Meet DeAndrea James | Event & Interior Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with DeAndrea James and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi DeAndrea, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
My life balance has changed since launching a business. Before becoming a business owner, I had to balance my career and personal life. Now I’ve added a business. I honestly didn’t prepare myself for the change. I spent the first two months fitting the business in wherever I could. I quickly realized that wasn’t the best approach. I became overwhelmed and put my personal life and self-care to the side. I changed that by discipline. When I think of balance, I reflect on the amount of energy given to each part of my life. If I feel I’m giving the right amount of energy to my job, my business, and my personal life then I’m doing the right thing. Once I’m at peace with it, I feel balanced.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’m the owner of Haus Party Event & Interior Design. My business is a one-stop shop for your event planning and interior decorating needs. I believe my business sets me apart from others because I offer two different services under one sector. I’m most proud of my progress within the first year of business. I launched Haus Party in November 2020 and it took off! I knew it was a risk launching a business amid a pandemic, but I took a chance and followed my dreams. Planning events and decorating homes are my passion. Over the year it’s been so rewarding to see my creativity shine through my designs. Oftentimes I have to stand back and take in the finished product. The pictures you may see on my social page are my expression. I believe it shows my style and creativity.

I got to where I am today by taking the risks and going over and beyond for my clients. I knew the first year was all about building, learning, and growing. I knew I needed to work twice as hard to make my mark in this industry. Running a business is not easy! I can admit, I had no clue what I was getting myself into when I launched Haus Party. There have been days when I wondered why and how I was going to keep going. There were days when I needed a mental break and neglected my business for weeks at a time. There were some rough times for sure, but I love what I do so much so quitting was never an option. I think simply living my wildest dreams is what helped me overcome the challenges. When it’s your passion, it’s almost impossible to ignore the fire inside. The lessons learned so far are to stay firm and know your worth. It’s something I had to adapt to becoming a business owner.

I would like the world to know that I love what I do and I’m ready to bring more creativity to the city. I have so much in store for Haus Party and I’m enjoying the ride. I’m also still learning and growing, so I’m not perfect. I appreciate all of my clients, supporters, family, and friends. I hope to reach a larger audience and I’m excited about the future of Haus Party!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If I had a friend visiting Houston, I would start with brunch. We all know weekend brunch is a whole vibe in Houston! If they were looking to get full we would start at State Fare restaurant. State Fare has huge pancakes that are so big, you would need a pizza box to carry them. We would also have at least two rounds of their margarita and mimosa flights! After brunch, we would head over to Amahle bar or Kamp restaurant for some outdoor fun. Day parties in Houston are my preference. We would then keep the party going by bar hopping in the third ward area. The options are endless and we have so many chill spots to choose from. Faces, the spot, the Locker Room, and the Savoy are some of my faves. A full day of fun that will have us inside by 9 PM. I would say that’s the perfect itinerary for the 30 and up club LOL.

If it was a weekday, I would keep it chill. We could go to the Rice Village area to do some shopping, or get some self-care by visiting the Ellee Spa. We’ll then head over to Taste Bar & Kitchen for dinner to indulge in the best lamb chops and cocktails in town!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to dedicate this shoutout to Crystal Sowah Aryee. Crystal is the event producer and non-profit director who gave me a chance to experience the event planning industry. Her success as a business owner has inspired me to follow my dreams. I am forever grateful for her mentorship.

Website: www.hauspartydesigns.com

Instagram: @hauspartybydj

Facebook: Haus Party

Image Credits
Photographer for my professional shoot: Cory Dixon @cdixonphotos