We are at a time when interior design trends constantly renew themselves. Many design fads come and go; however, there is one trend that never goes out of style: Timelessness. This is what African American interior designer Juaneice Munoz is doing. She brought comfort, function, and casual luxury together and created La Casa Azul Design in 2011. She also recently launched an online store and a percentage of her store's proceeds will be benefiting the Salvation Army, which aided Juaneice through some tough times. We talked with Juaneice Munoz about the latest trends in interior design, her career, how to overcome struggles, and La Casa Azul Design. Please read our exclusive interview below to learn more about Juaneice Munoz and her company.

Where are you based?
Ladera Ranch , Ca.

You found La Casa Azul Design in 2011. What inspired you to launch the company, and what is the ethos of your company?
I launched the company because I had a client base and no way to service them since I wasn’t working for a design firm at the time.

La Casa Azul has a very unique style. Can you tell us how you got into this business and how you found La Casa Azul's style?
Since I was a kid, I have been in love with a well pulled-together home. I equated it with comfort and security. So that has been a goal to bring comfort, function, and casual luxury to each of our clients’ homes. Over the years that is where our signature look has been derived from.

What are your artistic influences?
Most of my influence comes from the desire to create things that are timeless. So our look is simple with various textures and finishes to complete the room. I am mainly influenced by my experiences and travels and I pay close attention to how a place feels and what makes a space cold or inviting.

What is the one object in your own life that you can't live without?
For the home, it would be a throw blanket!!! If you have been to my house you know that you can use anything you want but if you touch my throw blanket we might have an issue. It’s the comfort of home, reading, watching a movie, taking a nap — it’s my go-to!

You were able to work in many different styles. It requires limitless creativity. Have you ever felt so tired and mentally exhausted? How do you manage to stay positive and productive during these times?"
Yes , when talking with my team we often discuss being aboard the “struggle bus” it’s what we call it when we are having a mental block creatively speaking. Often just going outside , taking a break , breathing in fresh air helps a lot. Listening to a favorite song can help as well.

What would you consider as your most career-defining projects?
All of them !! Each one was so important to getting to the next step. Even the projects that were never photographed because of one reason or another. They all helped get me where I am today.

What difficulties have you faced in your career, and how did you deal with these difficulties?
It’s hard to name just one there have been quite a few. One of the most difficult decisions was the one to specialize in our strengths, it meant turning perfectly good clients away. That is still hard to this day.

You design multiple rooms, so you work with many different clients. What do you do if you are not on the same page with the client? Have you ever experienced this?
Yes, this happens and when it does, I try to explain the vision to the client, and how it meets their goals for the project as well. Often times we are on the same page in actuality. In the client’s mind, they are just having difficulty seeing the vision.

Can you talk about the last trends in interior design? Do you think which trends will shape the next decade?
So, things that are trending currently are white walls and lots of light woods, light oak flooring, and black trim on windows. These trends will definitely continue to shape the next decade. That being said we try really hard not to follow the trends too closely. We obviously want to stay current, however timeless pieces and looks are more what we are aiming for.

What are your favorite materials, objects, and colors to work with?
We love blue obviously but truly love all colors. It’s such an amazing experience to play with color and balance. Love warm woods and textures 150%!!!

It is exciting that you launched an online store. Can you talk a little bit about this?
Of course. Our new store was designed to create a space for all those who were interested in the beautiful pieces we curated for design clients but maybe didn’t have the budget for a full-scale project. In each project, we select our favorites and put them in the shop. We select one of kind finds and place things we find interesting in the shop as well.

Jejune loves that a percentage of your store's proceeds will be benefiting the Salvation Army. We learned that they helped you during your tough times when you lost your job. Can you tell us a little bit about this experience and how it impacted where you are today?
Yes, this was a dark time in life where we really couldn’t figure out how two responsible adults found themselves in this position and we really needed help. Salvation Arm paid our utility bills to help keep the lights on, literally. They gave us food as well. We had three children at the time and it was just a bad bad time. This opened my eyes to the suffering of others, at the same time it pushed me out of my fear zone. When we emerged on the other side, I had clarity of what I wanted to do and pursue definitely emerged.

Because of COVID a lot of people are down on their luck these days. What would you like to see being done to help these people more?
I would love to see people being able to safely return to their jobs, as I know first hand what an extended time period without income or resources can do. I would also love to see communities rally around people they know are in need. Sharing others’ burdens is so important.

Do you have any advice for them?
Pivot. That is a term I have had to get very comfortable with recently. The circumstances are beyond your control, but you still have control of yourself so pivot to a place where you can emerge.

How are you staying positive during a shelter in place?
I absolutely love being home so this was a blessing in disguise for me.

What is your motto in life?
Work hard. Put others before yourself.

Please list any social media/websites you would like Jejune to promote:
www.lacasaazuldesigns.com
Instagram: @azulcasa

Photo credit: Riley Starr

La Casa Azul Design Holds the Secret of Being Timeless