Today we’d like to introduce you to Juliana Huff.
Hi Juliana, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Juliana Huff, I am a native of San Antonio, Texas and a fanatic of all things beautiful. My love for interior design and art came very early on.
It was Christmas and I was 8 years old. “I’d like some chunky crown molding for my bedroom, please.” Not the usual request my parents expected. Even if they tried getting me Barbies, I would have made their wardrobe from random materials like aluminum foil & paper clips or given them an avant-garde haircut.
(Which I eventually did). I was the kid that never settled for the ordinary. I needed to express myself in everything I got my hands on. I remember getting in serious trouble for painting the backs of 8 dining chairs my parents had just scored down Hildebrand at one of those antique shops. “Could these leather chairs be less boring if I just added some orange? Maybe.”
I am the daughter of an architect father and a mother who truly has a legendary eye for design. I’d say my mother is a closeted interior designer. She finds beauty in the littlest of things and is able to create the unthinkable with obscure objects; making magic in a room or a corner everyone can enjoy. I can’t imagine I’d be where I am today without them and their influence.
As a kid, my parents often took us on trips around the world. It was important to learn about different cultures, and art and walk through magnificent architecture. My love for design and the craft of art was birthed unknowingly. Always inspired by these adventures, I found myself working my first job at 14 in an art gallery. I was an art consultant on the weekends and an art teacher during the summers for kids.
All my earnings would go towards another obsession- whimsy vintage clothing. I still can’t contain myself. I’m a huge admirer of all things with a little history. Art, fashion & interiors/furnishings- it was hard to zero in on one. When it got to the point of deciding what I wanted to study in college, I figured I’d follow in my parent’s footsteps, selfishly knowing I’d have their support if I ever ran into a dead end.
Interior design and architecture really brought me the most joy. I remember studying the pages of the architectural digest, dreaming of sculpting my own space with my pinned ideas. After graduation, I started working at a luxury residential design firm. I was invited to be a part of one of the firm’s most complex projects they had ever encountered in their 35 years of experience. It was a blessing and curse.
I had to learn the hard stuff quickly and there was no room for error. During those 4 years of actively working on that project, I was introduced to some of Texas’ hidden gems and most talented artisans & trades. Being a control freak, naturally, I was determined to work for myself. I now had a better understanding of what the process of running a design firm looked like and had the tools & knowledge to make it successful.
Knowing two brains are better than one, I reached out to one of my most talented friends whom I met in architecture school. We both were in need of a life shift and gave each other the courage to leap for a new begging. In between working my full-time job, and making commissioned art for a gallery, together, we planned our next move and today we are celebrating the birth year of Day Atelier, our interior design firm.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I’d say it’s been bumpy but nothing worth celebrating comes easy. I was terrified of leaving a job that shared a constant flow of income. When I resigned, we had no clients.
We were literally walking into nothing. I knew that if I had more time to focus on our business and shared this new journey with our peers, clients would come knocking. And that’s exactly what happened. We are grateful for the communities support and encouragement.
I will say being a business owner has its perks but it also has its sour moments.
The buck stops at us now. I miss sleeping through the night without a worry. Now it’s a 4 am panic of, “What if the trades dont show up for the job tomorrow, or will the piece of furniture I promised to be in before the client’s birthday party, or will it be pushed another 10 weeks?”
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Day Atelier?
Day Atelier is a boutique multi-disciplinary interior design studio based in San Antonio Texas. Our firm’s focus includes residential, hospitality, and commercial design. We work closely with architects, builders, and artisans while maneuvering projects from initial concept to finished installation.
Our scope of work is extensive as it includes technical design, contract management, architectural consulting, bespoke furniture, millwork & vintage one-of-a-kind furniture/accessory sourcing. Every new project is handled with fresh eyes and ideas, making all finished jobs original while staying true to Day Atelier’s signature mark.
Day Atelier believes in the power of aesthetics. We trust that if one surrounds themself with beauty- they live a more jovial life. Our continuous goal is to design with style and smart materiality working in tandem to foster a well-lived life. We create elegant yet bold interiors that share a home for the new and the old.
Following an eclectic fashion, we maintain a sense of timelessness that always feels fresh & comfortable.
What are your plans for the future?
Day Atelier plans to soon have a storefront studio with a collection of found treasures and furniture designed by us. This addition to the company was part of the big plan from the start but still needs some fine-tuning.
We are excited to give San Antonio a little space of our eye to shop from.
Contact Info:
- Website: Www.dayatelier.design
- Instagram: @dayatelier.design
Image Credits
Jana Cantua
