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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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