Not content to pull together luxury interiors from Palm Beach to New York to Munich, interior designer Allison Paladino has gradually built a Tequestra-based design empire that includes her eponymous firm plus spin-off furniture, fine art and luxe rug collections.
After studying interior design at George Washington University’s Mount Vernon College, Paladino stayed in the D.C. area before family in Palm Beach beckoned her to return, where she opened Allison Paladino Interior Design in 1997. Since then, she’s worked with both residential and commercial clients, most of who are Florida locals or based in New York or nearby Connecticut. Occasional out-of-the-box assignments such as a 7,000-square-foot apartment in Munich and upcoming projects like a horse farm in Ocala and a home in the Bahamas keep her on her toes and challenged.
“I’ve been in the business for 25 years, and I feel like I’ve definitely paid my dues,” she says. “It’s nice to be able to pick and choose the projects I want to work on and the people I want to work with.”
Ten years into the business, Paladino’s portfolio was already impressive, but her creativity needed a new outlet. In 2007, she was tapped as one of House Beautiful’s “25 Young Designers to Watch,” recognition that opened the door to the next chapter in her career. She began developing a full line of furniture with high-end manufacturer EJ Victor, and it has since grown to more than 60 handsome pieces. Then there’s her portrait collection for Rosenbaum Fine Art (starring exotic animals from her travels to Africa) and the hand-tufted area rugs she designed for New River Artisans.
Her latest endeavor, most likely launching next year, is perfecting a collection of glass-blown lighting fixtures with Fine Art Lamps based down the coast in Miami.
With this partner-ship and the others mentioned above, Paladino’s signature elegance can now take over an entire house.
