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Sallie Lang: Spaces That Work

By Caitlyn Stair, Diamond Certified Research Reporter

Sallie Lang has always been drawn to building—not just structures, but spaces that truly work for the people who live in them. With a career shaped by hands-on craftsmanship, she approaches each project with a focus on creating environments that feel both functional and personal.

Sallie began her construction career building tract homes in Rhode Island, gaining hands-on experience in the trade. While searching for her birth mother, she uncovered an unexpected connection to the industry. “I was already working in construction, but when I found her, I discovered she had a design/build business,” she explains. “I thought, ‘It’s in the genes!’”

In 1993, after earning her contractor’s license and taking a trip around the world, Sallie decided it was time to strike out on her own. “I’d been working for other people for a long time, so when I came back from traveling, it felt like the right time to start my own company,” she recalls. She began with trim work and then spent eight years on intricate Japanese-style carpentry projects, honing her precision and craftsmanship.

When she relaunched, one of Sallie’s first major projects—a spec home in the Oakland Hills—was purchased by former California governor Jerry Brown. From there, the company grew into a full-service design/build firm. “We wanted to be able to take a project from the initial design ideas all the way through building it out,” she says.

Today, Sallie leads Bliss Design Build with a focus on transforming homes into spaces that truly support her clients’ lives. “When it’s done right, people can just relax into their homes and it’s incredibly satisfying to see,” she says. “Building is fun because it’s something real that you create. It’s about understanding what the client wants and executing it while also making it look as good as possible.”

Supported by an experienced team and long-standing relationships with subcontractors, Sallie ensures projects move efficiently without sacrificing quality. She lives in Oakland with her French bulldog, Bruno, and says she enjoys the region’s diversity and access to the outdoors. “I love how multicultural it is here. It’s just a really rich place to live.”

In her free time, Sallie stays active by playing soccer and racing with an amateur sailing team in regattas across the country. In fact, she has an upcoming race on Lake Michigan as part of her continued travels for competition. “We don’t usually beat the professionals, but we do pretty well,” she says.

At the core of Sallie’s work is a commitment to honesty and authenticity. “Honesty is very important to me—in relationships with clients, within our team and in life,” she affirms. “My advice is to just be who you are.”

Ask Me Anything!

Q: Do you prefer being somewhere cold or hot?
A: Somewhere cold. When you’re cold, you can always warm up, but when you’re hot, it’s harder to cool down. I also just like snow, maybe because I don’t live in it all the time.

Q: What’s your earliest memory?
A: Fishing with my dad, uncle and cousin on the Long Island Sound in a little rowboat. I remember catching tiny fish and being so excited.

Q: If you could retire tomorrow, what’s the first thing you’d do?
A: I’d learn how to wing foil.

Q: Documentaries or reality TV?
A: Documentaries, although I’d probably choose a good movie over either.

Q: What’s your favorite thing to do on a rainy day?
A: Snuggle up with my dog and read a good book.