Meet Adrienne Qasabian | Interior Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Adrienne Qasabian and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Adrienne, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
Nothing else felt as challenging – and therefore as rewarding. Something happens chemically to me when I’m working and using the knowledge and skills I’ve gained over the years to create something new. I don’t fully understand it, and the process is so painful sometimes. It feels like I’m digging into the depths of both my mind and soul. There’s always doubt and usually panic, but when it feels right it’s the best feeling in the world.

It’s like cooking – when a chef really knows how to combine and manipulate raw ingredients the result is delicious, but it takes years of burning things, souffles falling flat, under or over-seasoning, to tap in to their magic.

I knew intrinsically that there was a chance I could spend much of my early career “burning the food,” so to speak, but the rush of getting it right is what motivated me.

Now when a client or public user experiences a space that I designed and has positive feedback, it makes me feel like I was born to do this.

Ask me this question again in 30 years – I might have some more insight.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’m first and foremost a student of design and architecture. I’m a total history nerd, and also a very visual learner. Art and architecture is the lens through which I best understand the world around me, and how we got here.

Almost every project I’ve taken on in the last 6-7 years has been a re-envisaging of a historic building. These types of projects present many logistical obstacles and design challenges, but are also very rewarding to work on. There is a sense that the work is preserving a part of our culture and history, but in using creativity to re-work, reimagine and redefine space, we’re also simultaneously shaping our collective future. And of course, in doing so we are building with less of an impact on the natural environment and our natural resources, so it’s also a sustainable practice.

I’m most proud of the fact that I’ve carved out a niche for myself in historical, sustainable interior design and architecture, and I’m excited to do more of it. I think every building has a history and can and should be honored appropriately.
There is definitely a way to do that and adapt a space appropriately for use in the here and now – you just have to get a bit creative!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Oh this is a great question!

Since it’s in my neighborhood we would start off with a little hike up to the Griffith Observatory.
We’d definitely rent some beach loungers at Paradise Cove for an afternoon.
Dinners at some of my favorite joints – Mantee or Carousel for Armenian food, Yuzu for sushi, Cholada on PCH for Thai food, Bavel in the Arts District, and Petit Trois.
The Getty and the Getty Villa are my two favorite museums in LA and both have amazing views. We would probably spend almost a whole day at each.
Drinks at Sunset Tower and the Dresden for some old Hollywood glam vibes.
And for a cheeky night of salsa dancing we’d go to La Descarga, followed by a late night taco truck run.

#bestweekever

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
The first person that came to mind is actually my elementary school art teacher Shogher Baghdoud-Tilkian. She was the first person to acknowledge my talent for visual art, and when I had an early adulthood career crisis she told me to block out all the noise and blaze my own trail.

Shoutout to you Miss Shogher! I’m doing it!

And thank you.
xo

Website: www.studioqasabian.com

Instagram: instagram.com/studio_qasabian

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrienne-qasabian-33b30736/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/studioqasabian