01 · Black and White Kitchen
Modern Glam.
A closed-in kitchen opened up around a long island built for gathering.
Great Falls, VA
See the full project →
The Open Door
Style & Design
Interiors with Intention.
Rooms that feel collected, not decorated. Designed around the way you actually live.
Meet Shelley
Design should feel like coming home.
I started The Open Door because I kept seeing the same thing: beautiful rooms that nobody actually wanted to sit in. That's not the kind of design I do.
I want to know how your Sunday mornings go. Where the kids drop their backpacks. Which chair everyone fights over. Then we build a home around that — one that looks the way you've always wanted and works the way you really live.
The best part is still the reveal. Every single time.
— Shelley
Services
Three ways to work together.
01
Full-Service Design
From the first sketch to the final pillow. I handle the floor plans, the sourcing, the contractors, and the install — you get to enjoy watching it come together.
Learn More →02
Design Consultation
A focused working session in your home. We walk the space, talk through what's not working, and you leave with a clear plan you can act on right away.
Learn More →03
Styling & Finishing Touches
The bones are good — it just doesn't feel finished. Art, lighting, textiles, and the small decisions that make a room feel like yours.
Learn More →What That Can Include
- Interior Design
- Space Planning
- Floor Plans
- 3D Rendering
- Furniture Selection
- Custom Furniture
- Art Selection
- Lighting Design
- Custom Built-ins
- Custom Shelving
- Custom Rugs
- Custom Table
- Living Room Design
- Dining Room Design
- Bedroom Design
- Kids Bedroom Design
- Nursery Design
- Playroom Design
- Home Office Design
- Basement Design
- Closet Design
- Laundry Room Design
- Mudroom Design
- Home Staging
- Holiday Decorating
Selected Work
A few rooms worth walking through.
02 · Blue and White Kitchen
Bold and Beautiful.
Custom navy and cream cabinetry, quartz counters, and tile chosen piece by piece.
Great Falls, VA
See the full project →
03 · Primary Bath
Elegant and Refined.
Slate herringbone tile, warm brass fixtures, and a freestanding tub under the window.
Leesburg, VA
See the full project →The small things carry the room.
Details
The Process
Every choice gets made in person.
Fabrics, finishes, paint — I put them in your hands and in your light before anything gets ordered. No guessing, no surprises on install day.
How It Works
Simple from the first call.
Every home is different, so every project starts the same way — a conversation about how you live in the space and what you want it to become.
From there we set the scope together, and you always know what comes next.
- 01We talkSend a note about your space.
- 02We walk itA visit to see the room in person.
- 03We planScope, direction, and next steps.
- 04We build itSourcing, install, and the reveal.
Reviews
Rated 5 out of 5.
★★★★★
“Shelley is amazing! I've worked with her for years on both big and small projects. She worked with me to understand my style and vision for the space and then brought ideas and pieces that I wouldn't have thought of on my own but absolutely loved!”
“Shelley, of The Open Door, was amazing to work with. I can't recommend her enough. Total remodel of a kitchen, bathroom and laundry room at the same time is always a large project. She was professional, followed through with everything from start to finish and available! She listened to what I wanted and now I have exactly what I thought I was getting.”
“Shelley handles every aspect of the job with ease. Communication is fluid and accurate! The job was done well and clean up was excellent.”
Where I Work
Northern Virginia & the Maryland suburbs.
Most projects fall somewhere between McLean, Potomac, and Ashburn. If you're nearby, send a note — it's worth asking.
- Mclean
- West Mclean
- Vienna
- Tysons Corner
- Oakton
- Great Falls
- Reston
- Herndon
- Sterling
- Ashburn
- Potomac
- North Potomac
- Bethesda
- North Bethesda
- Cabin John
- Rockville
- Montgomery Village
- Travilah
- Oak Hill
- Oak Grove
- Lowes Island
- Countryside
- Greenbriar
- Greenway
- Idylwood
- Jefferson
- Mantua
- Merrifield
- Pimmit Hills
- Seven Corners
- Sugarland Run
- University Center
- Wolf Trap
Let's open the door to your next chapter.
One conversation is all it takes to get started. No pressure, no pitch — just an honest look at what your home could be.
Start the ConversationContact
Tell me about your home.
A few sentences is plenty. What room is on your mind, what's driving you a little crazy, what you've always wanted. I'll take it from there.
The form is the fastest way to reach me — it comes straight to my inbox.