Melissa Roche is a local interior designer finding national success. She recently was crowned champion of HGTV’s “Brother vs. Brother” television competition and owns a successful interior design firm, Parlor Four Thirty, on East Sahara Avenue. Her motto: Approach each project as if it were meant for a magazine shoot.
How did “Brother vs. Brother” come about, and what was the experience like?
“Brother vs. Brother” was a competition show between 10 contestants with backgrounds in renovation, design and real estate. The challenge was to see who could improve a home’s property value the most through renovation and design.
The experience was amazing! For all of us who would love to compete on a reality show or even have our own show, it is a real Catch-22. It is exciting to see yourself on television and taking on the challenges, but things are suppose to be stressful, otherwise no one would watch.
You are exposing yourself to the scrutiny of the judges and the audience. I think I am one tough cookie, but we all hit our breaking point.
What trends are you seeing for Las Vegas homes?
Out with the desert Tuscan style and in with fresh, cleaner lines.
There is a lot of tumbled travertine and tile that we have been removing to replace with wood. Paint colors are switching from tans to light grays. And smooth walls are taking over. Sorry folks, knockdown texture is not an upgraded feature.
I’m also putting in clients’ homes wallcoverings — yes, wallpaper — such as grass cloth.
What do you see happening in the industry over the next six months?
Home values are all over the map, and with interest rates still low, there are two types of owners: investors, who are still buying homes on the low, looking for a flip; and original owners, who bought when the market was high and don’t want to be upside down.
If you do not have to sell, my suggestion is to sit tight and see what improvement you can do to your home to keep up with the Joneses.
Do you think Las Vegas’ economy has recovered from the recession?
People will always come to Las Vegas for different reasons, but when you see model homes popping up in the neighborhood again, that is a good sign. One of the most exciting things — for Las Vegas, young people and my own business is the cleanup of downtown.
What is the best business advice you’ve received?
I was told, “You’re running a business, not a hobby; your time is money.”
Being an artist and so passionate about projects that have my name on them, I want to give every minute of my day to make each project perfect. Now, I am cognizant of timelines, staying on budget and deadline
The advice came from Dale Amos. He has a tough Vegas exterior and a track record to match. He was a millionaire by 29 and is the owner of the largest mortgage company in Nevada, so I am listening.
Describe your management style.
I have been called a bear or even bossy, but I say, “I’m not bossy, I’m successful.” I don’t like yelling; nothing gets accomplished by yelling. But I do have high expectations when it comes to the end product.
Where do you see yourself and your company in 10 years?
I would love my own product line. I feel that is the ultimate success.
However, there are so many homes in Las Vegas that need rescuing that I will be busy for the next 15 years updating them all.
If you could change one thing about Las Vegas, what would it be?
I wish there was more personal responsibility and credibility with some of the contractors and people. There are a lot of great tradespeople and homeowners here, but sometimes you get burned, lied to, or even robbed.
What are you reading?
I just finished Adam Carolla’s “President Me,” a great read in which Carolla points out the satire in daily life and things he would change if he were president.
I just bought Chelsea Handler’s new book, “Uganda Be Kidding Me,” and look forward to reading it during my free days at the pool.
What do you do after work?
Work out. Actually, that happens before work. Running is what keeps me going.
I was so consumed by work for a while that I would not make time to run. That is the best thing to do for your mind and body — exercise! Whether it be boot camp or Pilates, take care for yourself. This is the only body you get, so enjoy it.
Blackberry, iPhone or Android?
Blackberry — they still make those? IPhone, duh!
My parents have Androids, only because they live in rural America.
What is your dream job, outside of your current field?
I always wanted to be an Olympic or professional athlete. To spend my days training, sweating and competing would be my other dream job.
I was a D-1 athlete in college for rowing but since crew hasn’t caught on in Las Vegas yet, triathlons would be my sport of choice.
Whom do you admire and why?
I admire Kelly Wearstler, a Los Angeles designer. She has her own interior design business, moved into hospitality design and now has her own product line.
Her style is gold, black and edgy, paying homage to the early decades. So artsy — I can’t get enough of it. I even planned my wedding at her hotel in Palm Springs!
What is your biggest pet peeve?
I hate laziness! When someone is lazy they affect everyone. Doing something halfway means you don’t care, or you don’t value my time. Then it turns into my problem.
What is something people might not know about you?
I lived in a hotel for 18 months as a kid. Our house in Minnesota got hit by a tornado.
The tornado knocked down many trees on our property and even moved our house off the foundation. Not to mention that the roof got ripped off. So, we had to live in a hotel while we built our house. Honestly, if my parents didn’t expose me to all the manual “child” labor and hands-on remodeling, I would not be where I am today. If something needs to be done, I can’t and won’t wait around for someone to do it for me. Watch out, cause I love demo and power tools.