Antonella LoDuca

My journey into interior design started with a passion for fashion design at the age of 12. I went to school for fashion design, but I realized I would need to move to New York in order to pursue that field, and I didn't want to move away from my family. I had also met my husband at the time, so I didn't want to be apart from him. Once we got married, we started a husband-and-wife team. He's a master finished carpenter by trade and got into building homes, and project managing commercial properties, so we just kind of worked together designing, staging, and selling our homes together as a team. In 2003, I opened VitaBella Interiors LLC. It's a full-service interior design business where I offer services from color coordination, procurement, kitchen and bath remodeling, window treatments - selling blinds and draperies - furniture layout. I also have a project manager who is a licensed and insured builder that does my remodeling. That team is made up of licensed and insured skilled trades that will handle whatever construction project that is underway. Basically, everything from A to Z, which begins with designing then decorating an interior space. I wear multiple hats - bookkeeping, consulting, project management, designing, shopping, and final execution. This industry has multiple layers of design as well as business. In 2004 I had a workroom where we sewed custom drapes and sold blinds, but I ended up closing that because I lost my mother and she was basically handling that facet of the business. When I closed that department, I took some time off in which I landed a job in the public schools as an ESL tutor. In that role I helped kindergartens through 12 grade students transition into the English language. That role has allowed me to raise my 4 children, be a full-time mom, take on selected projects and still work at the schools. As I started off as a tutor, I emerged into a curriculum paraeducator. Then suddenly running the after-school homework club which led me into a role as a mentor, mentoring new hires and ensuring that their new role as a paraeducator went smoothly. As I am currently employed through the public schools in Macomb County Michigan I am running my business. My team is growing and so am I. When one door closes, a gate opens. Right now, things are a little bit much, I'm starting to hire different positions to lighten up the load a little bit. This way I can take on what I need to take on - more of the consulting and onboarding. I hope to have a team that will do the renderings and the presentations, most importantly, I would like to enjoy my family and grandkids during these blessed moments in my life. During these 23 years of juggling 2 occupations, one thing that I have learned is that the foundation of a relationship starts with trust. It doesn't matter if it's a kindergartener, 12th grader or simply an adult who owns a home, the foundation is TRUST. Once that is built the process of learning, the vision of design, the execution of reality will all start to unfold. Even though there have been some hurdles along the way, there is nothing I would change with any regrets. I have been blessed to experience and see the world through the eyes of a child, working with homeowners and having them put their trust in me with their personal desires.