156: Melissa Oholendt, Oho Interiors — Using your signature style to attract your dream clients

In this episode, Shaun and Rebecca sit down with Melissa Oholendt of Oho Interiors to dig into how she built a high‑end residential design firm rooted in her signature “cottage‑traditional with a European/English influence” aesthetic — and how that clarity has helped her attract the clients she wants. Melissa shares what it took to scale from one person to a team across two states, how she shifted her pricing model, and why strong processes and trust are cornerstones of her business.

They also explore the emotional side of design work: how homes affect mental wellness, the tension of leading a team vs. being the face of the brand, and what growth looks like when you lean into your style instead of trying to adapt to external trends.

In this episode they discuss:

• Melissa’s journey from finance/PR/photography into interior design and why she finally said yes to doing what she loves.
• How she made the decision to be in two states (Minnesota and Colorado), the trade‑offs, and how that changed her business structure.
• Why she moved from flat‑fee pricing to hourly billing, and the importance of having historical data to price confidently.
• How Melissa builds trust with prospective clients before they even hire her — via Instagram, transparency around cost, and showcasing results.
• Her team structure, leadership style, and how she’s learning to delegate, let go, and empower senior and associate designers.
• How rising build costs and other recent industry shifts have forced process changes and ways to ensure feasibility earlier (so design work isn’t discarded due to budget surprises).
• What she feels most confident about (processes! systems!) and what’s still evolving for Oho Interiors.
• Melissa’s future goals: expanding influence, exploring product partnerships or retail, and building what she calls a modest “empire.”

Mentioned:

• Oho Interiors website — ohointeriors.com
• Oho Interiors on Instagram — @oho_interiors
• Oho Interiors Pinterest — /oho_interiors

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