A young woman with dark, wavy hair and a warm smile standing indoors, wearing a white blazer over a green top, beside a large green plant, with a red and white wall in the background.
A young woman with dark, wavy hair and a warm smile standing indoors, wearing a white blazer over a green top, beside a large green plant, with a red and white wall in the background.

Vanessa Arenas

Interior Designer

B.S. in Interior Design, Northern Arizona University
Hometown: Ontario, California & Phoenix, Arizona

Vanessa’s strong sense of connection and community shapes both her life and her work as an interior designer. Raised in a close-knit, family-oriented environment, she grew up surrounded by traditions, celebrations, and annual vacations that emphasized the importance of being present and spending quality time together. This foundation continues to influence her design approach, where creating spaces that bring people together remains a central focus.

With a naturally curious and hands-on mindset, Vanessa has always been drawn to creativity and exploration. She embraces new experiences and is willing to step outside of her comfort zone, bringing an adventurous, open-minded perspective into every project. Her early fascination with the ocean—especially sharks—reflects a long-standing sense of wonder and curiosity that still inspires her design perspective today.

Vanessa’s path to interior design was not immediate, but it was always present. From a young age, she found joy in decorating her home, especially during holidays and special occasions. After exploring different fields of study, she discovered interior design and recognized it as something she had been intuitively practicing all along. What once felt like instinct quickly became a clear passion and purpose.

A collage of outdoor and indoor scenes including snow-covered mountains, a cozy living room, breakfast items, a sea view, a lounge area, ice cream cones, macarons, vintage cars, shopping bags, pink flowers, tulips, a sunset overlooking a village, a beach, a race car, and ducks swimming in a pond with pink flowers.

Check out Vanessa’s inspiration board on Pinterest!

She is driven by the opportunity to bring her clients’ visions to life. Vanessa believes great interior design goes beyond aesthetics and should reflect each client’s individuality and lifestyle. Creating spaces that feel thoughtful, functional, and personal is at the core of her work, and she finds fulfillment in transforming environments into something truly meaningful.

Vanessa draws inspiration from travel, nature, and culture. Experiencing new places allows her to appreciate diverse ways of living, materials, and design perspectives, while nature brings a sense of balance, texture, and organic beauty. These influences guide her in creating interiors that feel both inspired and grounded, with a strong sense of intention and identity.

A young woman with shoulder-length brown hair smiling while holding a black and white bulldog close to her face in an indoor setting.
A person smiling and posing with a peace sign while riding a black horse at dusk, with a fenced outdoor riding area and trees in the background.
A woman smiling and pointing towards two pelicans near a body of water, with trees and a clear blue sky in the background.

Get To Know Vanessa

Describe your design aesthetic/signature style in 3 words:
Cheerful, Polished, Unique

What is your design approach?
I love turning ideas into bold, thoughtful designs that balance creativity with real-world usability.

Bucket list destination or place you want to visit:
Korea & New Zealand

Describe yourself in 3 words:
Creative, Grounded, Thoughtful

What is your favorite local shop/restaurant in Phoenix?
Park Cafe - Best breakfast/ brunch spot!

What or who is your source for creative inspiration?
I'm inspired by the ocean and traveling - experiencing new places, foods, and cultures.

Check out Vanessa’s inspo playlist on Spotify!