Team - Ellie Aiello Interiors
Ellie Aiello

Ellie Aiello

Owner & Design Principal

Ellie Aiello has a unique and diverse background in design. Growing up in Cambridge, England with a family submerged in design, Ellie was able to understand the design process at a young age from many different facets. With the opportunity to attend hospitality and commercial trade-shows, meetings with countless architecture and interior firms all around the world, and present to key individuals in the design industry at a young age, Ellie has been exposed to many different aspects and is able to apply this knowledge in the design process. Ellie truly believes each client and project will have a different approach and process that needs to be established during the early stages. This personalized attention to each project has allowed Ellie to create long-term and trusted relationships with clients and design aesthetically pleasing and individual spaces. Ellie obtained her Bachelor of Science in Interior Design from The University of Texas at San Antonio.

Kerri Gibson

Kerri Gibson

DESIGN DIRECTOR

Kerri was born and raised in the greater Austin, Texas area where from a young age she acquired a passion for the way spaces can contribute to a person’s overall well-being. Upon earning a degree in Interior Design from Texas State University she moved to New York City to fully immerse herself in the immense design influence and inspiring architecture the city has to offer. There she practiced high-end residential design for two years before returning home to Austin. At EAI she is able to implement the skills and experiences she has gained thus far to create timeless and approachable spaces. Kerri has a love for all disciplines of art and design and gains inspiration through architecture, new and old art forms, photography and graphic design to push her creative boundaries and create thought provoking and inspiring spaces.

Alison Ducker

Alison Ducker

Senior Interior Designer | NCIDQ

Alison grew up outside of Atlanta, Georgia in a family of engineers who were always tinkering, building, and creating. Her family’s influence, along with her love of architecture and the arts, led her to pursue a degree in Interior Design. Upon graduating from Georgia State University in 2012, Alison got married and relocated to Baltimore, Maryland where she began her interior design career. Alison gained insight and immense exposure into all aspects of the design process while working on commercial workplace and healthcare projects. Alison’s husbands job brought her family to Austin, Texas in 2019 where she continued designing in the fast-paced tech world with an emphasis on sustainability. She is thrilled to now be a part of the EAI team and have the opportunity to collaborate on exciting multi-family projects. Alison continues to gain inspiration through exploring nature and new places with her husband and two young children.

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Jessica Crandall

Jessica Crandall

Senior Interior Designer | NCIDQ

Jessica grew up in Northwest Arkansas and received her BA in interior design from the Fay Jones School of Architecture at the University of Arkansas; and has been lucky to call Austin her home for the past 10 years. Jessica has overseen the successful completion of an array of projects with a focus on high-end senior living and multi-family design. She is a passionate designer that values the small details as much as the big picture and is committed to promoting excellence in design and timelessness in every project. At EAI, Jessica draws inspiration and motivation from the people she surrounds herself with. She is driven by the desire to create purposeful spaces and collaborate with her coworkers, clients, consultants, and artisans.

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Emily Yaung

Emily Yaung

Technical Project Manager | NCIDQ

Emily is a Texas native born and raised in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex and was exposed to a colorful and creative world at a young age. Her mother is a painter and always had her paints and pieces around their home. She would take Chinese brush painting classes and Emily would follow along and paint on the side.

She pursued her B.F.A in Interior Design at The University of North Texas where she then started her career in hospitality design upon graduation. In 2012, she had the opportunity to move to Austin where she joined a local firm and continued her design career. Over the years, she’s gained experience in various markets including, hospitality, high end senior living, government, and commercial design.

Emily enjoys mentoring and utilizes her design sensibilities, strategic thinking and technical skills, and project management experience to guide the design team. She aims to utilize best practices to help EAI deliver custom and bespoke design solutions that are unique to each project and client.

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Grace Kirby

Grace Kirby

Senior Interior Designer

Hailing from the hill country in San Marcos, Texas, Grace is an accomplished interior designer known for her creative details and commitment to sustainability. With a background in commercial office design and senior living design, she brings a wealth of experience to her projects.

Educated at the Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design in Colorado, Grace seamlessly blends artistic flair with eco-friendly design practices, crafting spaces that reflect personality and purpose. Inspired by the natural beauty of her surroundings, she has a keen eye for incorporating elements from the great outdoors.

Beyond design, Grace finds solace in outdoor pursuits like hiking and mountain biking. Family is at the center of her life, with a curious daughter and a sweet Canadian husband. Grace believes in creating environments that captivate the eye while contributing to a sustainable and harmonious future, leaving an indelible mark on the world of interior design.

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Tessa Perry

Tessa Perry

Project Designer

Tessa was born in the DC metro area and raised in the west Texas town of El Paso. Being the daughter of a luxury custom home builder, design and architecture were integral parts of her life from a very young age. Tessa had her eyes set on a career in design after years of job site visits, touring beautiful homes, and hours spent watching and reading design television and magazines. Once it became time to apply to college, Interior Design was the obvious choice for a major. Tessa attended Baylor University and earned her degree in Interior Design. While attending college in Waco, Texas, she frequently visited Austin and quickly fell in love with the unique way the outdoors and culture influenced the design community. After completing an internship in high-end residential design in Austin the summer before her senior year, she knew Austin was where she wanted to begin her professional career. Tessa practiced commercial and high-end residential design for several years before entering the multi-family realm. Tessa has a love for eclectic interiors, thoughtful architecture and intentional relationships.

