Meet ARIANA DE PRO | Interior Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with ARIANA DE PRO and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi ARIANA, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I started De Pro Interiors to follow my desire of creating new experiences and spaces for my client’s guests. I have worked in this Interior Design Industry for over 15 years and have made several connections with clients, vendors, architects, and other designers. I learned something from every firm I ever worked at. I also have a background in Hospitality working as a bartender at high end hotels, dance clubs, and restaurants. I used all my learnings to create a studio that worked with clients of all ranges. I wanted to be able to offer my services to corporations such as the ones I have designed for and to someone who would like to open their first restaurant. I do not want anyone to feel intimidated by interior design. Several people leave it to the builder to make the interior design decisions, and although it may work for some, it does not always work for their own client’s experiences. I approach the design from my own experiences in the hospitality industry, as an employee and as a guest.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
What sets my interior design studio apart from others is that I have been at the back of the house in a hotel, behind the bar, and even as a hostess. I know what challenges the staff and the management come across when the business is in operation. I work on avoiding the issues by getting in at the beginning of the design of the space. I create something aesthetically pleasing yet functional.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If a good friend was coming to visit my area, I would take them to Modest Rogers for Dinner the first night. It is a small and intimate place where we could catch up and enjoy Latin European cuisine. We would lunch at the following places throughout the week: Taco Joint, Mike’s Chicken, Primos, Whataburger, La Duni, Origins Kitchen, and Manny’s Tex Mex. For dinner the rest of the week we would enjoy Trulucks, Sushi Sake, Bob’s Steakhouse, Tei-An, Meridian, and Ruston Cattle Company. We would grab drinks at a local winery, margaritas at Primos, cocktails at Thompson’s Bookstore, Sangria at Si Tapas, and enjoy several whiskeys at my home. We can’t forget about High Tea at the Adolphus. That is a must. I would take them to the DMA, The DSO, Music Hall at Fair Park, and you cannot leave without experiencing Fuel City.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to dedicate this Shoutout to Jan S. Parker, Ph.D., RID, FASID, IIDA, NCIDQ, IDEC. She has worked so hard to earn all those appellations after her name, and yet still found the time to teach others to become great interior designers. Not only was she a former instructor and head of the Interior Design Program, but she also became a mentor that I could go to throughout all these years. I am sure several people can say the same. Jan supports my new endeavors and gets real with me when she needs to. She is a Scorpio like me. Fiery, Honest, and hard working. I love you, Jan!

Website: DEPROINTERIORS.COM

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