WHO WE ARE
Founded by designers, built on real-world experience
Behind Interior Design is an online education platform founded by interior designers Appie Vos and Melissa van Dal, created for designers and interior lovers who want to move beyond inspiration and develop a clear, confident and strategic approach to interior design, whether working professionally or designing their own home.
With backgrounds in high-end residential, retail and architectural interiors, Appie and Melissa bring together complementary expertise. Their work is rooted in real-world experience: from concept development and spatial planning to material choices, execution and detailing. Rather than focusing on trends, they share a structured way of thinking, where design decisions are purposeful, coherent and grounded in both aesthetics and functionality.
Through Behind Interior Design, they translate professional practice into accessible education. The platform offers insight into how interiors are analysed, designed and realised in practice beyond moodboards and visuals alone. Their approach is pragmatic, transparent and applicable to real projects, from private renovations to professional interior assignments.
Behind Interior Design is built for anyone who wants to strengthen their design foundation, refine their process and develop a confident, professional design mindset with clarity, structure and long-term relevance.
Melissa van Dal
MVD Interior Design
Melissa van Dal is the founder and creative director of MVD Interior Design, a studio known for refined, high-end residential interiors with a strong architectural foundation and a distinctive sense of calm.
Her design style is characterised by balanced compositions, layered materials and thoughtful detailing, where spatial logic and atmosphere are always in dialogue. Rather than following trends, Melissa focuses on creating interiors that feel timeless, coherent and deeply considered spaces where every choice serves a purpose.
She has realised multiple high-end residential projects in both the Netherlands and abroad, designing complete interiors from concept to execution. Her work reflects a strong understanding of structure, proportion and materiality, combined with a clear, confident design language.
Alongside her practice, Melissa has built a strong presence within the interior design industry through social media, where she shares projects and the design process with a large and engaged audience on Instagram and TikTok. Her transparent approach to design thinking and decision-making has made her a recognisable and trusted name within the Dutch interior world, for professionals as well as dedicated home renovators.
Her work has been featured in leading interior publications and hard-cover books such as Hoog Design, Beta Plus and The Art of Living, and has appeared on the covers of prominent interior magazines. In addition, her work has been nominated for an international award by Design et al, highlighting the relevance of her projects beyond national borders.
Through Behind Interior Design, Melissa translates real-world design experience into education. Not by offering inspiration alone, but by teaching how to analyse, structure and decide, empowering others to approach interiors with clarity, confidence and a refined design mindset.
“Independent minds. Collective knowledge.”
Appie Vos
Dutch Home Design
Appie Vos is the founder and creative director of Dutch Home Design, a studio specialising in high-end residential and retail interiors with a strong focus on craftsmanship, custom solutions and architectural coherence. His passion for atmosphere, experience and aesthetics is rooted in a background in hospitality and a long-standing career in the fashion industry.
Luxury hotels, high-end fashion and international design trends form key sources of inspiration, which Appie effortlessly translates into distinctive, well-considered interiors. His work is characterised by a refined balance between functionality and aesthetics, where bespoke elements, material choices, lighting and technical precision play a central role.
What sets Appie apart is his ability to bring functional spaces to life with both style and strategy. He looks beyond visual appeal alone: every design is based on the right spatial layout, materialisation and a carefully curated personal experience. From private residences to complex commercial and retail environments, Appie is known for translating detailed briefs into interiors that feel both personal and purposeful.
Through Dutch Home Design, Appie has realised a wide range of exclusive residential projects and carefully considered retail interiors, working closely with architects, craftsmen and specialised suppliers. His hands-on approach and deep involvement throughout the execution phase ensure that design concepts are carried through consistently, from initial layout to detailing and final finish.
Clients describe Appie as reliable, dedicated, passionate and goal-oriented, with a sharp eye for the bigger picture as well as for detail. His work has been widely recognised within the interior design industry and featured in leading publications and hard-cover books. In addition, his projects have received industry recognition through awards, including a HOOG Award, highlighting their quality, craftsmanship and commercial relevance.
Alongside his design practice, Appie is known for his clear, pragmatic approach to interior design. He brings structure to complex processes and understands how design decisions perform in real-life use. Through Behind Interior Design, he shares this practical knowledge, offering insight into how interiors are conceived, built and refined beyond the drawing board.
Publications & Recognition
Over the years, our work has been shared across print and digital platforms, featured in respected interior magazines, books and industry awards. These publications offer insight into our approach to design and the level of detail behind each project.
