What's Cooking?

It’s often referred to as the “hub of the house”, the “heart of the home” and is the place we go to gather and celebrate holidays, special occasions and land at the end of a hard day to enjoy a meal and reflect with the ones we love. Kitchens are a place where we make our memories, prepare our food and entertain. From a design perspective, it can often be one of the most fun projects to work on and as with any room of a home, can be a great place to incorporate elements that are unique to a particular owner. Kitchen renovations can be lengthy and pricey but are usually worth the investment if done correctly. According to my real estate agent friends, it is often the one space that can either make or break a home sale, so it is important to spend your money wisely and even more critical to make choices that will stand the test of time.

One thing that has remained constant over the recent years has been kitchens with a more open floor plan and those that are light and bright. I am a fan of using white subway tile to create a simple backsplash and often having it run in a herringbone pattern to add interest, while keeping things simple and timeless. I prefer to keep the backdrop of a kitchen clean and classic and utilize accessories or special family heirlooms for color and to help with the “wow” factor we all want to achieve when designing a special space. In a recent home I have been working on that has classic white cabinets and countertops, we found a beautiful antique rug and some old pieces of blue and white that worked well to achieve this goal. Art can also be a great choice to add interest and serve as a focal point to anchor other design choices for the kitchen.

I am often asked about appliances and if they are worth the money and investment. The answer can be a tricky one but one that I feel like really depends on your needs as a family. Do you cook a good deal and enjoy preparing meals and entertaining? If so, your range selection will be an important one and is a place worth spending a little more money. Examples such as Wolf and La Cornue provide the highest of quality for cooking, while also servings as beautiful centerpieces for a kitchen and can be customized in various colors and other options. If you have a large family, your choice in refrigerators and dishwashers will be of top priority as well!

We all live fast-paced lives with people coming and going, so there is a new importance placed on an “eat in kitchen”. Families now often enjoy meals coming and going, typically around a bar and they can be used more often than the traditional kitchen table and chairs. We recently used a set of fun, cobalt blue cafe barstools in a newly renovated kitchen and they served as a focal point, while also offering a pop of color.

At the end of the day, our kitchens are where we spend a good deal of time in our homes and are worth spending the time, money and effort to make them the special place that they deserve to be!

Ringing In 2020 With A Bang

A few weeks back, I was asked to contribute to an article about projected home design trends for 2020. I typically bristle a bit at the word “trend” but for the sake of this article and the start of a new year, I think it can be fun to really go bold and experiment with something you have always wanted to try.

Two of the main projected design trends that I am excited about for 2020 are bold bedding and more ornate window treatments. Both of these can be a place to safely take some risks and really let your creative juices flow. Linen lines such as D. Porthault and Biscuit Bedding are among some of my favorites and have been used in recent projects.

In general, my design aesthetic can be described as timeless and classic, which I always keep in mind with any project. I also believe in mixing old and new, which is another design trend for 2020. By incorporating antiques or well-loved items that have some sentimental value with new pieces, we can create spaces that are visually stimulating and interesting.

Detailed cornice and headboards are also a great way to really personalize a space. By utilizing solid fabrics with more intricate fabrication and trims, we can create pieces that are one-of-a-kind while keeping things clean and classic. This is also where expertise and attention to detail are of the utmost importance. I am very fortunate to work with an excellent seamstress who has a real gift for bringing my visions to life. Sometimes it takes a bit longer and we may have to regroup a time or two, but the end result is always worth the wait!

When someone hires a designer, I honestly feel like they are expecting them to offer something different and unique. I think it is critical to recognize the delicate balance of offering special and meaningful design details to someone while also ensuring it is something they will not easily tire of or want to change within a short time.

The start of a new year is always exciting and can be a great time to tackle new home design projects and freshen up our living spaces… here’s to ringing in 2020 with a bang!

Power of the Powder Room

One of the most common questions I get as a designer is where clients should spend to get the most impact for their money. One of the best places to start is often one of the most forgotten…the powder room.  The term “powder room” came into existence during the 18th century and referred to a closet sized room where people could go to apply extra powder to their wigs. While it is typically small, it is one of the spaces most visible and visited when people are entertaining and can really set the stage for the rest of your home. 

Many times, clients want to use more expensive plumbing fixtures and marble or quartz for countertops but are concerned about their project going over budget quickly.  Instead of using them in upstairs or guest rooms that may rarely be seen, a powder room can be a great place to utilize these materials, making it easier to control cost.   There are also a few design tricks we can employ when working in smaller spaces, such as adding a mirrored ceiling to create the illusion that the room is larger. Console vanities have also become very popular choices for powder and half baths because they do not take up much space and can serve as a great focal point for the room.  Lighting is also key, as guests often visit to “powder their nose” and check their appearance.  

I am a big advocate for using wallpaper in powder rooms and do so on a regular basis. A bright and busy pattern that would be overbearing in a large room is often perfect for this space.  Animal prints are still very on trend and can add character and definition to a powder room.  Grasscloth is also a great option, and with choices ranging from traditional to patterned metallics, the options are endless!  Wallpaper can be pricey but by putting it in a smaller space, you get a big statement with a better price tag.  When installed correctly, and with the right lighting and accents, a powder room can be transformed into the  little “jewel box” of your home.  

