We were lucky to catch up with Paula Dixon recently and have shared our conversation below.

Paula, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What was the most important lesson/experience you had in a job that has helped you in your professional career?

Many of us possess great strengths, these strengths can come in various forms. For some it is more creative and for others it is more strategic. And then there are those that have a combination of the two. While working at a small residential firm I had experienced a human resource/management situation like nothing I had ever encountered before. While the manager was very knowledgeable on accounting the firm lacked a professional leader. The result was a small office that frequently gossiped and blamed certain people for issues instead of seeing the instance as a need for organization on the firm’s side and not entirely a personal problem. This experience allowed me to open my eyes and realize I don’t want to be a manager; I want to be a leader. I want to lift people up and inspire them to be the best of themselves. Always striving to be better than they were yesterday. To see each situation as a way to learn and improve. One of the best ways to allow people to see this is to live my life with integrity. I chose to work, play and learn with integrity always inspiring to inspire. It is from this life experience and a collection of others than I realized to be great at anything we need to reflect inward and continue to inspire.

Paula, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

The Houston market is heavily saturated with interior designers. Some of us like myself have a degree in interior design along with experience and others may have one or the other. For me personally interior design is about connecting with my client and creating a relationship with them. This allows us to collaborate together to create a joyfully fun interior design experience, creating spaces each client will feel involved and inspired for years to come. Coming from over two decades of client relations and marketing I am deeply connected to people. It is from this passion that I drive my interior design decisions. I am highly organized, communicative and creative this unique combination has allowed my work to win awards from ASID and I have been show-cased in various shows. I am currently on the path to being a registered licensed interior designer in the state of Texas. This is a big deal because it allows my construction documents to be stamped and certified by the state. I believe we should be life-long learners, always striving to learn and do more in life.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I recently won an award from ASID “Shining Star”. My whole life has been about being resilient. I was born to a young teen minority mom who herself was in the foster care system like my father. They both were given up for things they could not control, like the color of their skin. Living most of my life in the very state the KKK was established I have been called and excluded from various events or having family acceptance for the color of my skin, texture of my hair or who my parents are. Becoming a Christian gave me the strength and courage I needed when I was constantly told I am not enough by my own family and peers. I am not perfect and very much flawed but one thing I have is dedication and strength. I believe in myself and my abilities and will continue to learn from those around me that exuberate qualities I find inspiring.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Growing up I was always told by my mom that I was not smart enough to go to college. I doubted myself for years but finally found the inner strength to go. I am glad I went because I enjoy the learning experience that I receive everyday but what I enjoy most about being an interior design is the rapid change of duties. I love working on construction documents, design presentations, and then meeting clients for product selections. I enjoy making friends with my clients and them allowing me to make beautiful spaces. That amount of trust is an honor and is the most rewarding part of the whole process. The life-long relationships!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.dsquaredinteriorshtx.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dsquaredinteriorshtx/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dsquaredinteriors
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dsqauredinteriors/

Image Credits
Claudia Casbarian Kara Avelino