Interview: Bethlehem storeowner, Michelle Olson, talks about her love of design and how Paris inspires her

April 23rd, 2023 |

Written by Kaitlyn Schock for Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites

On Sunday, April 23 from 2-5, Historic Bethlehem Museums and Sites joined with our resident vendor Marché Maison in hosting the spring shopping event “April in Paris” at the 1810 Goundie House (501 Main St., Bethlehem). This event will be the debut of vintage products and pieces that have been bought directly from flea markets in Paris. This event also includes complimentary rose wine, cocktail samples of “Springtime in Paris, a live accordianist and a fresh flower stem bar. There will also be more information available about the Marche Voyage Spring 2024 France River Cruise. All purchases qualify you for a variety of gifts such as a $500 French River Cruise Voucher and a $100 Hotel Bethlehem Brunch for Two. 

Michelle Olson is the owner of Marché Maison and also a real estate agent in the Lehigh Valley and Bucks County. After discovering her love for interior design and unique homes, she found a way to blend the two together into an individual career. Using her passion for decorating and designing, Olson also provides color palette consultations, room design plans and designer consultations. She has been scouted by HGTV for a Allentown feature episode as well as her own house has been featured on NBC’s The Today Show. 

Schock: Good Afternoon! How are you doing? 

Michelle Olson: I’m good! Thank you for asking. 

What initially got you interested in interior design and your love for vintage pieces? 

I have loved design since I was in grade school. I would literally argue with my mom about the way the furniture was placed (laughs). And she would always take me to model homes when I was growing up and I just loved it. I loved it from a very early age. 

Did your love for vintage pieces start then too or was that later on? 

I think that has happened…really I’m gonna say in the last 5-7…it’s been recent, more in like the last decade. 

I just really love the charm, I love the collective look. I love that vintage pieces have stories behind them and they’re unique and not mass produced. 

Most of the time you’re getting them in places where you’re usually traveling and you’re picking something up. Now you’re taking a piece of some other place that reminds you of a memory. 

When you’re looking for vintage pieces, is there ever something that you’re specifically looking for or gravitating towards? 

It’s definitely normally where something will just kind of jump out. I like to look for vintage linen, silver, china, art….any kind of miniature things. I love little miniatures of things. 

Just anything that’s worn. It could be an old cookie tin…anything that really fits that neutral palette. If it’s aged and it’s a neutral feeling, I’d be drawn to that. 

A lot of it has to do with the palette of the item. I love woods and whites. I like white furniture and then adding lots of texture. So, also I like a lot of different woven textures. 

Is vintage a big inspiration for you when it comes to designing?

Not necessarily. I know for me, for my own personal face, I definitely love the romantic vibe, I love comfort, I love neutrals and soothing. 

But when I go do it for someone else, I really try to figure out what it is that speaks to them and what they love. So, it really depends on the client. I mean, I’ve done floor plans for very modern clients. 

When you’re designing something do you usually start with pieces or is it colors, how do you even begin? 

A lot of it…for example, I was working with a woman and she loves that art deco, glam feel. So, for me, I’m thinking jewel tones, hunter green…So just bringing elements of that in, for example. Like once I knew she loved modern art, deco glam, it took me down that road of wallpaper and just the style. The style of the lamps and the chairs… 

But you know you like to mix certain styles. Like the “art deco glam” doesn’t have to hit every part of it. You can pair it with a modern sofa then. You just find those elements that speak to that style for the room. 

What inspired you to start Marché Maison and start a company with all of your vintage pieces? 

What I did for several years, is I would go to these markets down South and they would be these three day markets where there would be hundreds of vendors. I was always like the Lehigh Valley, I wish we had something like that. 

And around five years ago, when I opened, the Goundie House wasn’t really open to the public, you know it had some exhibits and stuff. But the current manager there, I’m currently researching locations to have all these vendors, was like “Why don’t you use the Goundie House?”. 

So, we did the event and they said it went so well, they wanted me to stay. They really loved how it speaks…you know Goundie himself was very entrepreneurial, he had a lot of different hats that he wore…it’s a woman-owned business and I also have lots of different hats that I wear.  

So, it was just a great fit and it’s just been great. It’s a great place to show anything vintage because it’s a historic building itself which is awesome. 

When you’re searching for pieces for your store are you looking for specifics or is it more random? 

It’s extremely random, whatever is there. You just go everywhere and when you bring all the pieces together, it’s just this awesome mix. 

I also have a few wholesalers that I go to for some everyday items like candles and nice dish towels. Then I have a whole line of, called Michelle Designs, of really nice soaps and lotions. So, I do have certain things that I carry regularly that aren’t vintage. 

With the upcoming “April in Paris” event, what can everyone expect for the event and what are some things you are excited about? 

My hope is people will come and feel like they have had a touch of Paris, a touch of visiting Paris. I have an idea of how I want the doorway to be, my Dad will be playing the accordion, I’m excited for just the ambiance itself. 

Then the actual flea market finds, I got there, so it’s pretty cool that there is going to be a true piece of Paris there. It’s small, vintage-type items. And none of those items will be on the floor until that day, so this will be the big debut of all these pieces. 

Then, there’s going to be giveaways with some local businesses on Main Street. 

When you were in Paris, were the flea markets very different from here? 

The linens there are absolutely incredible and I feel like you can’t really get those here. Also, it just has that French flair that you wouldn’t get from any of our local flea markets. 

And one of the markets that I went to, an entire row was food vendors, which here is undheard of and it’s just so French…there was a crepe vendor…it was just a very cool experience. 

Was that your first time in Paris or have you been before? 

I  have been, I think, seven times. Last year, I went  by myself which I had never done. It’s my happy place, so I went by myself and I did the flea markets and brought merchandise back. 

This year we went a little earlier so it just worked out that I could finally do an “April in Paris” event in April. So, it’s just very fun the way that it worked out and I just always dreamed of having an “April in Paris” event, it’s a vision that I’ve just had for several years now. 

Also, we’re going to have fresh flowers available at the event too which just feels Parisan to me so it’s just so exciting. 

Has Paris always been a big inspiration for you? 

It was a milestone birthday I had in the past and it was my first time in Paris. My style back then was very different. I was so in awe, it’s so stimulating for a creative person to be there… like the beauty, the creativity, the architecture. 

Then, when I was there, I was sensing a style that was not my current style. It was neutral and everything is white and I was like, ok, I need to change my whole house (laughs). 

I just walked away and knew that I wanted a completely different style and now I still love it. 

It’s been a while, I’ve had this style for, I think, eight years now and I still love it.

Was “bringing Paris back to Bethlehem” what you wanted to focus on with this event? 

Yes! I really wanted it to be an experience. I’m really big into that. When people walk into my shop, I really want them to feel a feeling. 

And I love when I’m in the store, hearing people talk about the displays and they’ll say it’s magical. I just love that. I want people to have an experience they can be inspired by. 

Kaitlyn Schock is a student intern from Kutztown University and a contributing writer for Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites.

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