Bloomfield Hills, Michigan  ·  Est. 2013

Michigan's Premier Licensed Interior Designer and Residential Builder

As a licensed interior designer and residential builder serving Oakland, Macomb, and Wayne counties, Valia Design Build brings both disciplines under one roof. No hand-offs. No disconnect. One vision carried through to completion.

★★★★★ 5.0 · Google Reviews
★★★★★ 5.0 · Houzz Reviews
6× Hour Detroit Face of Interior Design
12× Best of Houzz
NCIDQ · CIDA Certified
Michigan Licensed Residential Builder
21+ Years

The problem we solve

Most remodels struggle because design and construction are two separate conversations.

When your designer hands off to a contractor, something always gets lost. Decisions change. Timelines shift. Your vision arrives compromised. Valia Design Build was built to solve exactly this — bringing licensed interior design and licensed residential building together under one firm, one process, one point of contact. Serving homeowners across Oakland, Macomb, and Wayne counties for 21 years.

The old way

Separate designer. Separate contractor. Hand-offs. Miscommunication. Compromised results.

The Valia way

One licensed firm. Design and build under one roof. One vision carried through to completion.

Why it matters

NCIDQ. CIDA. Michigan Licensed Residential Builder. The only designer in Oakland County holding all three.

What we do

Interior design and renovation services — for residential and commercial clients.

New Home Design

Bringing exceptional interior design expertise to new construction — from material and finish selection to custom cabinetry, lighting specification, and spatial planning.

EXPLORE NEW HOME DESIGN →

Commercial Design

Sophisticated interior design for offices, hospitality spaces, and commercial environments across Southeast Michigan — where first impressions define your brand.

EXPLORE COMMERCIAL DESIGN →

Interior Design

Full-service interior design for residential and commercial spaces — from design consultation and space planning through furniture selection, lighting, and installation.

EXPLORE INTERIOR DESIGN →

Renovation & Remodeling

Kitchen and bathroom remodeling, whole home renovation, home additions, and basement remodeling — designed and managed by the same licensed firm.

EXPLORE RENOVATION & REMODELING →

Featured work

Where vision becomes space.

Every project begins with listening. Every finish is chosen with intention. Every build is managed from concept through completion.

How we work

Our Design-Build Process — From Concept to Completion

01

Envision

We begin by understanding you — your lifestyle, your goals, your vision for the space. No assumptions. No templates.

02

Design

Dana develops the full design concept — materials, finishes, fixtures, spatial planning — with complete specifications before a single wall moves.

03

Build

Licensed residential construction managed directly by Valia. No third-party contractors. No hand-offs. Your design built without compromise — exactly as Dana specified.

04

Transform

Your finished home. Walk through with Dana. Every detail confirmed. Your vision — delivered.

Meet Dana

The designer who also holds the builder’s license.

My design journey began with a stack of shoeboxes and a collection of Strawberry Shortcake dolls.

As a little girl, I spent hours creating miniature homes inside shoeboxes — carefully designing rooms, arranging furniture, and imagining how each tiny space could become both beautiful and functional. Long before I knew what interior design was, I was already fascinated by the way thoughtful spaces could tell a story and make people feel at home.

Life took me on a different path before bringing me back to my true passion. I spent many years working as a social worker, helping individuals and families navigate some of life’s most important challenges. During that time, I developed skills that continue to shape my work today: listening, problem-solving, understanding people’s needs, and building meaningful relationships based on trust.

Today, as an interior designer and licensed builder, I combine design expertise with a deep understanding of people. I believe great design begins with listening. Every client, every family, and every home has a unique story, and my goal is to create spaces that reflect the lives being lived within them.

What began with Strawberry Shortcake dolls and shoebox homes has grown into a career dedicated to transforming spaces — and helping people create lives they love within them.

Credentials

NCIDQ CertifiedCIDA AccreditedMI Licensed Residential BuilderBBB Accredited21+ YearsEducator of the YearLegal Studies Background

Recognition + testimonials

Recognized by the industry. Trusted by clients.

39

Houzz Reviews
5.0 Stars

25+

Google Reviews
5.0 Stars

6×

Hour Detroit
Face of Design

12×

Best of Houzz
Award Winner

21+

Years of Design
Experience

★★★★★

“Dana has done several projects for me. The designs always reflected my taste but her imagination. She is always able to put that wow factor in each room. She never does anything cookie cutter.”

Mary Jo Hermiller · Kitchen & Family Room · Bloomfield Hills, MI

★★★★★

“I have leveraged Valia Design for multiple large scale remodels including structural changes. Dana did a wonderful job listening to our needs, learning more about our family, and guiding us on design options that are not only beautiful but also functional.”

Crystle Uyeda · Large-Scale Home Remodel · Oakland County, MI

★★★★★

“We had a major remodel — kitchen, dining room, great room, entryway, master bath, powder room, master bedroom, and office. Dana was our guiding light. She was brilliant with design and implementation. Trustworthy, confident, competent, and compassionate.”

