Ambiance owner and interior designer, Mary Jo Quatela-Celona, has been transforming homes around Western New York, and beyond, for more than two decades! She first fell in love with design as a little girl when she would reorganize her bedroom for fun! Years later she studied business and art in college but her love for design was always present.

During her junior year, she had an opportunity to study design in Italy. There she realized her love of interiors was her true calling. In the early nineties, Mary Jo was approached to design for a builder at Homearama. From that moment on, her interior design business took off. She purchased Ambiance in 2008.

In addition to helping hundreds of homeowners, she continues to work with home builders, contractors, and commercial vendors. She has actively participated in Rochester area home shows and most recently won BEST DESIGNER for the 2014 Homearama. Her biggest thrill is continuing to do the work she fell in love with as a little girl. She is still reorganizing her bedroom but now she gets to help others recreate their spaces too!

Prior to joining Ambiance in 2012, Neilla Olson Werner, a Certified Interior Designer, lived in New York City for more than 25 years and worked for several architectural firms, handling commercial interior design projects for corporations and institutions. She later was employed by DuPont Corian as a Design Consultant, providing educational programs to the design community throughout the Northeast. Whenever possible, freelance residential assignments were a welcome challenge!
Upon moving to Rochester several years ago to be with family, Neilla is now happily continuing her career without all the traveling and is pleased to join Mary Jo for the more personal experience of handling clients’ needs.

Anita grew up in the Interior Design industry working at her family’s paint & wallpaper store. It seemed natural to get a degree in Interior Design and make a career from her passion for the work. Prior to joining Ambiance in 2022, Anita started her own business following graduation and operated it for many years where she lived in Connecticut.

Russell is our resident pooch and Mary Jo’s right-hand man, er, canine. You will likely find him lying around the shop and basking in the sunshine that streams through those big, beautiful windows.

Russell may greet you if you drop by the shop. In our opinion, he’s the very embodiment of shabby chic!