Designer's Digs: Mikel Welch
Mikel at home (photo by John Bessler)
I'm tickled to introduce my latest blog series, “Designer's Digs” where I go inside the fabulous homes of top interior designers to see how they live and decorate their private spaces.
My first guest in this series is my friend and a shining star in the world of interior design, Mikel Welch. You've probably seen Mikel as a designer on TLC's Trading Spaces, or as a design expert on HGTV and countless TV shows. His designs have been featured in Architectural Digest, Traditional Home, Elle Decor, People, and The New York Times. In 2020, House Beautiful named Mikel as one of the 2020 Next Wave designers. I worked with Mikel in my TV production days. He’s as elegant as his designs and always quick with a smile. I caught up with him recently (remotely) in New York where he lives and runs his interior design business, Mikel Welch Designs.
From Mikel’s portfolio (photo by John Bessler)
From Mikel’s portfolio (photo by Marcel Page)
From Mikel’s portfolio (photo by Marcel Page)
Without fail, you are always impeccably dressed. Where did you get your sense of style?
My mom. As a little kid, she always put me in little suits with bow ties and it stuck.
(photo courtesy Mikel Welch)
From Mikel’s portfolio (photo by Marcel Page)
When did you realize you wanted to be an Interior Designer?
Many many years ago when Dinosaurs roamed, I graduated from Morehouse with a Marketing Degree but I quickly learned Marketing was not for me. I had a long talk with my mom and she said, "Follow your passion and do the thing you'd do for free." I had stacks and stacks of design magazines in my apartment and loved going to Crate and Barrel so I got a job at CB2 in New York. One day a guy came into the store with about 8 assistants and they were buying all kinds of stuff. I said to him, "What do you do so I can get out from behind this cash register and do what you do?" Turns out the guy was a set decorator for a very popular TV series. We talked, he gave me his card and said if I moved to LA, to call him. So, I moved to LA! That guy never returned my calls but I was able to get work as a production assistant and things took off from there.
You appeared on one of my favorite shows, HGTV's Design Star. What was that like?
It was a great experience. I was in Season 7 and came in 4th place. I'm kind of the Jennifer Hudson of Design Star. After that show, I was hired as a set decorator for The Steve Harvey Show which was launching in Chicago.
Mikel at home (photo by John Bessler)
WE FIRST MET WHEN WE WERE BOTH WORKING FOR STEVE HARVEY. HE CHANGED YOUR LIFE. HOW SO?
On my first day of work, I was introduced to Steve and he said "I hear you know how to design." Someone on his team had seen me on Design Star. Steve then said he wanted me to design his office at NBC studios in Chicago. He said he was going back to LA to tape a week of Family Feud and he wanted his office finished by the time he got back. I asked him what his design aesthetic was and he said, "No, I'm not going to tell you that. I'm a comedian and I wouldn't ask you to help me write a joke. So, I'm not going to tell you how to design." I appreciated his faith in me but it was scary. A week later, I finished his office. Steve came back and was blown away and even hugged me.
BUT YOU ENDED UP TELLING HIM YOU DIDN’T WANT TO WORK FOR HIM. TELL ME ABOUT THAT!
Right. As I'm walking out of Steve's office, I said, "God is telling me to tell you that I don't want to work for you." I don't know where it came from. He looked at me kind of shocked and said "What do you want?" I said "I want my own show. I feel God's gonna bless me like he did you." Steve said some choice words and then said, "No one has ever talked to me like that but because you had the balls to, I'm gonna put you on TV" and he did! I did makeovers on the show and went from being behind-the-scenes to on-camera talent. Steve and I are still friends to this day. That man changed my life. After appearing on his show, my career in design and television just took off.
Steve Harvey’s office designed by Mikel Welch (photo by Marcel Page)
OUR FIRST PROJECT TOGETHER WAS PRODUCING A BABY SHOWER SHOW FOR AN AUDIENCE FULL OF EXPECTANT MOMS. YOU WERE SURPRISING STEVE’S DAUGHTER, KARLI, WHO WAS ALSO PREGNANT, WITH A NURSERY FOR HER BABY. HOW INTIMIDATING WAS THAT?
