Today we’d like to introduce you to Elian Varela.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My name is Elian Varela. I studied architecture at Universidad Iberoamericana in Tijuana. Since I was a child, my passion has always been interior design. Every chance I got, I would redecorate and paint my room. Over the years, I knew I wanted to pursue this career.
After graduating, I worked at different places and also learned a lot about what I didn’t want to become. That’s when it clicked—I decided to start my own firm. At that moment, it stopped feeling like a job, and I began living my life’s passion.
I’ve enjoyed (and endured) sleepless nights, endless workdays, and the daily stress and pressure required to build this. Call me crazy, but there isn’t a single morning I don’t wake up feeling grateful for doing what I love.
My interior design studio began when my first client trusted me to remodel her clothing store, Liliana Real—a local Tijuana brand created by a passionate businesswoman. As a very influential figure in the region, Liliana gave me a boost on social media. From that moment on, many people started following me.
And so it began—without much planning, but with the excitement and fear of the unknown—I started creating projects on my own. Elian Varela Arquitectura had taken its first step.
Now, after six years, I’m joined by three female architects at the studio. Together, we create commercial and residential interior design projects with the utmost attention to detail, meeting the specific needs of each client and delivering aesthetic, harmonious designs. This continues to be how we’ve built our reputation in the region—through the total satisfaction of our amazing clients.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It’s been an uncertain path. Difficulties and unforeseen events in the development of projects can be resolved and prevented with the experience gained along the way. But the hardest part has been living with the uncertainty of whether new projects will come along. Being independent doesn’t mean you have a guaranteed salary, and maintaining the traditional expenses of a firm has been a challenge. Projects take a long time to develop, and it’s important to have excellent management skills to keep everything in order. At first, you become a jack-of-all-trades, and your task is to solve everything day in and day out. It’s also been very difficult to learn to delegate; as a perfectionist, all decisions and tasks are equally important to me. We’ve remained a small firm because we strive to maintain quality and extreme attention to detail in both design and construction. Growing the team has been difficult, due to the need for perfection and oversight in all delivered projects. But we’re working hard to continue growing without losing quality.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
We are an architectural firm specializing in both commercial and residential interior design. We carefully plan the layout of each space, considering it as a whole. We integrate textures, materials, finishes, lighting, furniture, and even the smells and sensations of inhabiting the space. Our goal is to create a connection with the user by addressing their functional needs while thoughtfully considering the aesthetics and harmony of each element. We work extensively with custom furniture and design accent pieces and lighting that are characteristic of each project, giving it its unique identity. What gives us the most satisfaction is seeing our clients smile at the first impression when we present a design, and when they trust us to bring it to life—ensuring the final result surpasses the renderings.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I’ve always been a very sensitive and empathetic person, especially when it comes to the emotions of others. I’m a Pisces, so feelings and intuition are a big part of who I am. This has helped me connect with my clients and understand what they expect from a project. I’m driven to create deeper connections and develop projects that not only look good but also add real value for the user or client.
Since I was a child, I’ve loved decoration and design in general. I dreamed of being an interior designer but decided to study architecture because there wasn’t an interior design program in my city. It turned out to be the best decision I could have made. Now I can practice both professions and have a much broader understanding of construction methods, dimensions, and the functionality of spaces.
I’m extremely perfectionistic—this has sometimes limited the growth of my company, but it’s incredibly rewarding to see that 99% of my clients are very satisfied with their projects. Most of them return to me for future work. Over time, it becomes more of a friendship than just a business relationship.
Pricing:
- We don’t have a standard price per space or project. Each quote has its own specifics, depending on the type of project, the complexity of the intervention, the size of the space(s), and other factors. A discussion with the client is essential to understand the details of the project and provide a quote.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elianvarelaarquitectura/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elianvarelaarquitectura
- Other: contacto@elianvarela.com
Image Credits
Personal and team photos by: Garage Photo Studio
Projects Photos: Foto Roh
