Meet Mélissa: The Independent Designer Behind Sublimel
Mélissa is an independent interior designer based in Toulouse, France, running her company Sublimel for the past two and a half years. From the very start of her design career, she’s relied on Coohom as her go-to tool. But her path to design wasn’t linear – it began with a career in nursing.
Transformation: How Coohom Entered the Picture
“Working conditions for nurses in France weren’t always easy,” Mélissa recalls. “One day, I just couldn’t go back – it had become too stressful.” During her break, she rediscovered her passion for sewing and decorating, eventually transitioning to interior design. “I chose this path because I genuinely love everything related to real estate, renovation, and decoration,” she explains.
Her initial training included SketchUp, but she found it both time-consuming and limited in rendering quality. That changed when she discovered Coohom through a French designer on Instagram. “Back then, there weren’t as many tutorials available as there are now,but I recognized Coohom’s potential to streamline my workflow – saving valuable time while significantly improving rendering quality, so I make it to master Coohom.” Today, Mélissa uses Coohom almost daily for remote work, creating vivid 3D projections that bring her designs to life with remarkable realism.
Design Philosophy: Where Adaptability Meets Character
“I adapt to many styles because I love diversity,” says Mélissa. While personally drawn to lively, character-filled spaces over stark minimalism, she prioritizes client preferences above all.
Her inspiration comes from everywhere – daily walks, social media, especially Instagram and Pinterest. Two projects stand out: a sprawling Mediterranean-style home (“inspiring beautiful spaces with warm atmosphere”) and a small studio transformed into an Airbnb (“optimizing every centimeter while keeping it cozy”).
French Design Market Insights: Challenges & Opportunities
Melissa observes a significant career shift toward interior design and architecture since COVID. “There’s been a real boom in professionals entering this field,” she notes, pointing out how the boundaries between these two disciplines are increasingly blurring. This convergence, combined with the influx of new talent, has made the market notably more competitive.
In this changing landscape, Melissa emphasizes how social media has become indispensable for independent designers. “Platforms like Instagram and Pinterest aren’t just for inspiration – they’ve empowered clients to attempt DIY solutions,” she explains. This trend coincides with emerging AI technologies that are reshaping client expectations. “We’re seeing clients submit room photos for AI-generated 3D designs,” Melissa says. “While the technology still has limitations, its rapid advancement could disrupt entry-level design services.”
These developments make strategic client targeting essential, according to Melissa. She identifies three key segments:
Time-constrained clients seeking professional assistance
Those lacking design skills or confidence
Commercial clients like real estate investors who value quality and personalized service
Melissa concludes with insights about professional differentiation in the AI era: “While technology has democratized high-quality renderings, true value lies in human skills – creativity, meticulous attention to detail, and the ability to truly understand client needs.”
Looking Ahead: Partnerships, Training & Furniture Lines
Mélissa isn’t one to rest on her laurels. With relentless drive and a clear vision for growth, she’s charging full speed into her next chapter. This September marks the launch of an ambitious expansion plan:
Strategic Partnerships – Teaming up with real estate agents and skilled craftsmen to deliver seamless, full-service design solutions from concept to completion.
Social Media Growth – Doubling down on Instagram to pull back the curtain on her creative process, sharing behind-the-scenes glimpses of her designer’s journey.
Knowledge Sharing – Answering the growing demand for her expertise by developing professional training programs to empower aspiring designers.
Furniture Line Dreams – Partnering with artisanal craftsmen to curate exclusive pieces for clients, with eyes set on her ultimate goal: launching a signature furniture collection that embodies her design ethos.
For Mélissa, the future isn’t just about projects – it’s about legacy. Every partnership forged, every skill shared, and every piece designed is a deliberate step toward building an enduring brand that redefines French interior design.
Final Thoughts: Redefining Design Possibilities
Mélissa’s journey proves that in today’s creative economy, passion and technology can rewrite traditional career paths. Though not formally trained as a designer, she embodies the new generation of talent – where intuitive spatial sense meets cutting-edge tools like Coohom to turn visions into thriving businesses.
This synergy is particularly transformative in France’s unique architectural landscape. With historic buildings constituting over 60% of housing stock (INSEE 2023), Coohom’s strength in space optimization and renovation visualization perfectly addresses the nation’s need for respectful yet functional modernizations.
Together, independent designers like Mélissa and intelligent platforms like Coohom are democratizing design excellence. They empower French homeowners to:
• Reimagine heritage spaces without compromising architectural integrity
• Maximize functionality in compact urban dwellings
• Elevate daily living through emotionally intelligent interiors
As Mélissa’s Sublimel studio flourishes, it stands as testament to how technology can amplify human creativity – proving that with the right tools, design dreams aren’t bound by diplomas, but by imagination and determination.
