Leading Ladies
Whitney Schones, Founder
It was clear from a young age that Whitney loved beautiful things—parties, florals, tablescapes and fashion. Her love for interior design started in her teens when she would help her grandmother decorate her home for the holidays. Armed with a sewing machine and the only fabric that she could afford, she created her own pillows and drapes and never turned away from her love of textiles.
With 20 years of experience in the industry, Whitney is a trendsetter when it comes to interiors and home decor. Her style is playful and cutting edge, while still coming across as timeless and classic. Her knowledge and experience is rooted in understanding what makes others tick and integrating nuanced details into a design that make them feel confident, comfortable and at ease.
Christi Pepper, CEO
Having developed an eclectic design style during a childhood that included stints in Hawaii, Southern/Northern California and Colorado, Christi started her career by studying Architecture at UC Berkeley. She gained years of experience in the commercial sector from corporate campus design to chain restaurant interiors to airport renovations before realizing her true passion in residential design and interiors.
Now with 15 years solely focused on interior design with a speciality in the procurement of custom furniture & lighting sourced from all over the world, Christi understands the complexities of budget, time frames, the importance of listening to the client, teamwork and communication.
Christi has known Whitney for 10 years, with the last 7 having been working directly with Whitney in large scale furnishing procurement. This successful relationship led to the natural evolution of a business partnership last year. Whitney and Christi are beyond excited to have launched a unique boutique showroom adjacent to the studio in Alamo Heights allowing them to showcase the combined efforts of their talents and vision to the community of San Antonio. Visit Estate now!
THE TEAM
Payton Schiel, Interior Designer and Lead Project Manager
Having recently earned her degree in Construction Sciences and Management, Payton has been on our design team since 2017. Her precision and attention to detail allows her to excel at creating detailed project renderings, drawing up design plans, taking extensive measurements and conducting site visits. Payton can often be found on site where her natural knack for construction ensures that materials are accurate and work is being done according to our precise design plan.
JoBeth Patlan, Jr. Interior Designer
We welcomed JoBeth, our latest expert in all things interior design, onto the team in February 2023. As a graduate of the Art Institute of San Antonio with a degree in Interior Design, she brings an impressive depth of hands-on experience having worked with a wide variety of showrooms in addition to 5 years of experience working with interior design firms in both San Antonio and Austin. JoBeth is a San Antonio native whose eye for the vibrant fashions of our city guide her design instincts while her organizational and customer service skills ensure a smooth process for our clients.
Jasmine Garcia, Finance Manager
Jasmine is our new all-things-finance guru. In addition to her degree in Interior Design Merchandising and Management, she has an impressive eight years of experience in office management and leadership development. While we are out procuring all the pretty things, she ensures we stay organized by staying on top of client collections and vendor payments.