About Val
I am drawn to an authentic, laid-back, down-to-earth aesthetic created with a mixture of natural materials. I love homes where you feel you can put your feet up… that are perfectly imperfect and tell a story of your life through collected treasures & family photos.
Personally, I am a bit of a lone wolf, and like to have my hands in all aspects of design. I choose quality over quantity & aim for a life/work balance. I desire to continue my love of design until my old hands will let me
I can easily trace my love of creating aesthetically pleasing spaces back to my childhood. I recall designing my dream home on paper, in Grade 6, before I even knew what Interior Design was. I was aware that my Best Friend’s home was architecturally different than everyone else’s…and I loved that. Probably even before this I was very aware of spaces that were pleasing to the eye, and therefore how they made you feel. I remember the wall paper that was in our home from when I was 3, and the excitement I felt at age 8 when my Mom said I could get new bedding. I was the kid that rearranged my parents living room when they weren’t home and rehung all their pictures. I just couldn’t let them live the way they were living lol! (I’m also the person that will rearrange a hotel room, or pool side loungers…if it just doesn’t feel right!)
I attended Mount Royal University in Calgary Alberta in 1999 and received my degree in Interior Design. After graduating, I started my business in 2003 and landed a fantastic 16 year job contracting out to a builder of beautiful, custom homes. My love of collaboration, site visits & problem solving with trades and other like minded creatives was born!
A highlight of my career was having the opportunity to practice Interior Design for a year and a half in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, invited by my University desk partner & good friend. I will never forget the people and the experiences gained. It was a true education.
Fast forward to life on Vancouver Island where I continue to work with my wonderful Clients from near & afar. I am proud to say that I have a handful of Clients that have brought me into their 2nd, 3rd, or 4th projects with them. There is no greater satisfaction than building a relationship like that.
What People Are Saying
“Behind Val's easy style is a very versatile, talented and intuitive designer. I have visited many different projects of hers and have been equally impressed. After all these years, I'm still happy that we took her suggestions that have made our house not just beautiful but totally functional. She gave us the home we wanted but were not articulate enough to express. Val is very easy to work with. She works hard and impressed us with her work ethics, dedication and discipline. We were fortunate enough to have her help since house construction stage. It was a very pleasant working experience and we would highly recommended her and have her help again. We are so proud of our home.”
— Katherine Waters
“Valerie, has been instrumental in our renovations and has done a phenomenal work of art. She exceeded our expectations, delivered on time and made the whole process smooth and peaceful. I would and will use Valerie's services again. She receives my highest recommendations..”
— Tomas Pacina
“Val worked with me as an interior design consultant for a complete home renovation project in Calgary. Val met with me on-site to understand what I was looking for and to create an initial plan based on the style I wanted and the budget I had to work with. She provided detailed drawings showing the most effective use of the space provided, as well as specific selections of cabinetry, fixtures and colour schemes for the kitchen, bathrooms, bedrooms, flooring and hallways. The finished project was amazing, and I could not have been more pleased with Val's work. I received many positive comments from family and friends about how well everything came together!”
— David Boudreau
“Working with Valerie has been a great experience. We had a really large build and starting off it was very overwhelming to me and she walked me through it step by step. Once we got to know each the ideas started flowing and she allowed me to give my input and ideas. Valerie takes the time to get to know you and your family. Her eye for detail and unique ideas really helped us to build our dream home. I couldn't have done it without her and am still working with her to decorate the never ending project..”
— Lisa Grimes
“Working with Valerie is a pleasure. She has supported from a design perspective on a number of my projects. She helped bring a number of complimentary professionals together to complete our projects. Her responsiveness, work ethic and creativity is unmatched. She has an eye for bringing beautiful elements together to create a stunning result.”
— Jacqueline Hayes
