Anti-Pest began at the corner of Stoner Avenue/Youree Drive in 1950.  In 1955, a young man named J.T. May started with the company and quickly rose through the ranks.  He purchased the company in 1982 and ran it until selling it to his daughter, Michelle, in 2012.  Michelle and husband Jarrod Horton also purchased another local business, Porter’s Carpet Cleaning, in 2013 and moved Anti-Pest to Professional Drive in South Shreveport.  In 2021, a larger facility, owned by High-Lifter, opened just around the corner from them.  They purchased that building with plans to gut it and create a completely renovated corporate headquarters for Anti-Pest!  

This is where I, Space: interiors, enter the picture.  I’ve previously worked with the Hortons at their home, so we already had a professional relationship.  I remember walking through the space just after they purchased and thinking, “gracious, this place has a loooonnng way to go!”  It was a mess and that’s being nice.   It is always exciting, yet challenging, to start with a blank slate.

At that point, things start moving quickly.  It’s just a matter of unboxing, assembling, and placing items. The Hortons are amazing business minded folks but also have a “fun” side to how they operate.  This can be seen in the bug-themed artwork they already had plus the pillows and art I brought in. 

“I want people to walk in and be impressed by how professional the place looks, but also feel comfortable within the environment”, Michelle said. 

By far, the most impressive area is the administrative common space.  This space has new luxury vinyl tile (LVT) in ivory and taupe, custom shelving, and a “pit” seating area.  We selected the tiles because they looked like a slice of wood.  This was a nod to termites.  I added 4 leather and chrome low-slung modern chairs, two mid-century style benches and two all glass waterfall coffee tables.  Two mercury glass cubes were brought in between chairs and quickly became favorites of Michelle.