Why Our Best Client Experiences Happen in the Studio | Melissa Creech Designs
A note about what's changed—and what's always been true about working with us
If you've visited Martin's Mercantile recently, you may have noticed our designer throw pillows are no longer there. Martin's Mercantile is expanding their own retail and workshop space—good news for Lauren and Darryl and the community they're building. That growth means our pillows have moved from Summerfield to our Greensboro studio.
We're grateful for the client relationships that grew out of our time in Summerfield, and we're looking forward to seeing what Martin's Mercantile offers next.
Why the Studio Has Always Been the Best Starting Point
Home décor fabric shopping in Greensboro, NC looks very different than it did a few years ago. Aubrey Home and several fabric retailers that once served Greensboro and the NC Triad have closed. The options for shopping home décor fabric in person—with or without guidance—have narrowed significantly in Greensboro.
Our studio, which has always been a destination for clients wanting help selecting fabric and handcrafted throw pillows, is now one of the few remaining places where in-person home décor fabric shopping with expert guidance is still possible locally. If you’re searching for fabric or where to buy throw pillows near Greensboro, Winston-Salem, or High Point—or looking for a custom pillow maker near you—Schedule a Studio Visit or Get in Touch.
If you've been wanting to work on a new pillow arrangement, start a custom bedding or window treatment project, or explore what's possible with fabric you already have—now is a good time to schedule a studio visit.
What Studio Shopping by Appointment Actually Looks Like
When you visit our Greensboro studio, you won’t be browsing a store alone hoping something speaks to you. You’ll be walking into a working design studio with hundreds of fabrics and someone who has spent 20+ years understanding which materials are well-suited to your specific needs and lifestyle requirements—kids, pets, daily use patterns, and sun exposure. Unlike retail browsing, a studio visit means Melissa recommends fabrics specifically for your project, your furniture, and how you actually live in your space.
While exploring our in-studio fabric collection—Schumacher, Crypton, Sunbrella, Thibaut InsideOut, Kravet, and more—you’ll see how fabrics look together, how patterns scale, how textures feel, and how performance and indoor-outdoor fabrics have evolved well beyond what most people expect.
You can see pillows and pillow covers in curated groupings across a wide range of styles, sizes, and fabrics—most not yet listed in our online throw pillow cover collection. With our 24-Hour Approval, you can take pillows home to try in your own lighting with your existing décor before making your final selections.
We encourage clients to start with pillows to test colors and patterns before deciding to use those fabrics in larger items like duvets, blackout curtains, seat cushions, or upholstered pieces—a tactic many clients prefer. Most clients arrive with one project in mind and leave with a more defined vision for their project as well as possibilities for next steps in that space or another.
Conversation with someone who sources, evaluates, designs, and handcrafts with every material she recommends changes the quality of every decision you make. You'll leave with a clear sense of what you want and confidence that it will work in your space.
A Studio Visit Is More Than Shopping—It's a Discovery Meeting
Discovery Meetings evolved naturally. Clients dropping off or picking up projects frequently stay to browse fabrics and discuss their custom throw pillow or design needs. We named this experience and established clear parameters because what was happening organically was genuinely valuable. We want all clients to benefit from collaborating with us in our Greensboro studio.
During a Discovery Meeting, you learn what's possible through fabric and design. We work together to find what you actually need—which is often different from what you came in thinking you wanted. After talking through how you actually live in your space, what is missing, and how your decor can function better, we might discover a more appealing approach. Or even that what felt like a single project is the beginning of something broader.
A studio visit is also the starting point for Customer's Own Material (COM) projects.
Bring fabric you already have—new yardage, designer remnants, leftover fabric from another project, vintage textiles, or materials with sentimental value. We assess what you have, determine what's possible, and recommend the best use of your fabric before anything is made.
Our approach: The first 30 minutes are complimentary. If our conversation naturally expands into detailed recommendations, sourcing, design planning, or fabric evaluation, we'll let you know when we're moving into consultation time (billed at our standard rate). And we'll always check in before continuing—no surprises.
How to Schedule a Studio Visit
Studio visits are by appointment—which is what elevates the experience. You get Melissa's full attention, pillows and fabrics pulled for your specific project, and a conversation focused entirely on what you're trying to create and how to make it happen.
We work with clients on custom throw pillows, bedding, window treatments, and seat cushions—your fabric or ours. Many clients start planning their next project while we're still finishing their current one, because once we know your space, your style, and what's already worked in your home, planning ahead just makes sense.
Looking for a custom pillow maker near you or wanting to see our handcrafted pillow styles? Schedule a complimentary personal shopping appointment in our studio with our pillow designer—it's the best starting point for NC Triad clients.
Not local to the NC Triad? Our online pillow collection is growing and virtual collaboration is always available—Get in Touch to discuss your project.
→ Shop throw pillow covers online—new listings coming soon
→ Questions? Get in Touch
Email: melissa@melissacreechdesigns.com
Text: 844-787-4206
Our 2-way text line is open—text us for home décor fabric advice, pillow styling guidance, and design help.
And yes—we're always keeping an eye out for local retail opportunities for our handcrafted throw pillows. When the right fit comes along, you'll be the first to know. → Join Our Insider List
We hope to see you in our studio soon.
