Designing Wellness Begins On The Inside
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In this first episode of The Space To Be Well, Michele Pelafas and Valerie Putman talk about something most wellness conversations leave out: the space you live in. They introduce the Resonant Space Framework—an approach they’ve spent decades developing—that’s changed how people think about interior design, not as decoration, but as something that can genuinely support how you live and feel every day.
You’ll hear how Michele’s “living art” philosophy has shaped wellness and beauty spaces around the world, and why the framework they use goes far beyond aesthetics.
Hosted by wellness design experts Michele Pelafas and Valerie Putman, The Space to Be Well is a podcast about creating homes that feel as good as they look and support the life you want to live.
What You’ll Find Inside This Episode
- What “living art” really means when it comes to wellness design—and how spaces can become more than just beautiful backdrops.
- Why the framework is shaped like a diamond, not a square—and what that says about the real nature of personal transformation.
- How two decades of commercial design work in wellness and beauty spaces gives Michele and Valerie a perspective most residential designers don’t have.
- Why mainstream wellness misses the mark when it treats space like an accessory instead of something that shapes how you feel, live, and connect.
- What it really takes to design a space that feels like you, starting with deep personal insight—not trends or mood boards.
- How mapping your routines and behavior leads to better design that removes friction instead of creating more of it.
- Why every design decision needs a “why” behind it—and how that purpose-driven approach changes not just your space, but your experience of being in it.
This first episode lays the foundation for what The Space To Be Well is all about: not designing for appearances, but creating environments that truly support your life.
Episode Highlights
About The Hosts
Michele Pelafas is the founder of Michele Pelafas, Inc., and a leader in wellness design for over two decades. Her work blends beauty, function, and intention—creating spaces that reflect who people are and support how they want to live. Michele developed the Resonant Space Framework as a way to bring deeper purpose and personal meaning to the design process.
Valerie Putman is the Director of Design at Michele Pelafas, Inc. and has worked alongside Michele since the beginning. She brings a clear eye, a sharp design sensibility, and a deep understanding of how space shapes daily life.
Together, they’ve spent years refining an approach that treats design as more than aesthetics—making it a tool for wellbeing, connection, and real-life transformation.
Quotes
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