CarMELLA Design Studio
Photo by Sami Roy Photography
For Carly, great design has always been about more than how a space looks — it’s about how it functions, feels, and supports everyday life. That philosophy is at the heart of CarMELLA Design Studio, the women-owned design and organizing company Carly founded to help homeowners and local businesses create spaces that feel intentional, elevated, and easy to live and work in. The business is named in honor of Carly’s grandmother, CarMELLA, who was her bestie growing up. Carly wanted to carry forward her grandmother’s warmth, care, and sense of style into every project she undertakes.
Carly’s love for order and aesthetically pleasing environments showed up long before she ever imagined owning a design business. While in college, she worked as a salesperson at Ann Taylor, where her manager once pulled her aside to share some honest feedback: her sales numbers weren’t particularly strong — but the store had never looked better. Recognizing Carly’s natural eye for visual presentation, that manager created a visual assistant role just for her, allowing her to fold twinsets and perfect finger spacing to her heart’s content. It was an early moment of clarity — one where someone else saw Carly’s talent before she fully recognized it herself.
That experience led Carly into a career in corporate retail, where she spent years revamping stores and professional spaces for major brands. Working in fast-paced environments taught her how thoughtful layout, organization, and visual flow directly impact how people move through and experience a space. While she loved the creativity and challenge of corporate work, Carly found herself wanting something more personal — the chance to bring that same level of intention into people’s homes and small businesses.
Photo by Sami Roy Photography
Photo by Sami Roy Photography
Today, CarMELLA Design Studio blends both worlds. Carly continues to partner with retail and corporate clients, while also working closely with homeowners, entrepreneurs, and small business owners throughout the area. She loves that no two projects are ever the same — each one reflects the people, routines, and stories behind the space.
Known for combining interior design with professional organizing, CarMELLA Design Studio creates spaces that are not only beautiful but truly functional. Organization is never an afterthought; it’s intentionally built into every design, whether it’s a kitchen, closet, home office, or boutique workspace.
Carly takes a deeply personalized approach with her clients, getting to know how they live and work before designing systems that feel natural and sustainable. Her goal isn’t perfection — it’s creating calm, reducing daily stress, and making spaces easier to maintain.
Relatively new to the VAB area, Carly and her husband, Rich, moved here 2.5 years ago for his career and have quickly embraced the coastal lifestyle. They live near the beach with their two cats, Charlie and Hunter, and love exploring the community. You can usually find Carly out and about discovering local shops, eateries, and neighborhoods that make the area feel like home. While Virginia Beach has captured her heart, Carly proudly admits that nothing will ever replace her hometown of Philadelphia — or her love for the Philadelphia Eagles and Rocky.
Through CarMELLA Design Studio, Carly is proud to serve her community by helping clients create spaces that truly support their lives — designing environments that feel lighter, more intentional, and uniquely yours.
As Featured In Back Bay Living, Courtesy of VB Living
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