Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Conrad And Rachel Askelson.
Hi Michelle Conrad and Rachel Askelson, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
We are sisters who grew up just outside of Morrison. While we’ve always been close, our paths were quite different, until we both became mothers. Motherhood cracked us open in beautiful and challenging ways. It revealed not only the amazing parts of raising our children, but also a deep longing for community, connection, mindfulness and personal growth, for ourselves and our families.
For Rachel, years of navigating health challenges sparked a journey of deep healing and spiritual connection. That path led her to create spaces where others could reconnect with themselves. Today, she holds guided cacao meditations in space aligned with the energy of the day, helping people slow down, tune in, and come home to their inner world.
For Michelle, motherhood transformed how she viewed creativity, emotional wellness, and the need for meaningful community. With a background in fine arts and a career in marketing and branding, she had the tools to build something but it was the experience of creating alongside her children that gave her the vision.
Together, we dreamed up space as a place where creativity is boundless, emotions of all kinds are welcomed, and kids and adults alike can feel truly seen and supported.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
We are so lucky to have each other throughout the process of creating space. Starting at the beginning of 2024, we took our time to really develop the business plan and strategy while not losing sight of the heart of it all. Right now, our biggest challenge is that it’s just the two of us! We’re intentionally learning every part of the business from operations, programming, marketing, to the overall brand before bringing others in. We believe we need to fully understand it ourselves before we can guide others clearly and confidently. Balancing that with family life and other work is a lot to keep up with, but our passion for the mission is what keeps us going.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
space is an activity and wellness space for families, created from what we wished existed as mothers and evolving humans. It’s not your typical kids’ play place or a wellness studio for adults. Instead, it’s a space designed to strengthen the bond between parent and child while also honoring each person’s individual growth.
What makes space unique is our deep intention to nurture connection, emotional wellness, creativity, and community in everything we offer. We’re proud to have built an environment where mindfulness and play come together, where children and adults feel safe to express themselves and connect meaningfully.
One of our most standout features is the ability to paint directly on the walls. It’s not just fun, it’s freeing! This kind of open expression is rare, and it teaches lessons in creativity, impermanence, collaboration, awareness and encourages both kids and adults to explore without boundaries while respecting shared spaces.
Our offerings include:
Drop-in Paint + Pause: Open-ended wall painting for kids while parents enjoy a moment to pause and reset
Parent–Child Mindfulness Workshops: Shared experiences that introduce emotional tools like breathwork and self-awareness. One of our favorite parent-child workshops is Family Art Club, which allows children and caregivers to explore emotions through color and art.
Inner-Wellness Experiences for Adults: Guided meditations, sound healing, breathwork and other offerings to support emotional wellness
Birthday Parties and Event Rentals: Private celebrations with the option to paint the walls or use the space creatively in other ways
Community Rentals: For homeschool groups, book clubs, yoga, team-building events, art shows, photography shoots and more
At its heart, space is about creating room for connection, creativity, and simply being, together and as individuals.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
space seeks to work and partner with mission-aligned people and organizations. Those who see the value in community, creativity, and emotional wellness. We want space to be a vessel for all kinds of meaningful gatherings, a safe and welcoming place where anyone can come to reconnect, whether that’s through a workshop, painting on the walls, an event, or simply showing up and being part of the energy here. We are always looking to connect with facilitators who have shared values and looking to host workshops or classes in space.
As we grow, people can support by sharing space with others, bringing their kids to a paint session, attending an event, or even just stopping by and feeling what we’re about. Every visit, every conversation, every moment of connection will keep the heart of space beating.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://spacednvr.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/spacednvr
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/spacednvr
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/spacednvr/
Image Credits
Amanda Cleveland
Luke Askelson
