The Retreat That Redefines What’s Possible for Your Design Business.

The Midwest Design Retreat is an exclusive, three-day, all-inclusive event crafted for interior designers who want more—more clarity, more confidence, more growth. Hosted by Jennifer Davis of Davis Interiors at the historic Hewing Hotel in Minneapolis, MN, this intimate gathering blends tailored business training, creative inspiration, and curated networking.

With sessions led by celebrated designers, industry experts, and leading business coaches, you’ll leave with a personalized roadmap, a powerful network, and renewed inspiration to scale your business with purpose.

An Immersive Experience Where Creativity Meets Business Growth

Escape the day-to-day and immerse yourself in an environment designed to fuel your growth. The Midwest Design Retreat—hosted by Jennifer Davis of Davis Interiors—combines high-level business strategy, creative inspiration, and intentional networking in one unforgettable experience.

With engaging sessions led by well-known designers and industry coaches, attendees will gain valuable insights on topics crucial to their success, such as:

  • Pricing for profitability
  • Creating and maintaining vendor and trade partnerships
  • Client experience
  • Implementing efficient systems and processes
  • PR and Marketing
  • Brand strategy
  • Successful relationships with Builders

What Makes the Midwest Design Retreat Different?

Unlike other workshops that follow a preset curriculum, our sessions are built around you.

Before the event, we invite every attendee to submit their specific challenges and questions so our expert speakers can tailor the content for maximum impact.

This means every conversation, breakout session, and presentation is directly relevant to the growth of your business.

Other standout differences:

  • Curated, High-Value Sessions: Learn from renowned celebrity designers, business coaches, and industry leaders.
  • Hands-On Breakouts: Move from learning to implementation so you leave with actionable steps—not just ideas.
  • Unforgettable Evenings: Network over elegant dinner parties that feel more like a celebration than a business event.
  • A Historic Setting: The Hewing Hotel’s warm, character-rich atmosphere enhances the experience, making learning feel inspiring and elevated.

Your All-Inclusive Investment

We’ve taken care of every detail so you can fully focus on learning, connection, and transformation:

  • All meals, drinks, and snacks during workshop hours
  • Access to every keynote, panel, and breakout session
  • Open Q&A with our expert speakers
  • Thoughtfully curated attendee gifts
  • A supportive community atmosphere that fosters lifelong industry connections
Book Your Tickets

Designed for the Interior Designer Who Wants More

This retreat is for the designer who’s ready to:

  • Price for profitability without second-guessing their worth.
  • Build lasting vendor and trade relationships that drive repeat business.
  • Refine their client experience to attract better projects.
  • Implement efficient systems and processes that save time and money.
  • Leverage PR and marketing to position themselves as the go-to in their market.
  • Strengthen relationships with builders for higher-value collaborations.
  • Align their brand strategy with their vision for growth.
  • Prioritize wellness while scaling their success.

What You Can Expect

  • 1. Not Another Cookie-Cutter Workshop

    Every element of the retreat is tailored to the real challenges and goals of our attendees—because we ask you what you need before you arrive.

  • 2. Elite Industry Access

    Learn from celebrated designers, powerhouse business coaches, and industry leaders sharing their real-world expertise.

  • 3. Hands On Learning

    Move beyond passive listening and apply what you learn in guided breakout sessions designed for real-time implementation, problem-solving, and personalized feedback—so you leave with strategies you’ve already put into practice.

  • 4. Unforgettable Experience

    The event takes place at the beautiful Hewing Hotel, enhancing the overall experience with its rich history and charm.

Meet The 2026 Speakers

This is your chance to learn from some of the most influential leaders in the design industry. Our speakers will provide authentic and candid advice, sharing their knowledge and experiences to help you elevate your business. You'll have exclusive access to them during sessions, meals, and Q&A opportunities. Don't miss this invaluable chance to grow and connect!

