Meet the “Massive Introvert” Taking the Virginia Design Scene by Storm
DuVäl is magnetic: gregarious and warm with a dash of spice and refreshing honesty. For House Beautiful's Whole Home 2022, he turned a corner room into the “Introvert’s Escape,” a sophisticated yet playful hideaway that felt like a room James Bond would unwind in, Vesper martini in hand. Fittingly, it's the project DuVäl is most proud of to date.
“It was the first project where our team was able to create something we felt reflected the level of conceptual design we have been wanting to do,” he says. With no previous design training, the Fairfax, Virginia, designer worked his way up in the interior design world, beginning as a receptionist at California Closets and eventually landing the title of Design and Sales Manager. He got a bachelor’s degree in interior design along the way and in 2017 opened his own design firm: DuVäl Design LLC.
Describing himself as a "massive introvert,” DuVäl insists that his firm does not have one specific design aesthetic but rather flexes a variety of styles "Our rooms lean toward clean, functional, a little masculine, and organic," he says. "We are not a matchy-matchy design firm. We bring assortments of color and pattern, without being theatrical or showy. Our bottom line is to cultivate a space that feels like understated class."
House Beautiful: Who has made the biggest impact on your career so far?
DuVäl: The Mrs! While she is consistently supportive, both verbally and non, my drive stems from wanting to possess a life that we create. I don’t want to be tied down to someone else’s schedule and pay caps. My goal is to create multiple streams of income for our family to be able to live the life that we want for ourselves.
HB: What was your first design crush?
DuVäl: Marc Canadell’s home on Nightingale Dr—an architectural masterpiece. It was the first time I saw a project that really resonated so deeply—the grandeur of it all, the moodiness, the design complexity, all while having a sense of restraint. Oh, and the outdoor movie screen projected onto the actual house, was a feature that just blew my mind!
HB: What's the best career advice you've ever received?
DuVäl: “Design is based on your perspective.” I was working on a project with an extremely indecisive client and asked a design mentor at the time to help me resolve the layout. After observation, she pointed out that I had given the client enough options and it was a matter of me standing confidently in my decisions—the only thing I could deliver was my perspective.
HB: What emerging trend are you excited about?
DuVäl: I am really excited to see new emerging design styles and concepts. We are in a season where we are breaking rules, choosing unexpected color palettes, and challenging design trends—unlike previous seasons. I’m excited to see what comes out of this. Additionally, English influences are infiltrating our design sensibility, and I’m loving it—bring on the color and pattern play!
HB: What's your favorite design era?
DuVäl: While my work my not reflect this design style, architecturally I love a modern take on Neo-Georgian or a modern French chateau. I love the molding, the drama, and the scale.
HB: What's your favorite decor item from Etsy?
DuVäl: Etsy is a great place to purchase custom hardware, floating shelves, or decorative pillows.
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