12-2025
The Art of Living | Dutch Home Design
Project Forest Villa
Interior designer Appie Vos of Dutch Home Design created a unique interior for a villa set in a wooded forest environment. While a interior design with many green accents might have been expected, Vos applied his distinctive design vision to craft an interior that perfectly suits both the homeowners and their surroundings. Read more in the attachment.
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12-2025
Excellent Wonen | MVD Interior Design
Cover edition: Project Curaçao
MVD Interior Design graces the cover of Excellent Wonen with an exclusive interior project in Curaçao. This cover edition highlights the design narrative in which luxury, architecture, and refined details come together to create a powerful, cohesive experience. A publication that underscores the international character and signature of MVD Interior Design.
12-2025
The Art of Living | MVD Interior Design
Hardcover VIII: Project Oirschot
The Art of Living selected 45 leading villas, castles and exclusive apartments from the Netherlands and Belgium. The result is a refined 500-page coffee table book featuring exceptional architecture, impressive gardens and outstanding interiors. This prestigious publication also includes Villa O., designed by Melissa van Dal, interior design studio; MVD Interior Design.
09-2025
Design et Al | MVD Interior Design
International Awards: Project Curaçao
MVD Interior Design has been nominated for the prestigious International Design & Architecture Awards 2026 by Design et Al, a notable recognition within the international design industry. The nomination was awarded for a high-end villa project in Curaçao, where a complete residence was realised with meticulous attention to detail and a pronounced sense of luxury.
07-2025
The Art of Living | DHD & MVD
Cover edition: The One by Five
Never before had an entire exhibition hall in the Netherlands been fully transformed into a high-end residential experience featuring a 400 m² design villa. “Extraordinary” was perhaps the most frequently used word to describe this unique experience, created by Appie Vos, Melissa van Dal, three fellow designers and nearly eighty partners from the high-end segment.
06-2025
Hoog Design | MVD Interior Design
Next Generation 2.0 Project Curaçao
In the successful series of inspiration books by HOOG.design, we present the second volume of The Next Generation. The must-have publication showcases the most high-quality architectural projects by emerging architects and designers from the Netherlands and Belgium. This edition features a tropical residential villa in Curaçao, designed by MVD Interior Design.
06-2025
Hoog Design | Dutch Home Design
Next Generation 2.0 Project Elst
Appie Vos of Dutch Home Design was featured in Hoog Design’s coffee table book Next Generation, showcasing a serene and luxurious home with bespoke interiors, custom pivot doors, a stunning Arabescato marble kitchen, and a sophisticated, tranquil bathroom.
01-2025
Excellent Wonen | Dutch Home Design
Cover Edition: Project Elst
Appie Vos of Dutch Home Design opened the doors of his dream home for EXCELLENT magazine, showcasing the completely renovated residence where he and his partner joyfully live and celebrate life. “Every morning, as we move through our home, we feel proud and grateful that this is our sanctuary,” says Appie.
05-2024
The Art of Living | DHD & MVD
Cover edition: Home and Design Event
Both Appie Vos and Melissa van Dal designed their own luxury design stands for The Art of Living home and design event 2024, Appie created a living room setting, while Melissa designed a lounge bar. Working closely with their trusted partners, the designers developed concepts intended to inspire and surprise visitors with their distinctive and individual design styles.
05-2023
Hoog Design | Dutch Home Design
Hoog Awards: Next Gen. Interior Designer
Appie Vos of Dutch Home Design received the Hoog Design Award ‘Interior Designer Next Generation’ for a realized project in Laren. The award recognizes a strong design vision, attention to detail, and a contemporary approach to interior architecture.
10-2022
The Art of Living | Dutch Home Design
Hardcover V: Project Laren
Interior designer Appie Vos of Dutch Home Design completed a full transformation of a villa in Laren. Known for creating a “hotel experience” in his interiors, Vos focuses on luxury and comfort, drawing inspiration from his travels to give each project an international character. Dutch Home Design provides a comprehensive service from initial consultation to project completion, delivering turnkey solutions when desired.
05-2022
The Art of Living | Dutch Home Design
Cover edition: Project Laren
Interior designer Appie Vos of Dutch Home Design executed a complete transformation of a villa in Laren. Working closely with the homeowners and his project team, Vos created a warm, modern interior in a remarkably short time. The serene atmosphere is achieved through a carefully considered layout, a sophisticated lighting plan, the consistent use of a few harmonious beige tones, and refined selections of flooring, wall finishes, bespoke furniture, window treatments, and accessories.