STUDIO a28 is a female-owned and operated concept and full-service interior design studio focused on crafting authentic, innovative and effective design solutions for both hospitality and commercial markets. With our creative and collaborative approach, we design every custom detail and successfully manage each and every project with distinctive precision. Our unique ability to execute this hands-on approach is the foundation of our reputation.
Amber is the Founder, Principal and Creative Director of STUDIO a28. She was born and raised in a small town outside of Houston, Texas. Amber earned her Bachelor's Degree in Interior Design from Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas, graduating Magna Cum Laude. She is an NCIDQ-certified Interior Designer and is licensed in the state of Texas.
Amber's commitment to creating soulful and inspiring spaces has resulted in a 18+ year career leading design projects throughout the United States. She has designed and led hospitality projects for many major hotel brands, including Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, Starwood, Disney, Intercontinental Hotel Group, as well as independent boutique and casino properties. Amber is a respected leader in the hospitality industry due to her ability to pair curated design expressions with local flare, and her innate understanding of exceeding her client’s expectations while also maintaining budgetary requirements. Her extensive experience and broad skillset includes the ability to lead diverse teams through all stages of design and construction. Amber prides herself on her dependability, trustworthiness, and transparency. She is committed to taking that extra mile for her clients from inception to completion.
Amber’s biggest design accomplishment to date is creating and maintaining a well-balanced life she loves. After her graduation from Texas State, Amber returned to her hometown to put down roots. She is a devoted wife, involved mother of two, a loving daughter, a faithful friend, and a passionate business owner. Amber and her husband can often be found spending time with friends and family, with the occasional whiskey tumbler in hand. Her approach to life is a direct result of the strong work ethic her parents modeled and instilled in her. Amber works hard, plays hard, and deeply loves the people surrounding her, and it shows in the passion and joy with which she designs.
Victoria joined the STUDIO a28 team in 2021 as a Studio Designer. The comprehensive background Victoria brings to STUDIO a28 is a tremendous asset to our team. Victoria was born in Austin, Texas and raised by her two loving parents in San Antonio, Texas. She graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s Degree of Fine Arts in Interior Design from the Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, Georgia.
Upon completion of her studies in Georgia, Victoria returned to her home state of Texas to begin her dream career as an Interior Designer. Working for various firms in the Houston area allowed Victoria to gain a broad skillset designing an array of projects. Her design background includes major hotel brands, casinos and high-end residential projects.
Victoria’s passion for the concept phase of design allows her to magnify her creativity for any space. She thrives on creating special moments and experiences throughout her designs and is a true believer that good design is “in the details”. She’s a natural and very in tune to project and client needs. To the general eye, most wouldn’t notice the minor things, but to her, the small details add up, creating that bigger picture.
Outside of work, Victoria loves to travel and spend time with her husband and two young children. She balances her obsession for reality television with a very active lifestyle and enjoys running and cycling. The energy and zest for life she has allows Victoria to channel that passion into all her design projects to create memorable spaces for her clients.
Elisabeth, or “Lissa” as she is more widely known, joined the STUDIO a28 team in 2022 as a Studio Designer. Lissa was born and raised in Houston, Texas and graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s Degree of Science in Interior Design from Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas. With experience in both hospitality and high-end residential design, Lissa offers an array of skills that add to the quality and success of the STUDIO a28 team.
Lissa’s passion for pushing design boundaries is a strong credit to her diverse background in the industry. She loves to think outside-the-box for creative solutions and seeks out those special “wow” moments. Always with the end user in mind, Lissa believes firmly that everyone deserves access to good design and comfortable spaces, and she possesses an unwavering desire to deliver projects that are each completely unique and thoughtfully curated.
In her down-time Lissa enjoys catching up with friends al fresco, going to baseball games, and spending quality time with her fur-baby, Dany. She is all about catching good vibes and believes in the power of positive energy and good music. Her optimism and open-minded perspective on life allows her creative abilities to thrive while designing.