Phyllis Cornwall · Whole Home Renovation · Michigan

Posted on Google Google
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Diane Arsenault
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We recently moved into our custom built new construction home in Ann Arbor. Dana guided us through all design decisions throughout the process. We truly value her expertise, responsiveness and confidence, and the confidence she inspires in us. Best of all, we’ve found Dana to be a strong advocate for us as her clients when identifying and resolving any issues with construction, layout or product delays. We look forward to working with Dana on future projects! Diane and Patrick Arsenault
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Mary-Lynn Longsworth
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I would absolutely recommend Dana. She saved us when a designer & contractor bailed days before demo was to begin. Dana assessed our situation, reimagined our floor plan and helped put in motion a large-scale renovation in a compressed timeframe. She is honest, professional, knowledgeable and a lovely person. She is a wizard at all things related to layout and function of a space and is a wonderful problem solver and project manager. We cannot say enough good things about our experience working with Dana.
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marc benkoff
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I’ve been working with Valia for 7 years. Dana’s expertise and creativity is second to none.
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Sir Miracle
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Top notch quality interior designing If you want your vision to come true this company is the right fit for you!!
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Twerp SZN
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She does great work & goes above & beyond to meet all your expectations. If you want the job done right the 1st time I’d hire her a million times lol
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Clara Cardenas
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Dana did a fantastic job in remodeling my bath room in a timely manner also I enjoy the color color combination 😃
Posted on Google Google
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Basic Muzik
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Dana is the absolute best designer on the planet! She not only deeply understands her clients and designs, she also has a deep understanding of the work that the contractors do. It’s extremely impressive! I’ve been working with her for a decade and I would recommend her to anybody! If you want the best of the best then Valia design is who you should call!!! Don’t wait, do it now
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Julie
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My husband and I couldn’t be happier with our experience so far! Valia Design Build is currently working on our modern bathroom, and the vision that Dana has helped create is absolutely stunning. It is a beautiful blend of stone and tile with wood accents that will achieve a look that feels both luxurious and contemporary. It’s going to feel like a 5 star spa, which was our vision. From the very beginning, Dana has been professional, attentive, and incredibly creative. She took the time to understand our style and preferences, and then elevated them with ideas we wouldn’t have thought of ourselves. The attention to detail—especially in how the textures and finishes of the stone, tile, and wood will complement each other—is truly impressive. Communication has been seamless throughout the process, and we always feel informed and confident in every step. Even though the project is still in progress, we are beyond excited about the final result. Pictures to come soon! If you’re looking for a designer that delivers high-end, modern results with exceptional service, I highly recommend Valia Design. 5 stars all the way!
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COMMON QUESTIONS BEFORE REACHING OUT

What clients ask before they reach out.

“Is hiring a licensed interior designer worth the investment?”

Most clients who have managed a project with separate designers and contractors already know the answer — hand-offs cost money, time, and results. At Valia, one firm handles everything from the first design concept through the final walk-through. Projects are scoped transparently before any work begins, with a minimum project value of $5,000. You know exactly what is involved before you commit.

“What if I already have a contractor — do I still need a designer?”

Yes — and here is why it matters. A contractor builds what they are given. A licensed interior designer determines what should be built, how it should function, and how every detail should come together before construction begins. When the same firm holds both credentials, the result is a finished space that looks exactly as designed, not a compromise.

“How do I know my vision will be respected and not overridden?”

Dana’s process begins with listening — not presenting. Every project starts as a clean slate. No imposed styles, no repeated aesthetics. Your lifestyle, your priorities, and your vision shape every decision. The design exists to serve you — not to showcase the designer.

No obligation  ·  No pressure  ·  Just a conversation

Call to Schedule a Free Consultation →

Or call directly: (248) 205-6690

We will walk you through the process, discuss your project, and give you a clear picture of what to expect — before you make any commitment.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What clients ask about interior design and renovation services in Southeast Michigan.

A design-build firm combines interior design and licensed construction under one contract and one team. When you hire separately, your designer creates a vision and a contractor attempts to execute it — gaps appear, decisions change, and results are compromised. A design-build firm like Valia carries the same vision from the first concept meeting through the final walk-through with no hand-offs and no disconnect.

Interior design fees in Michigan typically range from $2,000 to $15,000 depending on scope, with hourly rates between $100 and $500. At Valia Design Build, projects are scoped transparently before work begins — with a minimum project value of $5,000. You receive a clear picture of investment before any commitment is made.

Yes. Interior design is always available as a completely standalone service. If you already have a trusted contractor or builder, Dana designs your space and provides everything your team needs to execute it — detailed specifications, material selections, construction documentation, and installation oversight. Licensed construction through Valia is available when you want it — never required. You choose the scope that fits your project.

Yes. Valia Design Build serves both residential homeowners and commercial clients across Southeast Michigan. Residential services include interior design, kitchen and bath design, whole home renovation, home additions, and new home design. Commercial services include office design, hospitality spaces, retail environments, and commercial space planning. Dana brings the same precision, attention to detail, and design excellence to every project regardless of scope.

Dana holds NCIDQ certification (License #021082), CIDA accreditation, and a Michigan Licensed Residential Builder license — the highest credential stack available to an interior designer in Michigan. She is also BBB accredited and has been recognized by Hour Detroit as a Face of Interior Design for six consecutive years from 2019 through 2024.

Valia Design was founded in 2004 and rebranded to Valia Design Build in 2013 — giving Dana 21 years of experience serving homeowners across Southeast Michigan. The firm has been built entirely on referrals and relationships in the Oakland County market.

Valia Design Build serves homeowners across Oakland, Macomb, and Wayne counties — including Bloomfield Hills, Birmingham, Troy, Rochester Hills, West Bloomfield, Bloomfield Township, Franklin, Grosse Pointe Shores, and Oakland Township.

As early as possible — ideally before any contractor is engaged or any structural decisions are made. Design expertise is most valuable at the planning stage, when decisions about layout, materials, and function can still be made without costly changes. Contacting Valia at the beginning of your project protects your investment and your vision.

Ready to transform your home?

Your desire, our vision — from concept to transformation.