Life & Work with Melody McGee of Clayton

Today we’d like to introduce you to Melody McGee.

Hi Melody, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
So picture it is the Fall of 1990, and a cool breeze hits, then suddenly a hint of a warm vibe takes over. Exactly! That’s what it’s like being a creative LIBRA! I was born to create. When I say create, I mean physically with my hands and mentally with my heart. My big heart shows through my personality, and I create moments by presenting the gift I was born with. I’ve been creating different items since about the age of 8. Whether it was drawings, creating custom keychains, t-shirts, or cars out of cardboard boxes, you name it! Even though I would get new toys, I’d rather play with the boxes they came in. This childhood passion has turned into so much more.

I was born in Greenville, NC but raised in Raleigh. I graduated from Winston-Salem State University in 2012 with a B.S. in Rehabilitation Studies. Other than my education, my focus in college was track and field. I didn’t have time for a hobby back then, and I never thought I would be where I am today. After graduation and moving back in with my parents, I found my true interest. I needed something to do on my days off from being a dialysis patient care technician. It mostly started after wanting to spruce up something around the house while saving money. I’ll always remember my parents went to the beach for 4 days. I had an inspirational itch for a big DIY, but they had no idea. All I knew was that I had to be done and have the house back together in 4 days! They came home to new bathroom floors! I was never the kid you had to worry about throwing a party but instead worry about what would be done to the house. After seeing the results of my work, it was so much more gratifying knowing that I did that, and it looked great! After that, it was on! Next, I tackled my late great-grandmother’s antique desk(blue desk pictured). That was my very 1st furniture flip. Now, that held a special place in my heart. I call it Legacy Furniture. Knowing I could keep such a sentimental piece in the family for another 40+ years was wonderful. I posted it, and Facebook went wild! That was all she wrote. Everyone had “Legacy Furniture” that needed a facelift.

Fast forward to 2017, I registered Melo Customs as an LLC and became a first-time homeowner later that year. So you already know I was ready to tear the house apart! Aside from continuing to refinish furniture in my dining room or back deck, I was also completing renovations around the house. So far, I have refinished my floors, customized my pantry and laundry doors, installed a beam, epoxied my kitchen countertops while upgrading the sink, and currently working on an extravagant feature wall design for my dining room. I have posted the upgrades to my home on social media and watched the number of followers increase. Not only have the followers increased, but so have the clientele. Since 2017, I have partnered with local event planners and interior designers. Often event planners need party and set props, such as marquee numbers and letters, backdrops, life-size Barbie boxes, custom tables, and other unique stage presence. Regarding home improvements, I refinish cabinets and epoxy countertops, and my most popular service is the feature walls. I call them “Signature Walls.”

When people ask me how I got into this field, I reply it’s all God! There is honestly no other explanation. God has carried me through things I never imagined, and I am here to enjoy the ride. My favorite hashtag or saying is #STOPplayin Live In Your Purpose. It simply means that you have to stop underestimating yourself and overthinking life. I was afraid of power tools for years until one day, I stopped sleeping on myself and just started! So no matter your dream or goal, always take steps toward it and watch God do the rest. “For faith without works is dead!”

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Well, we all know that it is challenging to be an entrepreneur as it is. So try being an entrepreneur with a job that has a shift from 5 am to 5 pm. I was exhausted but still had to push through to get where I wanted to be today. I would get off work and go outside on my back deck or in the yard to refinish a dresser. Another challenge was that my yard needed to be more level, and North Carolina’s weather was unpredictable. So, I would be outside working on dressers; next thing you know, it’s raining. Very frustrating! I had dressers and wood taking over my dining room whenever the weather prohibited me. I kept telling myself, “One day, you’ll have a shop!” And now, I do!

What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
The most important lesson that I have learned along this journey is grace. I had to learn how to give myself grace. Even if I wasn’t exactly where I wanted to be, I had to give myself credit for how far I had come. Only compare yourself to your previous self! Some people wish they could do what you do and be where you are. Whatever stage in life you’re at with yourself, you’re still someone else’s “goals.”

Pricing:

• Please see website

Contact Info:

• Website: melocustoms.com
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@melocustoms
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melocustomsllc/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melocustoms

Image Credits
Tanisha Walker (In God’s Image Photography), Krys J Visuals Photography