In one day, Deborah Brown and Jody Cornelius went from strangers to business partners. More than that, Cornelius said the two Pearland natives are now best friends.


The pair opened Brown Interiors in April 2009 and moved to its current location in February 2015.


“Brown Interiors inspires me every day to continue to be creative and surround myself with beauty,” Brown said. “I love helping others create an environment that they enjoy waking up to every morning.”


Cornelius’ mother-in-law and Brown owned the shopping center where the business launched. After deciding to pursue her own interior design venture, Cornelius met with Brown, and the process began.


“I called [Brown] up, went to her with my business plan and my thoughts, we had a big, long chat in her backyard, and at the end of the day she was like, ‘Let’s do it,’” Cornelius said. “We hit it off great.”


Both Brown and Cornelius are licensed by the American Society of Interior Designers. They are two of five designers at Brown Interiors.


Brown Interiors offers design services for commercial and residential properties. The business also includes a showroom of furniture and accessories that customers can buy on-site.


“I always say that we’re a design-based retail showroom,” she said. “You can come in and buy a lamp or a piece of artwork, [or] you can come in here for inspiration. We [also] do interior design.”


Brown Interiors is now across the street from its original location. Cornelius said the business outgrew its capacity and can now house its own items.


“This [building] is 8,500 square feet, and we were in 1,400 [square feet], so it was a big jump,” she said. “We had multiple off-site warehouses, and now we have everything here, so it’s way easier.”


Brown said she gets the most joy from seeing customers who are pleased with their new surroundings.


“I believe you can only become accomplished at something you love,” she said. “And for me, that is Brown Interiors.”