It was the end of my marriage and time to move into a new space. I had spent 11 years building a home filled with things I loved. Beautiful objects I had carefully chosen and pieces I was deeply attached to.

But there’s a moment that happens after a life shift.
It might follow a move, a heartbreak, or simply a moment of deep personal clarity.
It’s that time when you look around your home and realize: it no longer feels like you.
For me, that moment had arrived. 

I had just moved into a townhouse. I brought with me the sofa I loved;  a John Saladino sofa covered in cream Nancy Corzine velvet. Thick soft down cushions. I adored it!

I had moved into a smaller space so I made every effort to make it work. I tried different layouts and angles. No matter what I did, or where I pushed that heavy sofa, it felt off.  Too large for the space. Too rooted in a life that no longer existed. But how could this be? This was my symbol of comfort and continuity.

No matter how connected I felt to it, the truth became clear: it didn’t fit anymore; not just physically, but energetically.

The realization was powerful. Letting go wasn’t easy, but it wasn’t loss, it was liberation. 

It created space, both literal and symbolic, for the version of myself that was beginning to emerge. 

In a more open space, I was forced to get honest, to reimagine, to receive.
And in doing so, I began to feel lighter. Freer. More myself.
I understood what didn’t belong. Now I could be receptive and invite in what my new life was calling in.

That moment shaped not only my personal path, but the heart of my journey as a designer.
What I had always known intuitively, now had language and purpose:
Our surroundings are never just a backdrop. They are a mirror for who we are and who we are becoming.

Every transition I’ve lived through; new countries, marriage, motherhood, separation, was echoed in the way I arranged, edited, and reimagined my home. 
And now, it’s what I help others navigate too.
Michelle Lisa Home is not just about design.
It’s about transformation.
It’s about recognizing when a space, object (or a sofa) is no longer aligned, and having the courage to release it.
It’s about honoring the past while clearing room for the future.
It’s about living with intention and curating a home that holds who you are now.
Whether I’m sourcing vintage treasures, styling rooms, or teaching tools for life transitions, my work is rooted in this belief:
When we allow our homes to evolve, we do too.
Because home isn’t just where we’ve been or where we are. It’s where we're going.