Deborah Batia, Allied ASID

A Native of Biloxi, MS, Debbie has been practicing interior design for 47 years. Debbie's family owned Merchiston Hall Galleries for many years, and she has owned the business by herself since Katrina destroyed the original business in 2005. The business has recently relocated into a larger showroom in downtown Biloxi on Howard Avenue.

The Business is now: D.Batia Interiors LLC - The business format has changed to Design Based Furniture and Interiors - and is geared towards Special Ordering and Custom Interiors. This core business is a family owned furniture and interior design business which has been in Biloxi for 75 years.

She is an Allied Member of the South Central Chapter of ASID where she had been a representative to the board in 2001-2003. Debbie was honored with several awards from the South Central Chapter of ASID in 2002, 2003, 2006 - She was chosen by Coast Magazine readers as "Best Designer on Gulf Coast" in 2000. Debbie has been featured in many Local and Regional Magazines for her Designs in both Residential and Commercial Projects. She was featured on HGTV's "Designer's Challenge" T.V. Show in 2006 - and has done design work in several "ShowHouses" featured locally over the past 25 years. One of her largest residential projects was Featured in Mississippi Magazine in April of 2016 - Debbie has been chosen as one of the "Faces of Mississippi" as a Successful Entrepreneur in the State, as well as locally - She was also chosen as one of the "100 Successful Women of the Gulf Coast" in 2022.

She is President of the "Biloxi Council of Garden Clubs" which includes 5 local Garden Clubs in the Gulf Coast Area, and was The Interior Designer on the Restoration and Refurnishing of the Old Brick House Historic Home - after Hurricane Katrina Devasted the home and the Area. It is one of the few Historic Homes left on the Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina destroyed most of the area in 2005.

Her projects include many Residences in all price range - from total Renovation to Building from the Architects Plans. She can also do Interior Design and Furnishings for a homeowner on a room to room basis as well.
She has recently worked with a large corporate client in the area on their total gut and renovation of corporate offices, (@ 20,000 sq. feet) and oversaw all the new Interior Designs, furnishings, finishes and fixtures, as well as Installation of all new offices and accessories.

Her projects can be as simple as furnishing a new Living Room, or helping to design and furnish a custom built home, or total gut and renovation of 20,000 sq. ft. corporate offices. Her experience and reputation for quality and service is known all over the United States, and she has projects that were located as far as Santa Fe , New Mexico - and Destin Florida - as well as the entire Gulf South Region.