A Blog Site is Born

Finally after many discussions with great friends I am guided to create this blog site to share my past and the future with the cyber world. Paul Schatz, Interior Designer and Importer blog site is born. The last 33 years of being an independant interior designer and importer has been a great and inspiring experience worth sharing. I remember years ago when I asked my accountant if he thought I would have be able to save money to retire, he said probably not as you are an 'artist' and not a corporate business man but you live an 'enchanted' life style through you work. Well that has never changed!! Still not able to retire but still living an enchanted life style through my work.

My first design position was in 1970 in Long Beach California where I was the 'shopping bag' carrying assistant for a remarkable designer by the name of Elizabeth Hodgin. Now when I have my assistants carry my bags, mainly because they are filled and too heavy for me to tote, I think of those early days when I proudly made $ 50 per week and was very happy with my achievement. But in 1976, I moved to the San Diego area and within a year started my own firm with one client. Since then there have been many relationships built from hard work and great inspirations.

Interior Design Imports............a name created out of desperation in the 70's was based on a description of exactly what I wanted to do; 'interor design" and "importing". My first import experience was in Mexico with my dear friend Jose Luna where we traveled in a combi bus throughout central Mexico with his then wife " Anabella" and I purchased a few dozen items that I brought to the USA. Since then there have been trips to other parts of the world where 40' containers are filled and brought to the USA for specific projects or to just be held as found objects until the right home is found.

Since moving to San Diego in the 70's, there were some detours such as opening 3 retails stores in Sedona Arizona and living bi-state between Arizona and California for many years. The idea of being a shop keeper never really took hold although our shops were trend setting as well as cash depleting...hahaha. Who ever said a store in a tourist area could make money with an absentee owner! And 3 stores means three times the same result.........got the picture??

Now that some background has been set, I hope to post some interesting blogs of the past, present and future as the inspiration arrives.