About
Award-winning Kitchen & Bathroom Design
Designs Anew Houston (DAH), owned and operated by Barb Mueller, an award-winning, accredited Kitchen and Bath Designer, specializes in residential design for remodeling and new construction projects. Our firm is committed to designing your kitchen or bath for maximum maneuverability, ease of use, storage convenience, and safety.
With your health and well-being in mind, DAH also takes into consideration natural daylighting, air and water quality, humidity and thermal comfort and affinity with natural elements. The last 2 decades have produced a plethora of scientific evidence of the positive healthy benefits of employing these design strategies in our residential spaces.
Barb worked in the new construction industry as a senior designer before starting her own firm. She is a member of the Greater Houston Builder’s Association and the Remodeler’s Council, was on the local board of the National Kitchen and Bath Association earning their AKBD accreditation. She is a Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS) through the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and an allied member of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID).
Believing in staying in touch with new technology, trends and products, Barb attends national and international conferences where she has taught several classes. She holds an MFA in Interior Design and was an adjunct professor in Interior Design at the Art Institute of Houston and other colleges for seven years.
Services that we Offer
We offer professional design services for your new home or remodeling project that cater to your specific needs and fit within your budget.
With a sound understanding of ergonomic and safety principles, as well as space planning and layout for efficiency and functionality, we will walk you through the floor plan configuration and selections for flooring, cabinetry, countertops, plumbing fixtures, hardware, painting, and lighting.
If you are looking to improve your quality of life by making better choices for your family, DAH endeavors to educate, collaborate with, and guide you in your new kitchen or bath design.
- Bathroom Design
- Kitchen Design
- CAD Floor Plans
- Handicap-Accessible Design
- 3D Rendering
- Finish Selections
- Wellness Design
- Laundry Room Design
- Mudroom Design
- Pantry Design
- Sustainable Design
- Universal Design
Awards
2020
- 2nd place award for Best in American Living Awards from National Association of Home Builders
- 2nd place award for Homes for Life Award from NAHB
2019
- 1st place award -Master Design Awards from Qualified Remodeler Magazine
2016
- 1st place award for Master Design Awards from QR Magazine
- 1st place award for Homes for Life Award from National Association of Home Builders
- 1st place award for Best in American Living Awards from NAHB
- 1st place award for American Residential Design Award from American Institute of Building Designers
2015
- Regional co-winner in Chrysalis Award in Remodeling Excellence competition - Universal Design category
2013
- 1st place in the American Institute of Building Design's ARDA - American Residential Design Awards - contest in the Accessibility category
Publications
Barb has written articles or has been interviewed for articles in Qualified Remodeler, Kitchen and Bath Business, Kitchen and Bath Design News, Metropolitan Builder, Houston Chronicle, and Remodeling News. She has been interviewed online by The Business of Furniture, NAHB online and Remodeling Magazine online.
Reviews
Barb’s Universal Design expertise helped ensure adequate and functional walking/working space. She identified a way to incorporate a walk-in pantry. Thanks to Barb’s suggestion, we installed a device in our backdoor that eliminates the need for a threshold – making it easier for someone using a walker or wheelchair to enter. We also consulted with her on our selections for sinks, faucets, tile, light fixtures, cabinet pulls, and paint colors.
We were in no hurry (contractors were occupied with Hurricane Harvey repairs), so we met with Barb about once a month on design and selections from late 2017 thru 2018. Then, consulted with her infrequently during construction in 2019. After understanding our needs and priorities, Barb assisted in areas where we requested her expertise. We are very pleased with our finished kitchen and half-bath. Barb has vast experience and is a pleasure to work with. We recommend her.
Best move I ever made: we used my love of the southwestern colors to start out in the living and dining rooms, and the rest just went from there. I even have ACCENT WALLS in the kitchen and living room.
If not for Barb, I'm sure I'd STILL be sitting there, paint chips surrounding me. Her help was invaluable and her taste is such that I still LOVE the colors all these years later.
A real professional with a great eye!