Dana Vagnetti · Licensed Interior Designer Michigan · Est. 2013
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
Her story
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.
Before returning to design, I also attended law school — an experience that sharpened my analytical thinking, attention to detail, and ability to evaluate complex challenges from multiple perspectives. Those skills show up every day in how I plan, specify, and manage projects.
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
Credentials and recognition
NCIDQ Certified
License #021082 — the nationally recognized competency certification for interior design. Fewer than 15% of practicing designers in Michigan hold this credential.
CIDA Accredited
Council for Interior Design Accreditation — confirms Dana’s education meets the highest professional benchmarks in the field.
Michigan Licensed Residential Builder
The only interior designer in Oakland County holding both NCIDQ and a Michigan Residential Builder license — making the Valia design-build model possible.
BBB Accredited
Accredited since January 2026 — a commitment to trust, transparency, and resolution that extends beyond every project.
21 Years of Design Experience
Practicing interior design since 2004 — building a reputation one referral at a time across Southeast Michigan.
Educator of the Year
Recognized two consecutive years as an interior design instructor at IADT Chicago — creating and teaching studio courses, mentoring the next generation of designers.
Industry recognition
6×
Hour Detroit
Face of Interior Design — six consecutive years, 2019 through 2024
12×
Best of Houzz
Service and Design awards spanning 10 consecutive years from 2014 through 2024
39
Houzz Reviews
5.0 stars across 39 verified client reviews — built entirely on referrals and relationships
How Dana works
Every project Dana takes on begins as a clean slate. No imposed styles. No repeated aesthetics from previous projects. No assumptions about what you want before you have had a chance to say it.
Dana’s background — social work, legal studies, teaching, and 21 years of design practice — gives her a perspective most designers cannot offer. She understands how people function in their spaces. What brings them comfort. What they truly need from the environments they come home to every day.
01
Listen first
Every project begins with understanding who you are — not what is trending.
02
Design with purpose
Every finish, fixture, and material chosen with function and longevity in mind.
03
Build without compromise
As the licensed builder, Dana ensures what is designed is built exactly as specified.
04
Deliver your vision
The finished space should feel like you — elevated, not like a designer’s portfolio piece.
Envision. Design. Transform.
Featured work
Every project Dana Vagnetti takes on as a licensed interior designer in Michigan begins with listening and ends with a space that feels exactly like you.
What clients say
★★★★★
“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
Explore Valia Design Build
Common questions
Yes. Dana personally manages a select number of projects at any given time to maintain the standard of attention every client deserves. The first step is a complimentary phone conversation to discuss your project and determine if Valia is the right fit — from there, Dana will guide you through the next steps.
Dana Vagnetti holds both NCIDQ interior design certification and a Michigan Residential Builder license — one of very few designers in Oakland County holding both credentials. Design is always available as a standalone service. If you already have a trusted contractor, Dana designs your space and hands off everything your team needs to execute it. Licensed construction through Valia is available when you want it — never required.
Dana does not have a signature style — by design. Every project begins as a clean slate. Her role is to understand who you are, how you live, and what you want your home to feel like — and then elevate that vision into its highest and clearest form. The result is a space that feels like you, not like a designer’s portfolio piece.
Valia Design Build works with homeowners who value quality, craftsmanship, and a seamless process. Projects start at $5,000 for focused design services, with full design-build renovations typically beginning at $25,000. If you are looking for a trusted partner to carry your vision from concept to completion, the first step is a complimentary phone conversation with Dana.
Dana Vagnetti holds a Bachelor of Science from Michigan State University and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the International Academy of Design and Technology. She is NCIDQ certified (License #021082), CIDA accredited, and holds a Michigan Licensed Residential Builder license. She taught interior design at IADT Chicago and was recognized as Educator of the Year two consecutive years.
Dana has been practicing interior design since 2004 — 21 years of experience. She founded Valia Design in 2004 and established Valia Design Build in 2013, adding licensed residential construction to the firm’s capabilities. Today Valia Design Build serves homeowners across Southeast Michigan from its base in Bloomfield Hills.
Valia Design Build primarily serves homeowners across Oakland, Macomb, and Wayne counties in Southeast Michigan — including Bloomfield Hills, Birmingham, Troy, Rochester Hills, West Bloomfield, Bloomfield Township, Franklin, Grosse Pointe Shores, and Oakland Township. Select projects outside this area are considered on a case-by-case basis.
The first step is a complimentary phone conversation with Dana. She will discuss your project, walk you through the Valia process, and give you a clear picture of what to expect — before you make any commitment. Call (248) 205-6690 or use the button below to get started.
Your desire, our vision — from concept to transformation.
No obligation · No pressure · Just a conversation
Or call directly: (248) 205-6690
