Rachelle Duquette

Senior Designer

Rachelle grew up rearranging her bedroom every 6 months but never dreamed she would have a career as an interior designer. Her time was spent enjoying outdoor activities in the Arizona desert and the Southern California beaches, spending many hours studying in a library and exploring the world any chance she could get. She binged watched HGTV shows and loved reading design books during her free time in medical school but it took a few more years in medicine for her to realize her passion laid elsewhere. Her career as a physician prepared her to stay calm under pressure, communicate effectively, and tackle problems in an efficient and organized manner.

Yasemin sussman

studio manager

Yasemin was born and raised in the Bay Area, with short stints away in Southern California and a semester abroad in Florence, Italy. She will now forever call Berkeley her home. Yasemin spent over a decade in the hospitality world managing public relations for well-known hotels and restaurants and later left to pursue her passion for interior design. After receiving a residential interior design certificate from the Interior Design Institute, she worked as a design assistant for a local boutique firm. She is drawn to natural materials and textiles with pops of color in her own space and brings her keen eye for design and style to her role, helping run the Banner Day studio and working closely with the design team.

Yasemin appreciates the Bay Area's thriving arts and culture scene and loves finding inspiration from local shops, antique markets, and other travels. On the weekends, you can find her at the local farmers' market with her husband and son or on a day trip to the beach.

Jennifer Farias

Junior designer

Jennifer has a love for antiques and great food. Some of her favorite activities include acrylic painting, shopping, and travel. She enjoys trying new restaurants & bars; there's nothing greater than putting on a great outfit and hitting the town for dinner and drinks. She grew up in a large Mexican family, they taught her how to speak up and be confident, while also supporting her goals unconditionally. She is proud to be a Latina!

TIA Butler

Junior Designer

After pivoting from one role to another within the Bay Area’s tech industry, Tia ached to find a more creative career path. She consulted those who knew her best and realized the answer had been clear to everyone but her. Already spending her free time redecorating for friends, watching HGTV and designing homes within The Sims, she recognized her passion for Interior Design and enrolled in UCLA’s Interior Design & Architecture program. Born and raised in the Napa Valley, Tia eventually attended UC Berkeley where she earned a B.A. in Media Studies and fell in love with the Bay Area. Her simple pleasures include browsing the Alameda Flea Market, road trips, camping and diving into a DIY project.

Sydney Jones

JUNIOR DESIGNER

Sydney spent summers growing up going to work with her father, a residential appraiser in Las Vegas, Nevada. She loved doing walkthroughs with him, oohing and ahhing at the varying finishes and design details, but chalked up her enjoyment to just spending time with Dad.

Sydney graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design from San Francisco State University in 2022. Not immediately recognizing her passion, she initially pursued a pre-med degree. Luckily, a required course in Art History opened her eyes to her love of architecture and beautiful interiors and inevitably changed the trajectory of her career. She maintains a special interest in historical architecture and enjoys traveling, antique shopping, and one-of-a-kind pieces. She hopes to eventually pursue a Master’s Degree in Furniture Design, creating the one-of-a-kind pieces she so loves finding.

Morgan Kupier

Design assistant

Born and raised in the heartland of Iowa, Morgan’s lifelong passion for creativity and exploration led her to the vibrant East Bay, which she has called home for the past decade. With a Bachelor of Art in Interior Design and over eight years in the lighting industry, she brings a well-rounded skill set and enthusiastic approach to the Banner Day team.

Outside of work, Morgan enjoys hiking, quilting, practicing yoga, and playing piano. She’s also always on the lookout for the best gluten-free pizza and loves catching live stand-up comedy as often as she can.

Sylvia Vu

Project Manager

Sylvia was born and raised in San Jose and is a true Bay Area native having attended college at Cal Berkeley. After spending over a decade in tech managing client and partner relationships, she left to pursue her passion in fitness and wellness. When not wearing her project manager hat at Banner Day she is rocking the mic at Barre3 San Carlos as owner and instructor. Sylvia has always loved interior design and beautiful spaces. She also enjoys traveling, an embarrassing amount of reality TV, and spending quality time with friends and family.