Today we’d like to introduce you to Janna Paulson.
Hi Janna, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
As a local Austinite, I grew up watching my father – Larry Peel – in all phases of apartment development. He would bring me along to construction sites and allow me to sit in on his architectural meetings. I knew at a young age this is what I would do when I grew up. After graduating from Arizona State University, I moved back to Austin. The year was 1985 and Austin was booming. My first job was with an Architectural firm out of Houston. We specialized in commerical spaceplanning. We were one of the few firms providing services to the many developers back then. After three years I switched to an Interior Design firm. What a difference a company makes. I learned how to integrate design with spaceplanning. 1989 was a bust year when I started my company. My focus was still commercially focused. Being small allowed me to adapt to many different areas of focus such as retail, hospitality, residential and ultimately multifamily design. During my 37 years of business I have dedicated over 20 years to the International Interior Design Association as Chapter President, Regional Director and Residential Forum Advisor. I have served for 16 years on the Paramount Theatre Governing Board and 8 years on the Texas Book Festival Board. My forte was raising money as Gala Chair. I believe it is important to give back to the community you live in. Now I am on the Executive Committee for Austin BUILT. PPDS has three offices in Austin, Denver and San Antonio. We work with national developers on projects across the country and are recognized as a leader in multifamily interior design.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Anyone who owns a company will tell you there is never a smooth road – at least for any given period of time. I have survived 4 boom bust cycles. The challenge of holding onto employees during down turns is a real issue. When the going is good – it doesn’t get much better.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My firm, PPDS (Peel Paulson Design Studio) specializes in multifamily interior design. There are many nuances to our design. From the initial spaceplanning to construction documentation and administration to ultimately the furniture selection/procurement and installation. We literally travel to world researching ideas, materials and sources for new things. I am most proud of our timeless design. We integrate natural materials with elegant lighting to create spaces that intrigue the individual. The typical timeline for one of our projects is three years. The selections must stand the test of time as they will already be dated when the project is completed.
What sets us apart from others is our knowledge of what works and what doesn’t. Our customer service is also first class. We truly care about our clients and projects.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
We love to collaborate with vendors. This year, we found a Scandinavian Furniture company who produced in Vietnam. We ordered several pieces but then were told that they could no longer export into the US and that we would have to find our own company. Well as luck would have it, one of our tile companies had containers coming in from Vietnam. They offered to include our furniture and voila we had success! We work with local artisans and custom furniture companies. This helps us keep our projects unique.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ppds-inc.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ppds_design/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PPDSdesign
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janna-paulson-13a85b14/
Image Credits
Zion Bliss – Signature Style Imagery
