August 12, 2026
The Resource Room
August 12, 2026
The Resource Room
August 12, 2026
The Resource Room
Elevate Your Client Experience
The Resource Room is a curated learning series designed to connect interior designers with trusted industry experts, resources, and conversations that elevate both the creative process and the client experience.
This session features two leaders whose expertise strengthens every stage of a project. Julie Mussafer of Jules Place Gallery will share how thoughtful art curation helps designers create layered, personal interiors while enhancing the client experience. Donna Venegas of Venegas and Company will offer an inside look at collaborating with designers to bring custom cabinetry from concept to completion with clarity, craftsmanship, and care.
We’ll conclude with a panel discussion featuring designers who have partnered with Donna and her team, sharing real-world insights, lessons learned, and the value of strong industry relationships.
Whether you’re looking to expand your resource network, refine your process, or learn from experienced peers, The Resource Room offers a morning of practical insight, meaningful connection, and fresh perspective.
The Resource Room is a curated learning series designed to connect interior designers with trusted industry experts, resources, and conversations that elevate both the creative process and the client experience.
This session features two leaders whose expertise strengthens every stage of a project. Julie Mussafer of Jules Place Gallery will share how thoughtful art curation helps designers create layered, personal interiors while enhancing the client experience. Donna Venegas of Venegas and Company will offer an inside look at collaborating with designers to bring custom cabinetry from concept to completion with clarity, craftsmanship, and care.
We’ll conclude with a panel discussion featuring designers who have partnered with Donna and her team, sharing real-world insights, lessons learned, and the value of strong industry relationships.
Whether you’re looking to expand your resource network, refine your process, or learn from experienced peers, The Resource Room offers a morning of practical insight, meaningful connection, and fresh perspective.
Schedule of Events
9:00 AM
Registration and Morning Coffee at Jules Place Gallery
9:15 AM
Welcome to The Resource Room & Feature presentation introduction with Julie Mussafer
9:30 - 10:30 AM
Art Curation & Designer Partnerships
Moderated by Kate Maloney Albiani
Featuring Julie Mussafer of Jules Place Art Gallery & Abby Bielagus of Modern Luxury
10:30 - 11:00 AM
Networking Break & Walk from Jules Place to Venegas and Company
11:00 AM
Studio Tour & Feature presentation introduction with Donna Venegas
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Panel Discussion: Collaboration in Practice
Moderated by Rachel Reider
Featuring Donna of Venegas and Company, Ana Donohue of Donohue Interiors & Ana Bonilla of AnaVera Design
Our Panelists
JULIE MUSSAFER
FOUNDER JULES PLACE
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Julie Mussafer is the founder and owner of Jules Place, a Boston-based art consulting firm and gallery she established more than 28 years ago in a loft in the city’s South End. A lifelong art enthusiast with a passion for business and design, Mussafer has built Jules Place into one of New England’s premier full-service art consulting companies, serving residential, corporate, and commercial clients nationwide.
Mussafer earned a Bachelor of Science in Management from Tulane University and an MBA in Entrepreneurial Management from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Her entrepreneurial vision combined seamlessly with her early love of collecting art, inspiring her to create a business centered around helping clients discover meaningful, approachable contemporary artwork for their homes and workplaces.
From the beginning, Mussafer traveled extensively to art fairs, galleries, and artist studios across the country in search of distinctive and affordable contemporary art. Her careful curation and commitment to emerging and mid-career artists quickly established Jules Place as a trusted destination for collectors, designers, and businesses seeking exceptional artwork paired with personalized guidance.
Recognizing the growing demand for individualized service, Mussafer expanded Jules Place into a comprehensive art consulting firm offering art planning, site visits, virtual previews, framing, delivery, and installation. Today, she represents more than 150 artists and collaborates with leading art dealers nationwide, giving clients access to an extensive and carefully curated selection of contemporary art.
Technology and innovation remain central to the Jules Place experience. Through advanced virtual presentation tools, clients are able to preview artwork within their homes and offices before making final selections, creating a highly personalized and efficient process.
Jules Place is located in Boston’s vibrant SOWA arts district on the second floor of Laconia Lofts and is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., with evenings and weekends available by appointment.
For more information, visit Jules Place.
ABBY BIELAGUS
EDITOR: BOSTON COMMON & INTERIORS NEW ENGLAND
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Abby Bielagus is the editor of both Boston Common magazine and Interiors New England magazine. As a longtime member of Boston’s media she’s written for the Improper Bostonian, the Boston Globe Magazine and was the lifestyle editor of Boston Magazine. In a former life she was a wardrobe stylist working on ad campaigns for such brands as Levi’s and Converse.
DONNA VENEGAS
FOUNDER VENEGAS AND COMPANY
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The Team at Venegas and Company, specializes in the design, construction, and installation of luxury cabinetry throughout the home.
Venegas combines the bespoke offering of a millwork operation with the convenience of a showroom experience in the heart of Boston's South End Design District. Led by Donna Venegas, the Team provides a truly personalized experience.
ANA DONOHUE
ANA DONOHUE INTERIORS
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Ana Donohue is the founder and principal designer of Ana Donohue Interiors, an award-winning interior design firm established in 2002. The studio specializes in residential interior design that shapes each client's style and individuality. Donohue’s work focuses on design that reflects each client’s lifestyle and personal perspective. Before establishing her firm, Donohue built a career across several industries that broadened her understanding of people and place. She worked in hotel sales and marketing with Marriott, served as an international flight attendant for American Airlines, and later worked as a pharmaceutical sales representative for Wyeth. She earned a BS in Tourism Management with a minor in Marketing from Northeastern State University and later completed design studies at the Boston Architectural College, focusing on Decorative Arts. Donohue’s interior design work has been featured in multiple publications and recognized with industry honors, including the International Design and Architecture Award for a Rhode Island project, the HGTV Designer of the Year for a Park City, Utah home, and the Best of Boston award for transitional design. Ana Donohue Interiors is invested in curating an individual, beautiful and functional space for each client to call home.
ANA BONILLA
ANAVERA DESIGN
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Ana’s eclectic and colorful designs are influenced by her childhood in Peru, living abroad in Paris, and global travels over the years. Experiencing both financial freedom and financial loss growing up, Ana learned the art of creating a beautiful home by mixing heirloom pieces with new and reimagined furniture, an art which she carries through her work today. Whether it’s a one room makeover or whole-house renovation, Ana finds joy in helping clients imagine their spaces into a place they’re proud to call home.
As a member of the community, Ana has been a board member of the Can Do affordable housing from 2016 to 2019. She was one of the area designers selected to participate in the JLB 2016 and 2017 Show House, which supports woman and girls projects in the Greater Boston area. She participated in the Take-A-Seat IFDA 2017, designing a one-of-a-kind chair that was auctioned off for charity. Ana also takes part in Boston’s annual “Christmas in the City” event, overseeing the event’s decorations in 2019.
A thoughtfully paced experience that creates space for learning, reflection, and genuine conversation.
❋ Intentional StructureBuild relationships with trusted partners and fellow designers who can strengthen your work and expand your resources.
❋ Meaningful ConnectionsHonest insights and practical guidance from professionals who have spent years refining their craft and process.
❋ Expert PerspectivesLeave with ideas, resources, and actionable insights you can immediately apply to your projects and client experience.
❋ Practical Takeaways