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We're a socially-conscious interior design company in Minneapolis, MN.
HELLO,
I'M YOUR NEW BIGGEST FAN
I’m Melanie— a former ad-girl and branding expert turned successful interior design business owner
turned branding and marketing educator.
I’ve come full circle.
I spent years building brands and helping businesses thrive, only to begin my own interior design business. And now, I'm here to teach other interior designers how to get their business running easily with solid branding and focused, simple marketing.
I’ve taken 20 years of branding and marketing experience, added 10 years of interior design business and over 2,000 clients — mixed in everything I’ve learned to create a straight marketing path for you.
And I have never paid for advertising.
I know what it’s like to navigate the winding road of entrepreneurship, and I’ve learned a lot valuable lessons along the way. Instead of you having to figure it all out the hard way like I did, I’m here to hand you the shortcut to success.
Let’s make your dream business a reality together!
Melanie
Messaging and branding make a powerful impact.
Melanie was immediately drawn to the organization, and after seeing their original website, she knew she could make a significant impact.
Melanie jumped in right away at the Marketing and creative Design lead designing and building the website from scratch. She partnered with premier Twin Cities photographers, Spacecrafting, for the stellar photography. She continues to lead a dedicated team of creative volunteers as the organization grows rapidly, helping to further its mission and make a bigger difference in the community.
Since redesigning the website, refining the messaging, and incorporating SEO, the organization has grown tremendously. Melanie gives full credit to the founder, Mark Ostrom, along with the entire Board, volunteers, and sponsors to the growth and expansion of the organization.
However, she also knew Joy Collaborative needed a professional, compelling website to have the larger financial conversations that would move the mission forward. In the nonprofit world, “looking legit” is a big deal—and she and the team understand how transformative branding can be, especially when the impact is so personal and powerful.
Melanie Zaelich serves on the Board of Directors for Joy Collaborative, a Minneapolis/St. Paul-based nonprofit dedicated to creating amazing spaces for children with life-limiting conditions.
The SEO STAR™ Framework: A Simplified Model
for Creative Professionals
A better way to learn SEO and shine online.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is an essential component of building visibility and credibility online. Yet, for many creative professionals, the terminology and technicalities of SEO often present a significant barrier. Terms such as “on-page,” “off-page,” and “technical SEO” can feel abstract, leaving interior designers, stagers, and other creatives frustrated before they even begin.
To make SEO easier to understand, and therefore easier to apply, Melanie developed the SEO STAR™ Framework, a learning blueprint specifically designed to make SEO more approachable and applicable for creative entrepreneurs.
Both of Melanie's SEO Courses for Interior Designers (WEBSITE KICKSTART: SEO Fundamentals and WEBSITE STAR™: SEO Masterclass) feature the SEO STAR™ Framework.
At its core, the SEO STAR™ Framework organizes SEO into three essential pillars:
Seen
Trusted
And
Relevant
These pillars encapsulate what both Google and AI-driven search systems prioritize when ranking websites, while minimizing the need for designers to remember technical language.
Why the SEO STAR™ Framework Simplifies SEO
The SEO STAR™ Framework is rooted in the belief that SEO should be understood as an extension of how creatives already think—visually, strategically, and relationally.
Clarity Through Plain Language
By replacing technical speak with familiar concepts, the framework removes intimidation from the learning process. “Seen, Trusted, and Relevant” are terms that immediately resonate and provide a clear lens through which to view SEO activities.
A Practical Decision-Making Tool
Rather than memorizing a long list of rules, professionals can simply apply a three-question litmus test when creating content or updating their website:
-
Does this increase visibility (Seen)?
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Does this establish credibility (Trusted)?
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Does this align with what the audience is searching for (Relevant)?
Built for Creatives
The SEO STAR™ Framework was created to bridge the gap between traditional SEO instruction and the way creative professionals think and work. By distilling SEO into three pillars and labeling them in a logical fashion, it empowers interior designers and other creative entrepreneurs to approach SEO in a fresh and easy way.
By adopting this framework, creative professionals can build greater visibility, strengthen credibility, and connect more effectively with the clients they are best positioned to serve.
Check Out Melanie's Current Award-winning Interior Design Portfolio
ABOUT MELANIE ZAELICH
Interior Designer, Branding & SEO Expert
Melanie Zaelich is an accomplished, award winning interior designer, known for her down-to-earth approach and creativity. She founded Happy Place Interiors in 2016.
Melanie's talent has garnered regional and national design awards.
She has consistently achieved the title of Houzz Best in Service since 2017. In 2019, she was honored as one of the Top 100 Influential People in Real Estate. Notably, Melanie's design work has been recognized by RESA National and has won the "Top 10 Redesigner of the Year Award — USA" three years in a row: 2019, 2020, and 2021. Happy Place Interiors was awarded Silver for "Minnesota's Best" Interior Design Firm 2023.
The Designer's Blueprint
After being a guest on two podcasts with LuAnn Nigara, a well-known interior design business coach, Melanie realized she wanted to teach other designers what she knew—how to run a highly successful consultation-driven business and how to understand, manage and "do" marketing to e successful. From that idea, she created The Designer’s Blueprint, a training platform designed to help interior designers build businesses that are both profitable and fulfilling.
“I’m so passionate about helping our female-dominated interior design industry gain the respect it deserves. When we show up with strong messaging, branding, and visibility, it lifts the entire industry. And, I love seeing my fellow hard-working designers succeed, because when one of us rises, it creates momentum for all of us.”
Media Coverage and Influence
Melanie and her design work have been featured in regional publications like MidwestHome and Axios Twin Cities, as well as prominent national platforms such as Apartment Therapy. Her insights have reached audiences across the US and beyond through her appearances on podcasts.
On the business side, Melanie has been featured a several podcasts including LuAnn Nigara's A Well-Design Business, Wingnut Social and Interior DesignHer.
Professional Affiliations and Community Engagement
Melanie is an Associate Member of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) and an active member of Women in Construction. In 2019, she served as President for RESA (Real Estate Staging Association) Minneapolis.
Her commitment to community involvement is evident through Happy Place Interiors' membership in the Minnesota Keystone Program, which recognizes companies that contribute a portion of their profits to the community.
Spreading Happiness
When she's not busy transforming spaces, Melanie dedicates her time to something even more remarkable. She's a passionate Board Member of Joy Collaborative, a Minnesota non-profit that creates life-enriching spaces for kids with life-limiting conditions. Her heart is as big as her design concepts, and she's all about spreading happiness through the power of design.
In 2024, Melanie created designLOVE, the Happy Place Interiors Giving Program. Through this program, she donates her time and talent to people in need, so they may have a space that fosters hope, health and happiness.
A Life in Design
Melanie's career is steeped in art and design. Before starting Happy Place Interiors, she spent over 20 years as an award-winning Designer and Art Director at top Minneapolis advertising and design agencies.
Her passion for design (of all kinds) and her belief in its power to bring happiness to people's lives are contagious. Through her philanthropic endeavors and her steadfast commitment to delivering accessible design solutions, she has made a significant impact. Her ability to transform spaces, uplift lives, and give back to the community demonstrates her commitment to her craft and the well-being of those she serves.
