About
About Auer Design
One Team. Two Disciplines. Since 1985.
Most projects pass between an architect and an interior designer, and something always gets lost in the handoff. At Auer Design, there is no handoff. Architecture and interior design are created together, by one team, from the first sketch to the final finish.
For more than 40 years, we’ve designed homes, offices and dental practices across metro Detroit, Chicago and beyond, with completed projects in Maryland, Fort Myers, New York City and Indian Wells, California.
Founder & Principal Interior Designer
Debra Auer
Registered Interior Designer, Illinois #161.003378 · NCIDQ Certificate #22481
Debra founded Auer Design in 1985 with a simple belief: a great interior should feel as right in twenty years as it does on move-in day. She designs timeless spaces rather than chasing trends, and she’s known for the details clients notice long after the project is finished.
Debra has been invited to share her expertise as a designer panelist at High Point Market (“Trends: Timely + Timeless”) and as a speaker at the Michigan Design Center, where her talks have covered everything from establishing a budget for any size kitchen to fresh-start design tips for the new year. She is also a former member of the Baldwin Design Council.
“Most clients know what they want to feel in a space but have a hard time putting it into words, or picturing it from a drawing. What I love most is helping them find that language, and then walking them through every sketch, plan and rendering until they can see their space as clearly as we do.” – Debra
Principal Architect
David Carr
Licensed Architect, Michigan #1301071989 · NCARB-Registered · LEED AP
David brings 30 years of architectural practice to every Auer Design project. His work spans higher education, banking, law firms, trading floors, corporate headquarters, healthcare facilities and country clubs, giving him a deep understanding of how demanding spaces need to perform. He has been a LEED-accredited professional through the U.S. Green Building Council since 2004.
Because he and Debra work side by side, walls move where the design needs them, lighting is planned before the ceiling is framed, and every detail is coordinated before construction begins.
“I love working with clients to create their dream projects, and I love the chance to use a new material for the first time. There’s nothing like seeing something you’ve never built with come together exactly the way you imagined.” – David
Our Approach
Why One Team Matters
- One vision, start to finish: no gaps between the architect’s plans and the designer’s intent.
- Fewer surprises: problems are caught on paper, not after the walls are framed.
- Personal service: you work directly with Debra and David, not a rotating staff.
Whether it’s a kitchen, a whole house, a dental office or something else, we’d love to hear what you’re planning. Call (312) 307-7759 or start your project below.