A Conversation with Melinda Dorion of Elevated Living & WHJ Editor-in-Chief, Laurenz Busch
In Conversation spotlights the people shaping how the Mountain West lives, builds, and designs. Through candid conversations with creatives, craftspeople, and business owners, Western Home Journal explores how thoughtful design takes shape in real homes and real communities—providing insight into process, perspective, and the personal stories behind the work.
A Conversation with Melinda Dorion of Elevated Living
Interior design in Jackson must account for more than style. It must understand seasonality, family rhythms, second-home living, and the way mountain houses balance ruggedness with refinement. At Elevated Living Interiors, that understanding has been shaped by almost 40 years in the region. Now led by Melinda Dorion, the firm brings together interior design, retail, e-commerce, and a home decor store that feels curated and collected, bringing to Jackson brands that are rooted in a mountain modern aesthetic while keeping craftsmanship and artistry paramount. The design firm’s collaborative approach is led by a team of designers. For Melinda, that approach begins with trust, access, and the belief that a home should reflect the people who live in it.
WHJ: In your words, what is Elevated Living?
Melinda Dorion: Elevated Living Interiors is known for mountain-inspired design, but at the heart of our process is the family and the client. Every project is driven by how that family lives in the home, what they need, and what they’re drawn to—no project looks like another.
I might own the business, but clients are getting a collaboration between all our designers, and are often inspired by pieces found by our e-commerce and retail teams. We aren’t principal-driven or top-down. Every designer brings value to the project, and that collaboration is part of what makes Elevated Living a leading Jackson Hole design firm.
“OUR CLIENT LIST IS 40 YEARS DEEP. THIS LONGSTANDING RELATIONSHIP AND THE TRUST WE HAVE BUILT IN THE COMMUNITY AND WITH OUR CLIENTS IS WHAT KEEPS OUR CLIENTS COMING BACK TO US YEAR AFTER YEAR.”
WHJ: You describe the work as mountain-inspired. What does that mean to you?
MD: Jackson is a highly-sought-after market for second- and third-home buyers, and I think clients choose to work with our office because we really understand the art of mountain modern. That might be western chic, or luxury mountain living, or even a rustic lodge. We have the vendor resources and the relationships to support it all.
I say ‘mountain-inspired’ rather than a specific style because we have a historic base in the West. This firm has been serving Jackson and the surrounding communities for 45 years. That history matters in luxury living.
WHJ: The showroom seems central to that approach.
MD: I care about approachability. I want to work with first-time homeowners in our area and friends who are buying homes. And yes, we also work with third and fourth homeowners in the secondary luxury market. The storefront allows us to welcome people in. They can sit on the furniture, shop our decor and accessories, and be inspired by one-of-a-kind pieces from Italy, exquisitely sourced antiques, and handmade artisans we partner with across the Mountain West.
WHJ: You’re not just an interior design studio.
MD: In my opinion, we are more than an interior design firm. We also have a vast assortment of products in our retail space and online, all of which are curated out of inspiration from our clients and the Mountain West. I guess you could say we are a destination where clients can see and feel our designs, but also shop for curated items bringing to life the art of mountain modern.
WHJ: What does it feel like for you to walk into that “gallery” today?
MD: I came to Jackson in 2002, and owning this business is a testament to true American Western grit. The lifestyle here is built around being outside and staying young: mountain biking, hiking, and healthy living. That’s what brought me here, and that’s what keeps me here.
When I walk in the front door, I see the retail space, and above it is the designers’ suite. We have created a space that feels welcoming to clients and walk-ins. It’s a pinch-me moment, but I know I didn’t build it alone. Pamela Stockton was the springboard for Elevated Living, and the business is really built by the people who work here and their passion for what we do.
WHJ: Today, the business includes design and retail, and e-commerce. How do those all work together?
MD: The design side is our heart, but retail and e-commerce are important too, and growing. Jackson is still a market where people want to sit on a sofa, feel the comfort, and pick something up and touch it, own it. However, we have clients from all over the country and that is where our e-commerce and retail experience comes into play. People visit Jackson or see our Instagram then shop for their own homes in Florida, Texas, New York, California.
Our online shop and our team’s commitment is to create a feeling of curated finds. You’re not going to find every piece of furniture that you would find in other e-commerce sites, but you’ll find pieces that represent what we would put in a client’s home.
WHJ: You don’t have to sign up for a full interior design to have an Elevated Living piece.
MD: You got it.
WHJ: For those who do go for a full interior design, there’s a lot of trust involved. Do clients take Elevated Living with them to their homes outside Jackson?
MD: Absolutely. We’re regional and mountain-inspired, but we’re also working on projects in places outside of Jackson because design is so personal, and we form a deep personal relationship with our clients. I don’t know another job where I might walk in the front door and be led to a primary closet while meeting someone for the first time. That trust is unique. Our client list is 40 years deep. This longstanding relationship and the trust we have built in the community and with our clients is what keeps our clients coming back to us year after year.
whj IN CONVERSATION
