Paulina Gutiérrez

The Beginnings of Casa Paulina

Casa Paulina really began in 1991, although I have lived in Los Cabos since 1989. It all started in my garage, where I displayed my first pieces of furniture and, in just one month, sold them all. At that time, there were no stores specializing in interior design, and it was very difficult to find furniture and decorative accessories.

Little by little, I rented a space and, in a matter of months, I opened the one next door, then the next, until I had four commercial spaces. That's when I had the opportunity to buy the place where Paulina Concept House is currently located, a plaza whose main business is Casa Paulina, our interior design firm.

Approach and Work Philosophy

At Casa Paulina, we focus primarily on residential projects, ranging from small condominiums to houses with more than 10 bedrooms; we have completed several of this type. Each project is carried out with dedication and care, considering each client as an essential part of our history. For us, a happy returning customer is the greatest badge of our work.

We have clients who have recommended us for 20 or 30 years. I remember that the first project I did was before cell phones existed; we used fax machines whose messages were erased over time. A client from Palmilla trusted me completely and, with a phone call, commissioned me to decorate his entire house. He was so satisfied that I have done many more projects for him, and we remain in constant contact.

I have now been a member of the Board of Directors of his global company for a decade, which is very meaningful to me, as that person was the first to trust my work and has allowed this professional relationship to endure.

Relationships, References, and Style

Along the way, we have worked with some very special people. We always strive to ensure that our clients are completely satisfied, and if it means going the extra mile, we do so because it's worth it. Personally, I lean toward a contemporary organic style: I prefer clean spaces with wooden details, organic shapes, ethnic accessories, and art, but always with neutral and simple décor.

We feel fortunate because clients come to us through referrals from former clients, real estate professionals, or developers with whom we have already worked and who trust us enough to recommend us, knowing that we will meet their expectations.

We have developed projects in San Antonio, a very large house in San Diego, California, and various projects in Mexico City. I believe it is essential to understand the client's vision, as this opens the door to future collaborations.

One person who has been instrumental in my journey is Julieta Talamante, who at the time was leading Villa Valentina. She has been a great inspiration as a creative and wonderful woman, giving me unconditional advice, with affection and without seeing us as competitors. I am deeply grateful to her.

Participation in the Community and the Historic Center

Blanca Pedrín invited me to join the Historic Center Association around 2006. The main goal was to beautify the center, evaluate how to improve it, and promote it. We met every week with a strong commitment to organize events, raise funds, and develop a guide to promote businesses and services in the area.

The meetings were very enjoyable; we had breakfast together every week. Enrique Silva was president and I was vice president. Other key figures also participated, such as Blanca Pedrín, who was tirelessly dedicated to the center; Irene Bustos, who donated the remodeling project; Gabriel Corral, as treasurer; and Vicky Pérez, a great support to the community, as well as Rosa Luz Treviño.

We managed to bring together up to 100 businesspeople at monthly meetings. The initial objectives included promoting the center and remodeling it, improving the streets, installing underground wiring, and laying porphyry to give it a more traditional look.

Among the highlights, we organized a casino night in the central square to raise funds, where many individuals and families donated benches, which were purchased and installed in the area. Trash cans were also installed, and a promotional guide was created with the merchants of the historic center.

Currently, San José del Cabo is more recognized and has a wide range of restaurants and galleries. We maintain constant communication to report, suggest, and improve, and we meet periodically with municipal authorities, the Red Cross, and public safety officials to ensure the proper functioning and development of the center.

Community Maintenance and Consolidation

We work continuously to protect the center from excessive noise, regulating the type of businesses that open and ensuring that the space is orderly and attractive. We strive to preserve the history and culture of the place, caring for the facades and establishing guidelines for building permits.

Promotion and events remain vital; we seek to position Tuesdays as "Sabores San José" day, which has been very successful, and Thursdays with the iconic art walk. A new website is being developed to improve the promotion and communication of the Historic Center of San José del Cabo.

Maintaining unity is not easy, as all the owners are leaders with excellent ideas. However, there is still much to be done, and we hope that new businesses will join us to work together for the good of the community.