Mike Valles Is Making Luxury Interior Home Design More Accessible to All
Does it seem like high-end interior design is only for the millionaire or billionaire “in crowd?” Mike Valles understands many people have that perception. As the founder and CEO of Interior Illusions, which is one of Southern California’s top design destinations for the most discerning clientele and interior designers alike, he has served an elite clientele of A-list celebrities, having designed spaces for Beyoncé, Justin Bieber, and Celine Dion, to name a few.
However, Valles doesn’t believe luxury decor should be reserved for a select few. Instead, he aims to make opulent designs available to all.
The interior design industry often distances itself from the people it serves. Many clients, including celebrities, experience a detached design process. There is a heavy reliance on mood boards and concepts that don’t always connect with how clients live in their spaces.
As an entrepreneur, Valles identified this gap early on. He created boutique showrooms that give clients, regardless of status, a hands-on experience in the design process. The boutiques allow his clientele to “physically see, touch, and feel our products, which builds confidence in their choices,” he explains.
Cost is another issue that often arises in discussions about luxury home decor. What do people do when they want an upscale look but don’t have the bank account of an A-list celeb? Valles points out that great design doesn’t require an extravagant budget.
“Just as you can style an outfit by mixing high and low pieces, I apply the same principle to interior design,” he explains. His process involves mixing various textures, materials, and price points. This allows him to create stunning spaces that feel curated and authentic.
Valles takes his philosophy of accessible luxury life a step further. He offers competitive price guarantees that all clients receive the same quality. This fosters “trust and a sense of community around our brand,” he says.
The Interior Illusions brand resonates with Southern California residents. “I began to receive recognition from A-list celebrities and tastemakers,” he reveals. That was an “aha” moment confirming his company was becoming a top design destination.
The firm launched in 1999, specializing in designing modern and contemporary homes, and has grown to four locations across “SoCal,” with storefronts in West Hollywood, Palm Springs, Palm Desert, and its first Exterior Illusions location in Rancho Mirage.
So how did Valles become a driving force within the industry? You could say it was destiny.
“With a mother who was a retired interior designer and a father who was a hairstylist, creativity was an integral part of my family life,” he says. This early exposure to design discussions, artistic physician decisions, and aesthetics has led to a stellar career.
Valles’ work has been featured in publications such as California Home and Design Magazine, Elle Décor, and Apartment Therapy, and he’s been quoted in major entertainment outlets such as People Magazine and US Weekly. As a trusted design expert, Valles has made various guest appearances on hit TV series such as Tori and Dean Inn Love for the Oxygen Network and Jeff Lewis’ Flipping Out on Bravo. Interior Illusions has also been named a finalist for the 35th annual Arts Awards.
Valles has his sights set on a new venture called the Interior Illusions House. This “curated space” will showcase the brand’s designs and serve as a real estate development project. In the meantime, he’s overseeing the growth of Interior Illusions, which is now an international brand with global wholesale distribution.
Mike Valles is making luxury interior design more accessible to people, regardless of their status. Through his interior design and home staging company, Interior Illusions, he delivers services based on his belief “that great design doesn’t have to come with a hefty price tag.”
