Her Story
About Melissa
Melissa Hood is an accomplished kitchen and bath designer, project manager, and founder of Hood Home Design Studio, bringing more than 28 years of experience to residential design and renovation. Based in Fairlee, Vermont, she specializes in creating functional, thoughtfully planned spaces that reflect homeowners’ lifestyles and personal tastes. Her expertise encompasses kitchen and bath design, space planning, cabinetry design, finish selections, construction documentation, and project coordination.
Melissa began her career after taking a part-time position at a hardware store, where her potential was recognized by the owners and she was trained as an assistant designer. Through hands-on experience and collaboration with experienced contractors, she developed a strong practical understanding of design and construction, initially working with traditional tools such as graph paper and scale rules. She later expanded her professional background through roles in project coordination and management, as well as showroom management and kitchen and bath design at several companies. Her project management training, including the American Management Association’s Comprehensive Project Management Workshop, further strengthened her ability to coordinate complex projects and support successful outcomes.
As the owner and designer of Hood Home Design Studio, Melissa combines creative design with practical construction knowledge to help clients turn ideas into beautiful, buildable spaces while remaining mindful of budget and functionality. She enjoys working closely with homeowners, builders, contractors, and remodeling professionals, believing that the best designs begin with understanding how people live. Her approach is grounded in experience, self-belief, collaboration, and community, and she is passionate about encouraging others—particularly women entering the field—to trust their abilities, pursue new opportunities, and build strong professional networks.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Melissa
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to years of building my skills and knowledge, which have helped me collaborate effectively with contractors and bring homeowners’ visions to life. I also believe in trusting myself and having confidence in my abilities.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve received was from a contractor I work with: trust yourself and believe in your abilities.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering the industry is to value their experience, trust the skills they’ve built, and believe in themselves. Build strong professional networks, such as LinkedIn, and don’t be afraid to lean on your community for support when taking big steps, like starting a business.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge in my field is helping homeowners balance their dream home visions with budget constraints. Managing expectations and finding practical solutions that align what clients want with what they can afford is essential.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me are empowering others, trusting my experience and abilities, and building strong relationships. I believe in encouraging people to step outside their comfort zones while valuing credibility, community, and the support of those around me.
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