Daily Inspiration: Meet Adrienne Mascaro

Today we’d like to introduce you to Adrienne Mascaro.

Hi Adrienne, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Design principal Adrienne Mascaro was raised and educated in Chicago and has been a proud Venice/Marina del Rey local for over 20 years.

Adrienne graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the International Academy of Design and Technology, a CIDA-accredited design school located in Chicago’s Loop. Her major was interior architecture and her minor, and her first love was theater.

After graduation, Adrienne worked as a photo stylist and set designer for Silver Lining Graphics, a large, well-known catalog house in Chicago. She also freelanced in the art department on several commercials and independent films. She became more drawn to designing for the character in mind, and, in 1996, moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in set decoration for film and television.

After successfully working in the art department for Warner Bros., Universal Pictures, and Sony Pictures, Adrienne returned to her interior design roots. In 1999, she started Studio Blu, Inc., a Marina Del Rey boutique interior design firm specializing in high-end custom homes and remodels. She received a certification in Reiki and brings this healing practice into her designs. Adrienne is one of 12 interior designers who are both represented and highly referred by L.A.’s Pacific Design Center.

Adrienne is an avid tennis player and a proud mother.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Learning the business side of Interior design was a struggle for me. I started from scratch. Although I did get a degree in Interior architecture, I did not work full-time at a firm prior to developing my own company. Bookkeeping, marketing, and management were skills I developed along the way. I continue to educate myself because what I have learned is you must always be flexible and adaptive so your business can grow.

Another struggle was learning how to work with many different types of clients. Since all clients do not have the same personalities, styles, goals, or budgets, it takes more psychology knowledge than actual design knowledge to run a design business. You will not be everybody’s cup of tea, which is okay. A designer must have a clear vision of intent and be a good listener, but this means the client must communicate their intention and then allow the process to unfold. A designer will bring experience to the table, research something when they don’t know the answer, and most of all, be true to themselves. The challenge is knowing who is your client, and who is not your client. Clients also need to understand that you are hiring a designer for a reason; if you want to create the space yourself, you can do so, but when you hire an educated, experienced designer, clients can get a better result when they rest assured and trust the process.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Since I came from a set design/theatre background and then transitioned to film and television, my design connection came from the character’s point of view. What was this character feeling? How did they live in their space? Did they travel, where they organized, or did they need to change? I brought this philosophy into my design practice from the very beginning, but in order to really achieve the best results, I find the client will need to be open to sharing who they are. Being open with how they live or how they want to live, but most importantly being open to change. I don’t create a space based on my aesthetics but on the client’s desire to feel. The style will evolve, and the art will be created from that perspective. I feel my creativity comes forth when the client is open to shift. When a client recognizes that their energy of how they want to feel does not match with the current room. Change takes time, but most importantly, the client and designer will need to enjoy the process for the best result.

We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
My living space is very simple, and I don’t buy things for my home unless it is needed for a true purpose. I try to live by the school of thought, “Less is more”.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.studiobluinc.com
• Instagram: studiobluinc
• Facebook: studiobluinc

Image Credits
@erikailkeihajos