Interior Motives

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She’s our very own “Jackie O”

Lead Designer

Born in Bluefield, WV and raised in Northfork, WV (home of the “8 Straight Basketball State Champions- the Northfork Blue Demons- the record still stands!) Jackie was a Cheerleader for three years.

Jackie attended Virginia Tech, her first year focused on mining engineering and she worked that summer at several different mines in McDowell County. He second year she changed her major to industrial arts, that she very much enjoyed!

Jackie worked two years at DonDale furniture in Charleston WV. She assisted the seven on staff designers on job installs, measuring rooms and window and room styling.

Jackie has worked at Interior Motives for 26 years, starting with the founder, Ellen Lazenby. Jackie specializes in window treatment design.

Jackie says her job now is working with a very driven staff to produce the best option for the customers and their happiness with a finished project.

Jackie loves spending time with her “very large” family. She is a “big” Virginia Tech fan and enjoys watching all Hokies sports; her favorite sport is football!

Some fun questions!

Jackie’s favorite super hero was Wonder Woman. She says when she was a child she wanted to be a veterinarian, but she soon realized she like making things pretty!

When asked which she liked better: 

Appetizer or Dessert= Appetizer

Cats or Dogs= Dogs

Ham & Cheese or Peanut Butter & Jelly= Ham & Cheese

Hershey Chocolate or Sour Patch= Hershey Chocolate

Shrimp or Oysters= Oysters

Sho-Time was his nickname when he played soccer

Warehouse Manager/ Delivery Coordinator

Dashi was born in Sierra Leone, he moved to the United States when he was 12 years old. He lived in Princeton and eventually moved to Bluefield, WV.

Dashi has worked for The Cole Family for nine years, serving as the late Paul Cole’s personal valet, then helping in various roles with the Cole Companies. He recently began working at Interior Motives as our Warehouse manager and Delivery coordinator.

Dashi says his favorite part about working at Interior Motives is unpacking the beautiful items we receive for our customers, he loves seeing how happy the customers are when he delivers their new furniture!

Dashi has a beautiful family: his father Edmund Johnson, mother Gertrude Gooding, two sons Dashril and Daelyn and two brother’s Mashi and Tahj.

In his free time he says working out is his “daily cup of tea”. He enjoys playing pickup basketball and soccer. He loves coaching his boys in the “little things in life” like riding bikes. He enjoys reading to them and taking them on nature walks.

Dashi’s favorite dessert is Fried Ice Cream and Cake. He says he was told by a good friend that dessert is the best part of your daily meal.

When asked if he preferred cats or dogs, he says dogs are his favorite.

He doesn’t have a favorite super-hero but says Ronaldinho Gaucho, the Brazilian soccer player, is his favorite athlete.

Dashi says he has always wanted to be a pilot.

Michelle Cole

Nickname: “Shell”

Michelle Cole was born in Welch, WV, raised in Landgraff in McDowell County and moved to Princeton when she was 17. She began her career in marketing and advertising. She returned to school and became a veterinary technician and has advocated for homeless animals for a number of years. 

Michelle says she could be a career student and loves to learn about new things. After working with Ellen Lazenby and Jackie Beasley on a design project, she realized what she had been missing. Upon Ellen’s retirement in October 2022, Michelle and her husband Tom purchased Interior Motives. She loves being able to use her creativity to bring joy to her customers through Interior Motives.

Michelle loves traveling with her husband Tom. Michelle’s daughter and son-in-law, Danielle and Ben, live in Monroe, NC and her bonus children, Lee-Anne, Jacob, Ever, Emma, and Carol-Anne, and their families all reside in Bluefield. Michelle enjoys horseback riding with her mother, Betty and has two brothers, TJ and David.

Michelle enjoys her dogs, Piper and Skyler, cats, Neil John Cougar, Costa/DelMar and African Grey Parrot, Ashby. She has also enjoyed learning about caring for the Koi and Goldfish she now has and finds joy in all nature.

Michelle loved watching football, boxing, and NASCAR with her dad, Terry, growing up. Joe Montana was her favorite football player, she stopped watching NASCAR after the loss of Dale Earnhardt.

Michelle considered being a designer, veterinarian, or a having role at an advertising agency when she was younger. Her diverse career has touched all of those areas!