How Diane Paparo Started Her Interior Design Business

We love to pass on success stories, and designer Diane Paparo from Diane Paparo Associates sat down with me recently to help share her experiences with our Sheffield students and Sheffield Says readers. Diane's known in the industry for marrying luxury, quality, beautiful detail, and thoughtful functionality in her designs. And with Diane, "design" means interior design and product design. 

The key to my personal style is a clean, sensible use of space. Scale and proportion, flow, sight lines, acoustical requirements, and light sources play a primary role in my design schemes.

How did she get started in business? Well, she started with only a drafting table, a telephone, and a fax machine - faxes were still common when she opened shop in 1982. She now has a busy, full-service staff that handles design projects from New York City to Montana, and from homes in Las Vegas to the executive suites at Revlon's headquarters.

My design look is "international modern," and I extended this vision from interior decorating to the opening of my product arm, dp studio, in 2005. These products are luxury items and most have a custom sensibility. They're unique, contemporary twists on classic aesthetics. My collection showcases furniture that combines stainless steel with exotic woods - even stones! I also have hand-embroidered sheets and towels, corrugated lacquered backsplashes, and mixed silk and wool rugs. Future plans will expand the collection into bathroom hardware, wallpaper, and fabrics. And let's not forget to mention that we focus on sustainability in everything we produce, to minimize the impact our products have on the environment.

Diane told me that she started designing products because the market didn't have exactly what she needed for her interior design practice. 

For instance, everyone now has a deep pocket mattress on their bed frame and finding taller end tables became a big problem. Standard rug sizes were never the exact size that would be appropriate for the room I was working on, and then came the issue that the fitted sheet for the mattress didn't fit the mattress either. I began for purely practical reasons, but because I have a fine art background, I wasn't satisfied with making just functional products. They had to be beautiful. 

She recommends that you carry a sketch book with you every day, as you can find design inspiration everywhere. Her husband is also an artist, and sketching is what they both do for fun. They feed off each other's creativity and they enjoy working together in her studio. Go to Diane Paparo's website for more information on this inspiring designer.
 

Bonus

Click here to see Diane's Tips for How to Finish Fine Furniture.

As lead curriculum developer for Sheffield School, I like to find inspirational designers to share with our students - success stories like Diane. If you're interested in learning more about interior design, then I encourage you to explore the Sheffield School, New York, NY. Sheffield began as an Interior Design school in 1985, and then expanded our course offerings to train people in other design-related fields, including Feng Shui, Wedding and Event Planning, and Jewelry Design. With thousands of active students and more than 50,000 graduates, Sheffield has trained more design professionals than any school in the world.

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Comments

[Khalid Janjua]

really very beautiful table, wish to see soon in furniture shops. good luck

[Ali-J]

nice furniture designs, wish to see same table in black color

[vrouw-zoekt-man]

I Love Designer Furniture. anything and everything to do with design, architecture and anything else that takes our fancy!

[Deboah Pokorny]

I love the table. It looks kinda like a Frank Loyd piece. Love the clean lines and the design on the sides make it interesting and modern. Great color. Good luck!

[yeti usb mic]

Some interesting information, thank you! I'll refer my blog readers to this site. Lovely chair!

[Tom Colan]

Great article. Will come back more often.

[Jonathan]

Of course all business ideas (or almost all) are kust hobbies. But I'm not sure that you should make your hobby your career.

[Steven]

very nice design. maybe i buy this table in blue color :)

[William Imhoff]

Great designs, Nice table. You have a real talent in design. Keep it up!

[mentale dieet plan ervaringen]

Well good for her. Her designs look good.

[Joette Cochran]

WOW.......your furniture is amazing! Is it your furniture I see on Horchow.com site? Truly magnificient!

[OHIP Billing Agent]

Great designs. It's her unique and creative output that made her so successful. Kudos.

[vinman]

Diane Paparo's business success is a best example and inspiration for other women who aspire to become an entrepreneur. Making one's hobby into a business model will be profitable as one can do it with passion.