The Bungalow Cottage Welcomes You to The Journey

Hello there!

Welcome to the launch of my blog, The Abundant Journey. 

My name is Michelle Samuels, owner of Interior Design Studio, The Bungalow Cottage based in Bermuda. I’m an interior stylist, decorator, educator, Jesus lover, wife, mother of two beautiful wildflowers, and an island girl – straight from Bermuda with roots in Antigua and Barbuda. 

I’m excited that you found me and can’t wait to share with you all that The Bungalow Cottage has to offer. 

Business Mission

This business and blog is a labor of love and birthed out of the desire to create a more meaningful life. As a result, I want to share this dream with you. On the design side, I develop relaxed, pure, and personal design concepts for individuals who want their home to reflect their lifestyle or how they wish to live. Clients hire me to design a home that encourages happiness, increases productivity, and influences a better quality of life. It’s about abundant living.

We spend a great deal of time at home. And now, with the global pandemic, more people are working from home than ever before. You’ve heard the saying, “don’t mix business with pleasure”. This is no longer an option. We have to find ways to safeguard the joy we wish to experience in our homes and maintain the value we place on those moments. How we do this, by designing our homes to meet our needs. The goal is to make the home work for you, not the other way around.

Design Services

At The Bungalow Cottage, we offer Interior Decorating and E-Design Services. From space planning to product sourcing to turn-key installations. And for those brave souls who want to take the lead on their design journey, we offer Design Consultations as a standalone service to give direction and actionable advice that will help you take the first step. Interior design isn’t just about pretty spaces; it’s about designing a space that sparks transformation in YOU! It’s about the “internal” work that takes center stage when you decide to share your life’s story with someone willing to listen and willing to help. It breathes new life.

Transparency

Since venturing on my own journey of self-discovery and building my relationship with God I have decided that settling for a “normal” life wasn’t going to work. And I believe the desire burning inside of me was God revealing that He has more waiting for me. He simply required my trust in Him by taking one step then another, then another.

I have a background in banking, marketing, and project management after earning my bachelor’s in Business and Spanish. I’ve competed as an athlete representing Bermuda in a number of countries for track & field. And I’ve lived in Spain. For you, that means I am teachable, organized, analytical, adaptive, and disciplined. But I am so much more. The skills I’ve gained, are useful in my business and are the foundation on which I’ve built my business. But it’s my eagerness to go deeper with my clients that makes the difference; connecting with them on a personal level. 

My desire is to welcome you into a home that helps you to become a better you. It is also to bring you the motivation in the life journey you are traveling through. Although interior design is my passion, it is not my life. Say WHAT!?! Yup! I am more than interior design. I am a wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, traveler, nature lover, businesswoman, educator, avid learner, problem solver, and so many other things.  Most importantly, I am a woman of God and I have a duty to share what I’ve learned in life to support you in your own walk.

My life has taken many turns. I’ve walked through valleys and experienced many blessings for which I am truly grateful. My experiences have strengthened me and become lessons that I hope will give you comfort and an opportunity to be uplifted. It may just be the thing you’ve been waiting for; the light in the darkness, the calm in the storm, the advice you’ve been searching to find. Who would I be if I chose not to use it to help you wherever you find yourself. This is what God calls us to.

Too often we settle and convince ourselves that this is all we are worth. However, we owe it to ourselves to go after the things that have the potential to bring us joy. There is so much waiting for us out there in the world if we simply decide to take a leap of faith and trust the plan that God has for us. That dream you are sitting on, that vision that has surfaced, believe that God is the one who placed it inside of you. He’s hoping you bring it to Him and trust Him to help you breathe life into it. 

I’ve decided to trust Him.

If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s to hold on to what’s important and go after the life you have always wanted for yourself. No more waiting for everything to fall into place. You could be waiting forever. You may just miss the opportunity or “open door”. God may have given you the vision but he needs you to take action. Listen for the cues and be obedient to the instruction you receive. Don’t look back. Move forward!

“The Abundant Journey” Blog

So, you’ve landed here. Now what? First and foremost, thank you for stopping by and taking the time to check us out.

What can you expect to see? Here, you’ll find a collection of my thoughts on design and my life experiences. I’ll share project highlights, before & afters, behind the scenes at the studio, interior design inspiration, resources to help you tackle your design projects, step-by-step guides, the best products to use in your home and so much more. I am here to support you and offer advice in any way I can.

Feel free to always share your questions and communicate with me along the way! My prayer is that my sharing will inspire you. To get things started, I’d love to hear from you. Introduce yourself and leave a comment below.

Follow me on Instagram and Pinterest to stay up-to-date on new blog posts, exclusive offers, and giveaways.

If you are planning a design project, I want to help you. Schedule a Complimentary Discovery Call to see how The Bungalow Cottage can be of service to you.

Let’s experience beautiful living together; inside and out!

Until next time…