Katie Albright joined the STUDIO a28 team at the beginning of 2024 as a Studio Interior Designer. Raised in the small town of Brock, Texas just west of Ft. Worth, Katie enjoys the small town life. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Interior Design from Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas and is also NCIDQ certified, licensed in the state of Texas.
She found her passion for Interior Design at a young age while browsing through home blueprint books and decorating magazines her parents kept around the house. This led to a lifelong passion for the small details, and she enjoys combing through the finest aspects of a project and making sure that all aspects are thoughtful and align in the new design. After graduation, Katie began her career in Dallas and worked there for 7 years before joining the Houston design community. She and her husband made the move to Houston specifically so she could work for her dream interior design firm, STUDIO a28!
With a strong background in construction documents, Katie thoroughly enjoys the technical side of design in addition to the creative side. Working for various design firms within the hospitality industry has provided her with the knowledge and experience to design for any property, from Marriott Autographs to Hilton Doubletrees and beyond. Katie’s dedication for design extends far beyond her position at Studio a28 as she enjoys researching new hotels, reading design magazines, and brainstorming design ideas in her spare time.
Off the clock, Katie enjoys exercising her green thumb while gardening and being outdoors. She loves travelling to destinations where she and her husband can hike and soak up the natural environment. Her gentle manner and friendly smile grants her the gift to understand and care deeply for others.
Natalia Garza joined the STUDIO a28 team in 2022 as one of our first Studio Interns and thrived, leading to a well-deserved full-time position amongst our growing team as a Studio Designer. Natalia was born and raised in Houston, Texas and recently earned her Bachelor’s Degree of Arts in Interior Design from Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas.
Natalia has a strong passion for creating impactful experiences within a space. She strives to think of ways in which the user can form a deep and meaningful connection with a space, as she believes it is essential for creating a sense of comfort and belonging. Furthermore, she appreciates the transcendent power of interior design as a whole, as it possesses the ability to alter the mood and atmosphere of a space which correlates directly with one’s well-being.
In her downtime Natalia loves to try new restaurants around town and spending quality time with friends and family. Some of Natalia’s favorite hobbies include running, attending music festivals, and finding new recipes on Pinterest! She also enjoys traveling to new places, learning about different cultures and immersing herself in new experiences; all of which inspires and motivates her as a thoughtful designer and excellent addition to our team.
Erica joined the STUDIO a28 team in early 2024 as our beloved Studio Coordinator. With years of administrative and life experience, her skill-set is a beautiful asset to our team. She pours her heart into her work, serving those she encounters with upmost efficiency to her best abilities.
Her strong work experiences all led to her ability to master her role here at STUDIO a28. Her Real Estate expertise meshes beautifully with the Interior Design world. She provides a meticulous eye for detail, as well as a passion to support fellow team members and clients through each project. She takes pride in her standard to meet the desires of all parties involved with grace, respect, honesty, and professionalism.
Outside of work, Erica loves soaking up quality time with her husband and daughters, as well as attending Church events. She enjoys Texas country concerts, traveling with family, patio cocktails, trying new healthy recipes, yoga, and difficult puzzles. Her positive spirit in challenging situations allows her to be a light towards others during their own struggles.
Opal Mae was born in Dallas, TX and was rescued by a wonderful organization, Weimaraner Rescue of Texas, when she was just 12 months old. Soon thereafter, she was placed in her FUR-ever home with the Slaughter Family. She is a full-bred Weimaraner and is full of life. She is best known for her counter-surfing skills, continual doggie kisses and trench-digging capabilities. Opal deeply loves her family, and anyone she meets, and she cuddles like no other. She will often be found desk-side with her mom or roaming the backyard hunting some unfortunate rodent. She is proud to be named the Chief DOG and will uphold all it’s necessary duties.
Over the years we have been fortunate to work with Amber on 10+ custom hotel properties, all of which turned out exceptional. The attention to detail is outstanding and we highly recommend her. She will exceed your expectations.
- Jon Braxton, BlackRidge Companies
