Let's Meet Michele Wesdock

Friends, today I’m happy to introduce Michele Wesdock - she’s a creative who is an Interior Designer and proprietor of an on-line vintage shop Emma and Jean Studio - that soon will also be a brick and mortar. We met through the Instagram and I think you all know I’ve purchased quite a number of sweet treasures from her.

Michele welcome to the Chalet! Can you share where you live and with whom for the readers: Thanks Meryl for choosing me for your February blog! I'm thrilled to pieces! I live in Smithfield, Virginia, which is the sweetest little town and home of that delicious salty ham. My husband Brendan and I moved here when our oldest son was two years old. It's less than 20 miles from where I grew up in Hampton, VA, but it's like a world away. We had another son a year after we moved and both are now teenagers. I honestly wasn't ready for two teenage boys. As they say, they do actually eat you out of house and home :-) ! We also have another boy, our sweet rescue pup, Ethan. He came with a "people" name and it stuck! He's five now and such a snuggler. He sheds like mad, which used to drive me nuts, but now I love him too much to care.

Please tell us about your youth: I was pretty shy growing up and a HUGE reader. I still revisit my favorite books sometimes. The "Betsy" books by Maud Hart Lovelace were my favorites but I also fancied myself as Laura Ingalls Wilder. Yes, I had a prairie dress and a bonnet! These books may have been the beginnings of my love of vintage! Speaking of vintage, in Middle School I graduated to the Sweet Valley High books and had hair-band posters on my walls. Bon Jovi, specifically. Later, I moved on to floral borders and sage green and mauve floral bedding. Not my best design decision but we've all been there! My parents Nancy and Edward still live there - in my childhood home.

Where and What did you study in school: I majored in English at Christopher Newport University where I banged out lots and lots and lots of papers. I went on to run the community relations department at my local Barnes & Noble where I scheduled author events and children's storytimes and wore lots of book character costumes! After that, I worked in the children's department of the Hampton Public Library.

“Vintage Style for the Home - is my tagline and what I love to share with my customers”

— Michele Wesdock

How did your vintage shop start? I started my vintage shop about a year ago. It’s named for my maternal grandmother Jean and her mother Emma. I’m happy to honor them in this way. Covid gave me lots of time to think, and I realized that I really love scouring for vintage pieces more than anything else. Since I only have so much room in my own house (and the husband complains about hoarding - ha!) I decided to sell some pieces on Etsy. I quickly realized I wanted more control and transitioned to selling pieces on my own website. This is really where my passion lies now. You asked me to share interior design work with you and your readers, and I loved helping clients achieve wonderful spaces but at least for now I will be focusing on Emma & Jean Studio shop.

Let me ask you about your home - how long have you lived there? We've lived in our current home for 15 years. During that time, I've painted every wall at least three times and painted my kitchen cabinets twice.

Which space in your home is your favorite? My favorite room is the front living room because the rest of the guys usually hang out in other areas of the house. It literally holds all of my favorite things. There's nothing in there I don't love and so much is personal. I keep my great-grandmother's quilt in that room and my grandfather's Scout books, a small painting by my grandmother, a wooden stool handmade by a neighbor when our first son was born...It's the most special collection of "stuff" that's just loved for many reasons. There's also lots of plants and books so it's a room that I like to keep "pretty" but is also full of life and pleasing clutter.

How long have you been an Interior Designer? After I got married, we basically had a honeymoon baby and then another. It was during all that downtime (feeding, naps, etc.) that I discovered design blogs and really became interested in that world. I took some courses and started my business seven years ago.

Michele can you share a bit about your process of decorating: My process with clients is different than how I decorate my own home. The first priority is always practicalities. I'm definitely not as practical as I should be in my own house! How they use the home, where they drink their coffee, whether they have pets or small children... All of these questions are so important in helping a client be comfortable and use their home efficiently. After we establish those answers, I focus on their personal style, which is always different than mine in some way. I try to keep a balance of good design practices while giving the clients what they want. Sometimes they feel very overwhelmed so I show them different fabrics and how they work together. We'll usually pick a "main" fabric and then add in other fabrics and upholstery pieces to complete the room. I do like using clients' personal pieces if they have some special things. I always want a room to look "collected," not like it was chosen from one furniture store!

Client Work

Social Media specifically IG tell us about the impact on your brand: While I don't have influencer-level followers on my Instagram account, I do have loyal ones! Most of my shoppers have come from Instagram and it's been key in showcasing my pieces and how I style and use vintage and "found" pieces in the vignettes I create around my home. I've met some fabulous women through Instagram that have been so supportive both personally and in this vintage business journey. Especially during the isolation of the past couple years, I've really relied on social media friends in a way I hadn't before. Scrolling through my favorite feeds and seeing my virtual friends has given me a real boost when I've been frustrated with the actual media and home schooling and everything we've all experienced. And the inspiration and creativity I see in those squares always feeds my soul!

Items from the Shop

What’s on Your To Do List for the rest of 2022: I'm very excited about my plans this year! I'm prioritizing the shop in a big way by adding more antique and vintage items as well as new (not vintage) things. All of the new pieces will still have a vintage flair and will fit right into my tagline "vintage style for the home." I'm adding art prints, table decor, pillow covers and more.

I'm also preparing for a physical location in the spring which I am absolutely thrilled about! I'll be one of several vendors inside the Hamtown Mercantile but I plan to have a larger space where I can pack in all of the same types of vintage and new pieces that I sell in the online shop.

Michele thank you so much for saying yes when I asked if I could interview you! I am over the moon about your soon to be open brick and mortar - I wish I lived closer but, thank goodness for me and your other customers you’ll continue your online shop.

Speaking of which - in next weeks post I’ll share all the fabulous treasures here in the Chalet from Emma & Jean Studio! You won’t want to miss it friends!

You can follow Michele on Instagram and visit her Website.

Til next time friends be well!