Home Décor Selection with Thomas Matthew Designs

Walking into a home designed by Thomas Matthew Designs isn’t just about seeing beautiful interiors—it’s about experiencing a carefully crafted environment where every detail matters. Founded by Matthew Wetzel and Donald Thomas, the firm has earned a reputation for creating interiors that reflect the personalities and lifestyles of the homeowners they work with. Whether designing full-scale renovations or curating pieces for their boutique storefront in Cape May Court House, Wetzel and Thomas are dedicated to transforming spaces with sophistication and intention.

The Journey to Cape May County

Matthew Wetzel and Donald Thomas both have deep roots in design and retail, and their journey to Cape May County was as organic as their approach to interiors. “My grandparents had a house in Stone Harbor for my whole life,” Wetzel explains. “Then my parents sold it and bought in Cape May Court House. We started spending more time down here, and eventually, we bought our own property on Mechanic Street. What started as an investment property became our full-time home.”

This move coincided with the growth of their business, which had begun on Pennsylvania’s Main Line but expanded to include clients along the shore. “We had clients everywhere,” Wetzel says. “We realized, whether we were in Pennsylvania or at the beach, we were always driving. It just made sense to establish our business here.”

The Philosophy Behind Thomas Matthew Designs

Thomas and Wetzel bring a unique approach to home design, one that emphasizes individuality and livability. “One of the things that’s important to us, which I think sets us apart from other designers is if you look at our work and what we’ve done for people, the space really reflects the person that lives there versus us rinsing and repeating and doing the same style,” says Wetzel. “We adapt to the space.”

“One of the things that Matt is really good at is understanding how the people are currently using the space and how they would like to use the space down the road, or how they’re envisioning using the space,” says Thomas.

That customization process begins with understanding how a homeowner uses their space. “We meet people at their house and really take in how they live,” Wetzel says. “We tell them not to clean up, not to stage anything. We want to see their real life so we can design a space that works for them.”

Beyond aesthetics, the duo prioritizes personality. “So, if we have bookshelves, I just don’t want a bunch of random stuff in there…One of our clients loves plays, so we did Playbills and things like that,” says Wetzel. “We get really granular with people and try to understand what their needs are, what their hobbies are, what they like to do in their off time.”

Balancing Trends and Timelessness

Though many homeowners turn to trends when redesigning a space, Thomas Matthew Designs focuses on longevity. “Trends are what make people’s houses look outdated fast,” Wetzel explains. “We try to create timeless distinctive spaces that stand apart and reflect the individual.”

This philosophy extends to structural design choices as well. “Trends can really date your house to when the trend was. Remember when everyone was doing the line in the shower with the glassy tile and now it just looks really outdated? That’s an expensive investment. So, we try to tell people, you know, it’s a lot easier to switch out a towel than it is to switch out your tile,” says Wetzel.

“And then another trick is really making sure that you’re mixing decades of design together,” says Thomas. “Mixing vintages in with other things as well as things from your travels is important because you can’t nail down when it was done if there are multiple decades’ worth of stuff pulled together.”

Not to mention, as Wetzel and Thomas point out, “Reusing vintage furniture is like the true version of recycling.”

Inside the Thomas Matthew Designs Storefront

In addition to offering full-scale design services, Thomas Matthew Designs operates a showroom that also serves as a boutique storefront in Cape May Court House. There, customers can get a sense of the designer’s aesthetic, make purchases, and get inspired without any intimidation. “It’s a nice, easy way for people to get into interior design if they haven’t worked with an interior designer before,” says Wetzel.

Set up with different rooms in mind, from a living space to a dining area, the store also has a back area for sip-and-shops and other small events. “It feels like you’re shopping in someone’s house, which is kind of what we imagined from the very beginning,” says Wetzel.

The store carries everything from custom furniture and high-end upholstery to smaller decorative accents. Wetzel and Thomas curate a collection that includes both vintage and new items, from vintage Italian porcelain and mirrors to hand poured custom candles, custom private label furniture, and wallpapers.

Likewise, the store interior is far from static. “One season, we’ll have a lot of neutral tones with layered textures. Another season, we’ll add bold pops of color with art and textiles. It helps customers see how small changes can refresh a space without requiring a full redesign.”

A Personalized Design Process

One of the defining characteristics of Thomas Matthew Designs is how they work closely with their clients throughout the entire design process. “Sometimes we say we’re as much therapists as we are designers,” Thomas jokes. “A lot of times, couples come to us with completely opposite tastes, and we have to find a way to bring their visions together. It’s about a compromise of style.”

They’re also cognizant of their clients’ time, as well as decision fatigue. “In the beginning, we used to give people ten different fabric swatches or multiple furniture options,” Wetzel explains. “And now we don’t do that. We go in, we pick fabrics for the furnishings, wall coverings, whatever needs to be in the room, and we present it as the room. And if they want to go back and change something, we do that. But doing it this way doesn’t waste their time.”

Their ability to intuitively understand what clients want has earned them a loyal following, with incredibly happy clients. “When we’re done, your house is finished. You’re able to live in the space, it functions the way you want it to function, the way you want to live in it,” says Wetzel. “You want to show it off, you know?”

That’s exactly what the Thomas Matthew Design storefront allows customers to do—bring that same thoughtfully designed, highly functional, want-to-show-it-off aesthetic into their own spaces. Whether it’s a custom sofa that fits just right, a one-of-a-kind vintage find, or a beautifully curated selection of accents, Thomas Matthew Designs offers everything needed to make a house feel like a (really stunning) home.