Heydt Designs inc

Welcome to Heydt Designs, a leader in quiet luxury interior design, where we craft spaces that seamlessly blend timeless elegance with exceptional quality. Our philosophy prioritizes creating environments in which sophistication is felt rather than flaunted, allowing the inherent beauty of each space to shine. We pride ourselves on our collaborative approach, working closely with clients to bring their visions to life and ensuring that every detail contributes to a comfortable and inviting home. Whether you are embarking on a new build or a remodel, our commitment to excellence and refined design will transform your living spaces into true havens of beauty and comfort.

Leigha Heydt

Founder

With over three decades of experience in luxury residential design and construction, Leigha Heydt brings a rare and powerful dual perspective to every project—as both a seasoned interior designer and a licensed general contractor. This unique combination allows her to seamlessly merge creative vision with technical precision, ensuring each design is not only beautiful but thoughtfully and expertly built.

Leigha’s process is grounded in clarity, rigor, and intentionality. Her hallmark is meticulous communication—from comprehensive construction drawings to detailed specifications—cultivating trust and synergy among architects, builders, and clients alike. The result is a design experience that’s not only collaborative and efficient but deeply personal and rewarding.

Guided by both empathy and expertise, Leigha approaches each project with curiosity and care. She believes that a home should be more than just a well-appointed space—it should be a sanctuary. A place where life unfolds: where children grow, families celebrate, conversations linger, and ideas take root. It is, in her view, the most meaningful canvas for design.

A graduate of UC Berkeley, Leigha holds a B.A. in Rhetoric with a minor in Conservation and Resource Studies. Leigha lives with her family in Muir Beach, California. Outside of her practice, she finds joy in travel, entertaining, and immersing herself in art and cultural exhibitions.

A woman with black hair in a loose updo wears a shiny, pleated royal blue top with a high collar and short sleeves, standing indoors next to a white armchair with her left hand resting on it.

Gilyana Sandzhieva

Designer

Gilyana Sandzhieva is a designer collaborating with Heydt Designs through her independent practice, bringing a thoughtful perspective and refined design sensibility to the studio’s residential work.

Gilyana began her professional life in the field of law before discovering her true calling in interior design. Her design journey took root in Moscow, where she completed formal training in interior design and gained hands-on experience across a range of projects. After relocating to the Bay Area, she continued to develop her craft, contributing to high-end residential projects alongside respected local architects and interior designers.

Her creative perspective is shaped by a deep appreciation for fashion, art, and contemporary culture. Gilyana is drawn to interiors that reflect the spirit of their surroundings and the individuality of those who inhabit them. Her work focuses on creating layered, personal spaces that thoughtfully express her clients’ values, experiences, and aspirations.

Outside the studio, Gilyana finds inspiration in travel, vintage markets, and gallery exhibitions—pursuits that continually inform her aesthetic sensibility and evolving design narrative.

Through her collaboration with Heydt Designs, Gilyana contributes to residential projects with a thoughtful eye for detail and a passion for creating spaces that feel both personal and enduring.

our design style

Timeless
quality
clean
welcoming

Hiring Leigha was the best decision we made for our remodel.

Her sense of style impressed us immediately and her background as a contractor separated her from other designers we considered. From the outset, she spent time getting to know our vision, understanding our style, and addressing our needs. Leigha was patient and always available to answer our many questions throughout the process. She narrowed down the many choices involved in a remodel, saving us time and money, with recommendations that were creative, detailed, and practical. We had a concept for our remodel, but Leigha transformed it into reality. We highly recommend her!
★★★★★
— Charito
Working with Leigha was a dream.

Her attention to detail is unparalleled. Sophisticated with a generous eye for design she executed our vision with complete accuracy. She met and exceeded all of our expectations and designed and created the family home of our dreams. Not only did she see our vision but she became a part of it from start to finish and we cannot thank her enough. The finished product was equally stunning and breathtaking and a complete reflection of everything we wanted to accomplish!! Highly recommend!
★★★★★
— Donald
She's an experienced resource with a wide variety of skills, great taste, and a professionalism that makes working with her a pleasure.

As a first time home owner, we've relied on Leigha for her insights on numerous occasions. She's done a tremendous job drafting architectural plans of our house to discuss our remodel ideas with city hall. She's also helped with picking colors for exterior paint as well as general advise on lighting, flooring, and reference to professionals and places on where to buy quality products. I'm so glad to have found her and to know I have somebody I can go to with almost anything I need help with for our various house projects.
★★★★★
— Conny
Leigha's design judgement is impeccable.

We hired Leigha to help with a kitchen/family room, office, laundry room and bath remodel. Leigha was able to Leigha was able to understand and design our vision of the space better than we could have imagined. Remarkably, she generates incredible designs very efficiently. I think it's because she really listens to what her clients are saying. On one decision she really pushed us to go a step further than we had planned and to install a different window where a seemingly suitable window already existed. Following her advice transformed the space beautifully in a way we couldn't have imagined.
★★★★★
— Carol M.
Leigha is a great find!

She helped me re-do our entire home a few years back. More recently she helped me pick fixtures, paint colors and furniture. Leigha is able to quickly figure out what you want and gives ideas that work within your style and budget. She is flexible and easy to work with. She is an expert at picking paint colors. I would reccomend her in a heart beat!!
★★★★★
Ariella Toeman