscocom.
That's gnpfriscocom, or call469-221-9345.
© transcript Emily Beynon.