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The Art of Design - Donna & Caitlin Whelan’s Inspiration

By Robin H. Phillips

Anyone who has ever hired an interior designer knows a good one has certain definable qualities. She listens to you, acknowledges your tastes and understands how you live, and ultimately, creates a pleasing decor. Then, there are the hallmarks of a great designer. You know the one: when the big reveal of a room results in tears of joy or even ten years later, you find you are still in love with that space. That type of designer is a true artist – and Whelan Design House fits that bill.

Donna and Caitlin Whelan, a mother/daughter duo, are the creatives behind the Costa Mesa-based Whelan Design House. Each woman brings her own array of talents to the table and together, they enhance each other’s strengths. “This is our true passion—we live and breathe design,” says Donna. When the two aren’t with a client or overseeing an installation, they might be scouting antique shops, flea markets, design shows, art galleries, and vintage boutiques (pandemic-permitting). Back at their home office, they are avid researchers who are always learning and seeking out a new idea or movement, finding a piece of furniture, or a unique objet d’art. “It doesn’t matter how busy we are. We always put our clients in focus and we invest the time to get to know everything we can about them,” explains Caitlin. “Depending on their goals, we work side by side with them to realize their vision for their ideal space, to help them solve a design problem, or to reinterpret or refresh an existing decor.”

While Donna Whelan isn’t a Californian native—she feels very at home with the lifestyle here, but is also continually inspired by her roots growing up in stately Grosse Pointe, Michigan. “I love the old world feel there—the homes with great bones and charm, the architectural character, and the use of antiques and art in home décor,” she says. Once transplanted to Orange County with her husband, Donna was a busy wife and mom in addition to being the creator of a successful business, Relics, where she sought out vintage and antique furniture for clients. As a young girl, Caitlin often accompanied her mother on those magical market expeditions. “Caitlin could barely see