Caro & Melissa
Founders Caro and Melissa have always shared a love for design, and their journey together has been shaped by faith, family, loyalty, and plenty of laughter. Their shared passion for creating functional yet aesthetically pleasing spaces has led them to help homeowners and realtors alike—whether guiding clients through the home-selling process with expert staging or helping them curate the dream home they’ve always envisioned.
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At Casual Elegance, we believe great design should be effortless, timeless, and above all, a true reflection of who you are. We’re here to make your space not just a place, but a home.
About Casual Elegance
Meet Casual Elegance, a staging and design company born from a passion for blending style, comfort, and functionality. While living in California, what started as a simple vacation rental project quickly evolved into a full-fledged commitment to transforming spaces. With a keen eye for detail and a deep appreciation for diverse design styles—from Modern Rustic to Timeless Elegance—Casual Elegance was created to bring personalized, thoughtful designs to life, making beautiful spaces accessible to everyone.
Meet Caro
Caro’s passion for design and styling has been a lifelong journey. Originally from Colorado, she attended high school in Utah where she and Melissa began their lifelong friendship at the tender age of 15. After graduation, she moved to Southern California, where she raised her three beautiful daughters.
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With a natural talent for spatial arrangement and a keen eye for color, Caro has always been passionate about transforming spaces. Her signature style blends earthy tones with vibrant accents, creating warm, inviting interiors. Over the years, family and friends have sought her expertise in everything from color selection and furniture placement to seasonal decorating. Now, she brings her years of experience to help homeowners and realtors elevate their spaces through thoughtful styling and staging, creating beautifully functional environments that enhance the enjoyment of any home.
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Caro currently resides in Wilmington, NC with her two fur babies. When she’s not designing, Caro enjoys sipping wine, spending time outdoors, and gathering with family and friends to share good food and great conversation.
Meet Melissa
Melissa, a native Carolinian, was born in Asheville, where her extended family—cousins, aunts, and relatives—still reside. She spent much of her childhood in the western states of Utah, Wyoming, Montana, and California before returning to North Carolina five years ago.
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Her passion for creating beautiful spaces began at an early age, inspired by years of decorating and redesigning alongside her mother. Saturdays were often spent rearranging furniture, shopping for new pieces, and refreshing home décor. This love for design evolved into a lifelong hobby, which she eagerly shared with family, friends, neighbors, and even strangers she met in the aisles of Target, HomeGoods, and Pottery Barn.
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It was in Utah, at just 17 years old, that Melissa met Caro, her now business partner. Their friendship, built on creativity and a shared eye for design, has grown into a partnership dedicated to transforming homes into stunning, market-ready spaces.