While working for more than 10 years at California Closets—where he orchestrated organized spaces for a range of residential and commercial clients—DuVäl Reynolds discovered he had a knack for design. Encouraged by designer clients, he enrolled in Westwood College’s interior design program, attending night classes while working full-time. “I honed my skills in detail and precision at California Closets,” he reflects. “And when I got my degree, I found I had a greater passion for design than I’d expected.”

In 2017, Reynolds launched his own firm and hit the ground running. He recently completed a “West Coast vintage” project for a family in Vienna. “My objective is to give clients what they don’t know to ask for and what they’re too afraid to try,” he explains. “In the end, I want them to feel like their house reflects who they want to be, with no judgment.”

Reynolds married Sara Baglin last year and they recently bought a four-bedroom townhouse in Fairfax. First up: a kitchen makeover. Describing the home’s current state as “a hot mess,” the designer is now in planning mode. “Your own house,” he laments, “is the hardest thing to do!”

Interior Design: DuVäl Reynolds, DuVäl Design, Inc., Fairfax, Virginia. Builder (Vienna): Jefferson Homes, Oakton, Virginia.