For nearly three decades, Michael Rowley watched his wife do what seemed impossible.
Darla Rowley could walk into an empty space, study it for a few moments and envision a room that didn't exist yet. She didn't need sketches. She didn't need computer renderings. She could simply picture it – the furniture, the colors, the flow of the space – and then make it real.
It was a gift that created Interiors by Impact, one of southeast Michigan's most respected interior design firms, along with its sister company, Impact Home Staging Experts.
Then, last year, Darla passed away after a courageous battle with cancer.
Along with losing his wife of nearly 30 years, Michael suddenly found himself standing at a crossroads. Interiors by Impact had always been her passion. It was, in many ways, an extension of who she was. Without her, the future of both businesses suddenly felt uncertain.
He could walk away. Or he could carry her vision forward.
He chose the latter.
"I’m carrying on her legacy every single day," Michael says.
Today, Darla’s creation lives on in every room Interiors by Impact designs.
Long before home staging became mainstream – and years before television made interior designers celebrities – Darla believed thoughtfully designed spaces could change the way people lived. After a successful corporate career in merchandising, she founded Interiors by Impact and Impact Home Staging Experts in 2004 with a simple philosophy: great design begins by listening.
That philosophy continues to guide every project.
Whether redesigning a kitchen, transforming a primary suite, creating a functional home office or furnishing an entire custom home, the process always begins with understanding how clients truly live.
"We want to understand how you use your home," says Senior Lead Designer Angela Rice. "How you spend time together. What makes you comfortable. The design has to fit your life, not just what's popular."
That distinction matters. While today's trends include rich jewel tones, color-drenched walls, warm woods and organic textures, Interiors by Impact isn't interested in creating rooms that simply look fashionable. The team creates homes that feel timeless and deeply personal.
"If it doesn't fit you, we're not going to recommend it," Angela says. "The goal is to create a home you'll love for years."
A home doesn't have to be new to feel new. Rather than searching for a new address, many homeowners are investing in the one they already have. By improving the function, flow and feel of existing spaces, the team is creating homes that better support the way you live today, not the way you lived five or ten years ago.
This approach has resonated.
"Our business has more than doubled this year," Michael says. "We're in demand and on track for a record year."
The team recognizes that every client is unique. “Some arrive with a clear vision. Others simply know their home no longer works for them,” he says. “We serve as trusted advisors, guiding you toward spaces that are not only beautiful but also functional for years to come.”
That trust extends well beyond interior design. Impact Home Staging Experts is southeast Michigan’s premier staging company, preparing hundreds of homes for quick, profitable sale each year.
Realtors, homeowners and many of the region's leading builders rely on the team to stage family homes and luxury listings, furnish model homes and create spaces that help buyers find an emotional connection with a property.
The connection between home staging and interior design is one the team understands well. Staging helps buyers envision themselves living in a home. Interior design creates a home that reflects the people who already do.
After staging thousands of homes over more than two decades, the design team has developed an uncommon understanding of how people experience a space – insight that informs every interior design project.
“Good design isn't about how much you spend. It's about making thoughtful decisions that reflect the way you live," Michael says. Whether it's one room or an entire home, everyone deserves a space they love.
That commitment to collaboration and client service has earned the company hundreds of five-star reviews from homeowners, Realtors, builders and investors.
Perhaps the strongest reflection of the company's culture is the people who have chosen to build their careers there. Many have been with the company for more than a decade.
Meanwhile, Michael never stops thinking about the woman who started it all.
The designer who could see possibilities where others saw empty walls.
The entrepreneur who built a company on relationships instead of transactions.
She may no longer greet clients every day, but Michael ensures her vision remains at the heart of the company.
Every thoughtfully designed room is, in many ways, still hers.
DESIGN TEAM STYLE CREDITS
Alexa’s outfit by Vines Boutique/Troy @vinestheboutique Christy’s Chocolate Diamond Necklace by Skyline Diamond Setters/Troy @skylinediamond_jewelers Beauty by Tricho Salon & Spa/Somerset @trichosomerset: Hair & Makeup Sydney Wilson, Hair Nina Selman
Design has to fit your life, not just what's popular.
Good interior design is about making thoughtful decisions that reflect the way you live. Everyone deserves a space they love.
Headline: What's In. What's Next.
What are today's design trends? We asked Senior Lead Designer Angela Rice of Interiors by Impact.
"The most important trend isn't a trend at all," she says. "Great design is about discovering what feels authentic to the way you live, then creating a home you'll love long after today's trends have passed."
That said, here's Angela's take on what's "in" and what you may want to move past.
IN
- Rich, saturated color replacing endless gray
- Statement wallpaper that adds personality
- Natural woods, stone and organic textures
- Biophilic design that brings nature indoors
- Layered rooms with warmth, character and collected pieces
OUT
- Cold, all-gray interiors
- Cookie-cutter spaces that feel like showrooms
- Decorating strictly by trends
- Minimalism without comfort or personality