Interior Designer in Port Washington, WI
Homes with Character
Thoughtful interiors that blend timeless architecture, collected pieces and everyday living.
Maven Workshop
Design that feels collected, not decorated.
Maven Workshop is an interior design studio focused on creating warm, layered spaces with a sense of history and ease. I blend architectural details, vintage and antique finds, and modern pieces to create homes that feel lived in, personal, and timeless.
Whether you’re looking for an interior designer for a new construction project or help decorating and furnishing an existing home, Maven Workshop creates spaces that feel personal, layered and timeless.
The Work
Rooms to remember
MAVEN Workshop wants your home to be beautiful and peaceful. I understand that every space can look completely different with the right design. Let me help you turn the spaces you spend time in to places you won’t want to leave. Feel the MAVEN Workshop difference and schedule your consultation today.
Services
Thoughtful Design for Every Space
A collaborative and thoughtful process designed to make your project feel clear, organized, and enjoyable from start to finish.
New Construction
Thoughtful design guidance from the earliest stages, helping shape selections, finishes and details into a cohesive home.
Furnishing
Layered furniture, color and material selections that make a space feel collected, comfortable and complete.
Styling
The finishing details of artwork, accessories, textiles and décor bring personality and character to a room.
The Approach
From Inspiration to Home
If your space needs a facelift, you have come to the right place.
I am dedicated to helping my clients fall in love with their space. I explore every corner for creative possibilities in order to come up with the best use of existing dimensions. During the process, I work closely with each client every step of the way to make sure that my creations match their tastes. Start with a design consultation, and you'll be in the best hands. Give me a call to set up your first appointment.
01
Pre-Design Consultation
Sometimes the little things make all the difference. With Pre-Design Consultation services, I’ll be able to get to know you and your home. Whatever your design needs may be, I am here to make sure you feel at home in the space you live in. All of my services start here. Contact me today and get started.
1-2 Hour Consultation: $300
02
Conceptual design & furnishing
Further design work will fully customize our conversations and turn them into applicable designs. A detailed "Lookbook" will be created, including color studies, hand-renderings, furniture selection & shopping guides. The result is a full-color reference for the future needs of your home. (requires pre-design consultation)
Design: $100/hour
03
Styling
MAVEN Workshop offers decorating services aimed at busy families, looking for a splash of beauty in a bite sized serving, or, to complete your 3 step process. Small scale decorating can create just the right amount of style to set the tone for the rest of the home. MAVEN is available for contract to return and replace throughout the seasons. (requires pre-design consultation)
Design + Decorating: $100/hour
Materials + Decor: Varies per client budget
The Person Behind Maven Workshop
Meet Melissa
Melissa Didier became interested in design at a young age. As a child, she quickly learned that an accessible way to brighten her world was to move things about a bit.
A simple change of scenery could turn a gloomy day into an adventure. She also had a mind for math, and took these skills to be developed at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee’s School of Architecture and Urban Planning.
Opportunities to visit France provided formative views on history and texture. She graduated in 2005, earning a BSAS in Architectural Design, with emphasis on Art History and Urban Planning.
After a brief career in residential design, she took on perhaps her most challenging and rewarding role, raising 4 children in a 19th century farmhouse. With a limited budget and an active lifestyle to suit, she spent the next 10 years honing a talent to creatively envision a space to accommodate the complicated needs of a busy family.
Through organization, thrift, logic and a touch of whimsy, the Didier Family Farm became the successful testing grounds for Melissa’s design aesthetic, now MAVEN Workshop.
Melissa serves on the City of Port Washington Design Review Board. Through talent, drive, education & experience, the MAVEN Workshop provides a service unmatched in this region.
She believes creative designs are the result of meaningful dialogue and trust between the designer and client. In every project, she strives to fully understand her clients’ needs and apply their feedback and ideas into her designs.
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
How much or how little can MAVEN help with?
As much as you need. I offer full-service interior design for clients who want help taking a room or home from the first ideas through the finishing details. But not every project needs the whole process. You can also bring me in for a focused consultation—a room that's not quite working, a few important decisions, or help finding the pieces that will finally pull it together.
Can I purchase furniture and accessories through MAVEN?
Yes—and this is a big part of what I do. I have access to furniture, lighting, rugs, textiles and accessories from sources that aren't always available through traditional retail. I can help you find pieces that suit your home, your budget and the things you already own—whether we're furnishing an entire room or looking for one really good chair.
Do I need a huge budget to work with an interior designer?
No. I'm much more interested in making thoughtful choices than filling a room with expensive things. I like mixing investment pieces with vintage finds, accessible pieces and things you already own. Sometimes the answer is custom. Sometimes it's something surprisingly inexpensive. The goal is to know where the difference matters.
What if I already have furniture I want to keep?
Please do. The most interesting homes rarely start from scratch. I love working with pieces that have history, usefulness or meaning and figuring out what should stay, what needs something around it, and what might be ready to go. A home should feel collected over time—not ordered all at once.
What is it like to work with MAVEN?
Collaborative, practical and personal. I'll bring ideas, resources and a strong point of view, but I'm designing your home—not mine. We'll talk about how you actually live, what you're drawn to, what isn't working and where your money is best spent. The end result should feel considered and beautiful, but still completely comfortable to live in.
The Word on the Street
Kind Words From Clients
I can’t say enough wonderful things about Maven Workshop and Melissa!
Her expertise, knowledge, and incredible eye for design made my experience such a pleasure. Melissa went above and beyond to locate a very specific furniture piece I was searching for and then helped me develop a beautiful color scheme that created the cozy, welcoming living room atmosphere I was hoping for.
What impressed me most was her exquisite attention to detail. She was able to modernize the look of my existing home without having us rip out , paint or replacing the original woodwork. The existing honey oak wood is not an easy detail to modernize. Instead, she thoughtfully worked with what was already there, bringing all of the elements together so they felt fresh, cohesive, and beautifully updated. I highly recommend Maven Workshop to anyone looking for thoughtful design, expert guidance, and someone who truly cares about getting every detail just right!
Melissa, at Maven Workshop is a fabulous inspiration to suggest a few simple ideas that make dramatic changes in your home. After her consultation I was excited to begin implementing her ideas. She is blessed with a visual gift. You owe it to yourself to have her share her fabulous ideas with YOU!
I had Melissa come to my house to help me pick out a few paint colors for rooms where I was drawing a blank. Not only did she pick the perfect colors for the rooms, but she also gave me a few other design ideas that I absolutely love!
Melissa is extremely professional, and you can tell she knows what she’s doing. She’s honest with you, and also very patient and kind.
If you’re looking for help choosing colors or refreshing your home, I highly recommend Melissa!
Maven Workshop does incredible work! I’m always impressed by the creativity and attention to detail in her transformations. Beyond her talent, Melissa is a wonderful person who genuinely cares about giving back to the community. I highly recommend Maven Workshop!
We've known Melissa for a few years now and her work is amazing! She will compliment your style and won't try to change your style.
Contact
Get in Touch
Serving Ozaukee County, Washington County, and greater Milwaukee areas.