Oh yes, I was scared. I know Karli, we had become good friends, and she is very particular. She has great taste and a great eye so I knew she'd notice every detail. My design of the nursery was a surprise and I knew it was hard for her not being involved and releasing control like that. I knew I couldn't disappoint the Boss's daughter but both Karli and her husband loved it! People magazine did a spread on it, too.
Karlie Harvey Raymond’s nursery (photo courtesy People magazine)
LET’S TALK ABOUT YOUR NEW YORK APARTMENT WHICH IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF DIY AND MIXING HIGH AND LOW.
I'm a huge fan of Craigslist. It's a great resource (Mikel actually found his apartment on Craigslist.) I know how to search and I negotiate. Here's the thing with vintage items, when you're shopping on Craigslist, don't put the word "vintage" in your search or really expensive items will pop up. Don't ever search for "mid-century" or again, you're only going to get pricey items. If you want a mid-century coffee table, you'll have to search "coffee table" and sift through the results to find that diamond in the rough. The armoire in my apartment is a real statement piece and I bought it on Craigslist for $200. My most expensive piece was my sofa from Restoration Hardware.
Mikel’s Living Room (photo by Chinissa Copper)
Mikel at home (photo by Olga Brycht)
TELL ME ABOUT THE TEXTILE HANGING ON YOUR WALL.
This is a legitimate antique which I bought on Ebay. They were popular in Asia and used by workers in the rice fields in the early 1900s. It would shield them from the elements. This piece is proof you can put a lot more things on the wall than your standard paintings and photos.
Mikel at home (photo by David Kim)
I WANT TO CHANGE GEARS A BIT AND TALK ABOUT THE BLM MOVEMENT. AFTER THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD, YOU PUT UP AN INSTAGRAM POST THAT GOT A LOT OF ATTENTION. YOU WROTE, “FOR A WHILE, I THOUGHT IF I ‘WORE THE RIGHT CLOTHES’ OR ‘SPOKE A CERTAIN WAY,’ THAT WOULD KEEP ME SAFE.” PLEASE TELL ME ABOUT THAT.
When George Floyd died, I was horrified but I thought if I was going to post anything, it should be about peace and uniting people, maybe a quote from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., but then something came over me, and I realized I couldn't post that kind of message. It wouldn't be authentic. I had to speak out about my own experience. I've dealt with and continue to deal with microaggressions in my everyday life. I live in New York and when I'm walking around the city, I'll see women clutch their purses when they walk by me. I get followed in stores because it's assumed I'm going to steal something. I was working on a home in an exclusive neighborhood in Atlanta when I was stopped by the police who wanted to know what I was doing in that part of town. When I'm at formal events, people will assume I'm part of the catering staff. They ask me "Which way to the restroom? May I have another glass of champagne?" I stopped wearing black suits because of it. I've done a lot of show homes and people will come up to me and ask, "Did you design this all by yourself?" I just don't believe they'd ask a white designer that. I am very fortunate and I have much to be grateful for but my world isn't always peachy. Being on TV and wearing a bowtie hasn't kept me safe from racism.
2020 Orchid Gala, Park Hotel, NYC (photo courtesy Marlon Co BFA)
HOW IS THE PANDEMIC INFLUENCING WHAT YOUR CLIENTS WANT IN THEIR HOME?
Parents are now working side-by-side with their kids sharing the home office. Before Covid, everyone wanted to tear down walls for open space living. Now, my clients are wanting to add doors and walls. Their needs have shifted and their homes need to function in more ways than before.
From Mikel’s portfolio (photo by John Bessler)
WHAT TRENDS WILL WE SEE IN 2021?
I'm a big fan of darker paint colors on the wall. Black has started to resurface and if you scroll through Instagram, you'll see a lot of examples of it. Black matte is very popular. I love dark walls.
From Mikel’s portfolio photo by Marcel Page)
WHO ARE SOME OF THE DESIGNERS YOU FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM?
Studio McGee, Michel Boyd, Amber Lewis, Emily Henderson, Jake Arnold.
FAVORITE BRICK AND MORTAR STORE?
Jayson Home in Chicago
FAVORITE ONLINE STORE?
McGee and Company
From Mikel’s portfolio (photo by Marcel Page)
IF YOU COULD HAVE A SECOND HOME, WHERE WOULD IT BE?
London. As soon as I step off the plane, I'm hit with the energy of the city. I love how London makes me feel.