Bria Hammel

Bria Hammel Interiors

Bria is the Creative Director and CEO of Bria Hammel Interiors and Brooke & Lou. With locations in St. Paul, MN and Charleston, SC, she leads a fresh, talented team of women who are dedicated to designing beautiful, inviting homes for clients. Bria’s work has been featured in national publications such as Traditional Home, Better Homes & Gardens, Architectural Digest, House Beautiful, and Martha Stewart Living.

Melissa Oholendt

OHO Interiors

Melissa Oholendt found her passion for interior design in her youth; buying shelter magazines with her allowance from picking strawberries in the backyard and painting her bedroom that perfect shade of navy blue. However, after beginning her interior design college education in 2001, it took more than 15 years, a fast paced career for a distressed debt hedge fund in Minneapolis and a decade long entrepreneurial career in photography, for Melissa to step into her purpose in 2019, where Oho Interiors began. Melissa has been quoted in the Wall Street Journal, Architectural Digest, LivingEtc, Domino Magazine, Rue Magazine, Business of Home, Homes & Gardens and has an ongoing partnership with Perigold, the luxury retailer. You can also find her on a few podcasts such as The Interior Collective, The Curious Builder podcast, The Interior Design Business CEO and the Hot Young Designer’s Club, to name a few. Melissa was named a Top 40 Expert on the prestigious platform The Expert and was a keynote speaker at The Haven Workshop  & the Midwest Design Retreat. In mid-2025, Melissa was named as a House Beautiful Next Wave Designer (and passed out from surprise). 

Kelli Lamb

Rue

Kelli Lamb is the Editorial Director and Co-Principal of RUE, a leading lifestyle and interior design brand. Since its founding in 2010 as a digital magazine, Kelli has been instrumental in evolving Rue’s vision—launchingRue Daily as a go-to source for design inspiration, expanding the brand’s reach across social platforms, and spearheading the successful debut of its quarterly print edition in 2021, now ranked the #5 fastest-selling home design magazine. In 2022, she authored Home with Rue (Ten Speed Press), offering readers a fresh perspective on approachable, stylish living. Kelli lives in Los Angeles with her husband.

Aimée Mazzenga

Photographer

Aimée’s relationship with photography began early, influenced by time spent learning from her grandfather and the stories he told through his work as a photojournalist for theChicago Tribune. Photography has always been how she sees the world, and more than a decade ago, that instinct naturally led her into interior design, where her passions seamlessly merged.

Interior photography is especially meaningful to Aimée because the work would otherwise remain unseen, living quietly in private homes. Photography is the currency of design, and through her lens, she takes great joy in bringing her clients’ work to life—reflecting the beauty she sees. 

Her work has been featured in Architectural Digest, Milieu, House Beautiful, and Frederic, among others. She has also been named to Architectural Digest’s Top 50 and Top 100 photographers lists. Her imagery is known for its depth, restraint, and editorial sensibility.

Beyond her work behind the camera, Aimée brings a thoughtful point of view and quiet confidence to everything she touches. She is especially passionate about sharing the behind-the-lens nuances—what editors are truly looking for, and what often makes the difference between a beautiful image and one that gets published.

Based on Chicago’s North Shore, Aimée lives with her husband and daughter.

Jennifer Davis

davis interiors

Jennifer Davis brings more than 30 years of experience across sales, marketing, distribution, and interior design. Six years ago, she launched Davis Interiors full-time, building a studio known for classic design, elevated client experiences, and meaningful relationships rooted in trust and intention.

Jennifer is also the co-founder of a training academy focused on helping designers apply Houzz Pro software to the real, day-to-day operations of running an organized, profitable design studio. She is passionate about bridging creativity and business strategy to create systems that support both growth and exceptional client experiences.

Jennifer has been featured on A Well-Designed Business podcast and The Interior Design Business CEO podcast. Her commitment to mentoring and creating opportunities for others inspired her to found the Midwest Design Retreat, an immersive experience designed to connect, educate, and elevate interior designers at every stage of their careers.

Thank You To Our Sponsors

This 2025 event was made possible by: Houzz Pro, Visual Comfort, All Inc., and Intersource by Stark.