About Us


David van Ling and Melanee Friscia are well-respected interior designers who have work on residential and commercial projects throughout the United States. In business since 1991, they have created many harmonious, sophisticated and timeless interiors.

David and Melanee bring beauty and function together by listening carefully to each client’s needs and desires, while also striving to understand how each room will be lived in and used. Incorporating layers of color, texture, classic furnishings, personal collections and works of art, each interior is transformed into a masterful portrait that matches the complexity and uniqueness of each individual.
About Van Ling Design boutique

David C. van Ling

Allied Member ASID

For as long as he can remember, there has never been a single doubt in David’s mind that he was born to be an interior designer.

The longtime Tampa resident (32 years and counting) is a graduate of the Art Institute of Atlanta. Over the years, David sought to perfect his art by continuing his education through courses at Harvard University & quarterly Designer Forums held in New York City.  He has a background in design psychology, and a lifelong passion for creating spaces that inspire its dwellers to live beautifully.  Clients marvel at his ability to walk into a space and immediately visualize how that space should look.  With pen and paper in hand (or sometimes an envelope, napkin or restaurant menu) David begins  sketching detailed drawings of what he sees in his mind.  He is happiest when he is creating for clients.

David’s work has been published in Better Homes & Gardens: The New Decorating Book and Spectacular Homes of Florida.

About Van Ling Design boutique

Melanee Friscia

Allied Member ASID
Interior designer and style maven Melanee Friscia’s believes, above all else, that your surroundings should provide a respite from the hectic fast pace lives we all live. Your home should be an inner sanctum, a door that welcomes and invites the stresses of the day to disappear.

Her artistic sense and her love for the process that is interior design is evident in all projects. Blending a well curated mixture of art, textiles, furniture, family heirlooms and treasures collected during travels provide essentials for making your world a more beautiful and peaceful place.

This celebrated designer, who has a keen eye for scale, balance and color, believes she can transport each client’s home into a place they could only imagine.

Think of all the possibilities…………………

About Van Ling Design boutique

Steven Bass

Business Manager

Steven pursued a career in medical sales with Zeiss for 12 years after graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Auburn University.

After realizing how much he enjoyed the operations of a business, he returned to the University of South Florida to earn his Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting. His mother is fond of telling people that her son is the only person that she knows with two college degrees who drives a van for a living.

While studying for his accounting degree, Steven started working with David to develop the business aspect of van Ling Design. From accounting – invoicing & billing (many clients refer to them as “love letters”) – to managing orders, he has handled all of van Ling Design’s business management for more than 24 years allowing David and Melanee to concentrate on their design projects.