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Brooke Neal

Brooke Neal

PROJECT DESIGNER/TECHNICAL DESIGNER

Brooke is a cajun at her roots. She’s from a small town in south Louisiana but had dreams of living a life full of adventure. Her passion for creating beautiful spaces began while studying architecture within the College of Art and Design at Louisiana State University. Her education allowed her to pursue multiple facets within the design profession, leading to her current position at EAI. Brooke’s architectural knowledge base has given her a different outlook on interior design with the ability to rethink concepts through 3D modeling and space planning.

Brooke’s love for art and nature inspires her creativity. She believes the iterative process of making and submersing yourself in the natural environment allows you to become connected to something bigger than yourself. She states, “We design for people. In order to know what makes a person feel safe, warm, and whole in a space, you must go out into the world and find it for yourself before you try to recreate for someone else.

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Brighton Ellisor

Brighton Ellisor

PROJECT DESIGNER

Brighton was born and raised in Houston, Texas. She spent two years in high school living in Geneva, Switzerland immersed in historic design and architecture in her everyday life. Her love of design from a young age inspired her to further her passion and get her Bachelor of Science in Interior Design from the University of Alabama.

Brighton believes that design is meant to create a space in which the guests feel at home and proactive in the environment they are in. She is thrilled to be a part of the EAI team and use these skills to create and collaborate with each designer. Through her work experience she has learned that intentionality, detail, and communication is key in designing.

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Noelle Roca Jones

Noelle Roca Jones

Design Assistant

Noelle was born in the California Bay Area and later moved to Austin where she was raised. Her appreciation for design grew from early memories of driving around looking at San Francisco’s classic architecture and watching Austin’s diverse arts flourish. Noelle started her journey at EAI as an intern while attending Texas State University. Upon graduating in May of 2023 with a degree in Interior Design, she joined EAI as a full-time member. During Noelle’s time here, she has been able to build upon the foundation her education has given her. She has learned the value of creating effortless yet welcoming spaces that invite anyone occupying the environment to feel at ease. She believes that a well-designed space should always enhance the guest’s experience and leave a lasting impression. Noelle has an appreciation for subtle yet thought provoking details, timeless architecture, and innovative ideas.

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Melina Robles

Melina Robles

FURNISHINGS MANAGER

Melina was born in El Paso TX., and raised in its sister city, Juarez, MX. Growing up in a border town, she learned the importance of appreciating different cultures and lifestyles, acquiring a passion for designing spaces that are inclusive.

She moved to Austin to complete her BFA in Interior Design at the Art Institute and fell in love with the city’s vibrancy and cultural richness. Her background in design began in high-end residential where her mentorship was focused on excellence in design, attention to detail, and client satisfaction. Exploring local design showrooms, she discovered a passion for textiles and furnishings. She then dedicated 7 years to commercial design, working on high-end senior living and multi-family projects, specializing in furnishings design, custom furniture development, specifications & installations.

Drawing inspiration from traveling, Melina believes that visiting different places increases creativity & exposure, allows for new ways of thinking, and enriches her perspective when designing spaces.

Finding joy in the connections made throughout the design process, she enjoys working with vendors, collaborating with clients, learning from experiences, and mentoring her team. Melina is committed to utilizing her unique skillset and thoughtful approach to furnishings design & logistics to all projects, leading with integrity, and growing alongside EAI.

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Aspen Anderson

Aspen Anderson

PROCUREMENT ASSISTANT

Born in San Antonio, Aspen spent her early years living in both Canada and the United States. This unique opportunity, and the extent of travel it afforded, allowed her to recognize the unique roles that culture, and geography play in the realm of design and architecture. Inspired, Aspen enrolled at the University of Texas at San Antonio where in 2021, she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design. Her experience lies primarily in the domains of commercial and high-end residential design.Aspen is enthusiastic about her career and strives to provide quality work in all facets of the Interior Design arena. Her passion stems from exploring and appreciating the details, emotion, and history that each unique space evokes and collaborating with the design team and clients to achieve the desired goals.

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Megan Zimmerhanzel

Megan Zimmerhanzel

PROCUREMENT ASSISTANT

Megan was born and raised in Houston, Texas. Throughout her life, Megan showed a great appreciation for design and looked to include her passion in her everyday life. In 2016, Megan moved to Austin, Texas to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Public Relations at The University of Texas. After completing her bachelor’s degree, Megan stayed at UT to pursue a Master of Science in Marketing to start her career in the Market Research space. Although Megan was studying in the Business school, she continued to be drawn toward design. This pull led her to take a few Interior Design classes in the Architecture school at UT just for fun!

While Megan enjoyed her time in the corporate Market Research space, the draw toward design continued which ultimately led her to EAI. As a Procurement Assistant, Megan can combine her learned skills from Business School and her passion for design in a position where both are equally imperative for the success of the business.

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Olivia Wigley

Olivia Wigley

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT

Olivia was born and raised right here in Austin, Texas. She earned her degree in Communication Studies from Texas State University. With the majority of her career dedicated to the recruiting/people operations space, she is currently leveraging her expertise to support Ellie and the EAI team in achieving their goals. She finds lots of joy being surrounded by the creatives here at EAI. Her core values align with those of EAI and she is committed to making the interior design experience welcoming for all!

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