Meet Melissa Berger | Digital Interior Decorator & Professional Stager

We had the good fortune of connecting with Melissa Berger and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Melissa, why did you pursue a creative career?
I’ve always been really in touch with the feelings of a space. I knew as young as 8 that I had a drive to create spaces, but it wasn’t until I had my first internship staging rooms in Dillard’s that I realized I could give other people that feeling, too. It’s silly, but staging rooms and display cases were so eye-opening. I always thought working was sitting at a cold desk, just that stuffy office environment where there’s no room for creativity. I was so excited when I started that job; I couldn’t believe they paid people to do the thing I loved.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
When I started my first business, I realized a lot of people thought interior decorating and staging was expensive. I’ve always wanted to make it accessible and affordable. It’s possible to make a room shine without needing big, extravagant props; a room is part of a house, and whether it’s making your new place feel like home, or showing a buyer the future in a house you’ve outgrown, staging is about making comfort. We at Gorgeous Digs believe making a home isn’t just about flashy impressions, but about making a space talk. If you speak the right language–the right paint colors, flooring, accent pillows–a room will tell you what it wants you to feel. I want to make sure anyone who wants to can communicate their space. Rooms, a house, reflect the person who lives in it, so when we work with clients, we make sure they don’t get lost in all the changes. It was difficult for me to learn at first, because as a professional in the field, I knew what trends were popular and what people found appealing. I had to incorporate that knowledge with my clients’ needs, too. Sometimes, you have to make that old green couch work! Not everyone can afford even a simple couch cover, let alone a new sectional, and these are also the kinds of things that make a client’s home. They’re meaningful, whether the trends say so or not. We–I–don’t lose sight of that. We work with and for our clients, and we want everyone to have the opportunity to speak our language.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Well, when my family visited, we’d always go to the NASA Space Center! Seeing the rockets and mock-ups was always amazing (it never got old!) and no matter what age, everyone had a great time. The museum district is also a favorite of mine! When my husband and I first moved to Houston, and I had our daughter, we’d go to the Natural History Museum at least twice a month. Even before we had kids we were always visiting the traveling exhibits. As for food, downtown Houston has a huge variety. There was a Cuban place I remember fondly, before we moved to The Woodlands years ago, that made the best mojitos. Just poke around, and try something new!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Interior decorating wouldn’t be much without the décor. My mother-in-law, Carol Berger, runs her own pottery studio that’s given Gorgeous Digs beautiful pieces over the years. Her and my father-in-law, Mike Sr., have worked closely with Gorgeous Digs to help us grow where we are today. I’d love to shout her out, and the gallery she’s a part of, Archway Gallery, for supporting us. Her Instagram is @artsbycarol, and she’s opened safe, socially distanced pottery classes for anyone interested in creating their own art, or purchasing any of her pieces. We’re really grateful for their support, and would love to send recognition their way!

Website: https://www.gorgeousdigsdecoratingandstaging.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gorgeousdigs/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/GorgeousDigs
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gorgeousdigs/?ref=page_internal
Other: Houzz https://www.houzz.com/professionals/home-stagers/gorgeous-digs-pfvwus-pf~1327548912?

Image Credits
Pat Cassity Photography