The powder room is a great space to take some design risks and have a little fun by using a bold piece of art, a unique mirror, wallpaper or statement lighting.  It can really be a place to let your own personal aesthetic shine and often ends up being one of the favorite rooms of the home.

this is forty

It has been awhile since my last post and in the past few months I have been working on some exciting projects including living room updates, children’s spaces and kitchen remodels. What has been amazing for me to continue to observe along the way is how elements of design are always around us and how they help to shape our views of the world. Perhaps I have been keeping myself busy trying to escape the reality that a milestone birthday was approaching…the BIG 4-0. On our annual family trip to Rosemary Beach in June my (several years younger) sister pointed this out and was so kind to let me know that she wanted to plan a special birthday dinner to celebrate. I was completely honored and knew I was in good hands due to the facts that my sister has impeccable taste and also that she happens to count Dori Waller, an incredibly talented event planner, as one of her dearest friends.

One of the first big decisions was where to have this special evening and Dori immediately recommended the Schermerhorn Symphony Center here in Nashville. I was intrigued as I have attended some fabulous large events there and because it holds a special place in my heart as my husband’s company was part of the team that helped to create this magnificent structure. In fact, one of the first performances held there in 2006 was a concert for the individuals who helped to build the Schemerhorn and we were fortunate enough to have the opportunity to attend. We considered a few restaurants and other venues for the dinner but Dori felt like a room in the Schemerhorn would provide a more intimate, private setting for a special birthday dinner with close friends and family. This leads me back to my initial musings on the realization that our own personal design aesthetic is constantly evolving and influencing our choices in how we decorate, dress, party plan, etc.

Photo Cred: Alec Hermer

One of my favorite photos (it has occupied a space on my Pinterest page for a number of years) is one of Tory Burch in her Manhattan Apartment on Fifth Avenue. This apartment, decorated by Daniel Romualdez, has been reprinted in many different publications, most recently being Architectural Digest, and has served as great inspiration for me. Tory Burch is such a style and fashion icon…timeless and classic beauty at its best. I have long-loved pretty much everything blue-and-white: china, fabric, books, etc. and I come by it honestly…you should see my mother’s house! Of course I love all of the blue-and-white accent pieces on the mantle, wall and tables but it is the soft, grassy green wallpaper and layering of various greens on lampshades and trim, that truly “make” this beautiful room in my opinion. Using this as our “jumping off point” for my special evening, I took as a sign when I saw photos from the Schermerhorn and the “Green Room” was available!

Pretty much anyone who knows me knows that I ADORE the work of the extremely talented duo of Nico And Lala and count on them for all of my paper needs. They helped to design my company logo and were familiar with my blue-and-white obsession, which made things easy! For the invitations, they incorporated the perfect shades of blue and green, a custom watercolor logo and mailed them in moss lined blue mailer boxes with custom stamps and calligraphy.

menu cards with hand calligraphy added a personal touch to each place setting

I worked with Dori and the team at the The Social Office and loved the idea of using linens in a soft greens and accenting with blue-and-white centerpieces for our table. We enlisted expertise of our family friend, the incredible Mark O’Bryan, and the Tulip Tree to fill those pieces with beautiful fresh flowers in varying shades of white and green. I wanted simple, understated, yet fabulous, and they delivered!

Dori never misses a single detail, and to complete our beautiful table she selected blue glassware from Vintage Vessels, and my favorite, the most gorgeous “Charleston” dining chairs from Please Be Seated rentals. Please Be Seated is Nashville’s premier vendor for luxury rentals and is owned by Paul and Mary Huddleston, who are an incredibly talented couple who happen to be our neighbors!

Finally, a perfectly styled table deserves nothing less than an incredible meal prepared by none other than Kristen Winston Catering. Kristin created a “visual feast” including a butter lettuce wedge with poached shrimp, pan-seared Chilean sea bass and frozen key lime mousse that had guests pining for more!

Two weeks have passed and I am still smiling from the memories created that evening. I will forever be grateful to my sister, Dori ,and the host of others who wanted to make my “introduction to forty” such a special one. They each considered my love of design and appreciation of timeless and classic details, and collectively worked to bring my vision to life!

Reset and Refresh!

The ball has dropped, Santa has delivered his toys, the decorations are down (or in the process) and many of us are left looking around our house thinking, “what has happened here?”  I used to be sad for weeks once the Christmas tree was gone, leaving with it all of its color and the warm glow of white lights illuminating the entire living room twenty-four hours a day.  The mantle, once covered with thick greenery, holly berries, and beautiful bows, is left looking stark and cold, with every little scratch and imperfection noticed even more now that it is left to stand alone.  

As much as I do love Christmas decor and all the joy it brings, I am choosing to see this new year (and bare house) as a chance to enjoy the clean freshness that comes with a clear perspective on things I might want to tweak to make my living spaces more pleasing to the eye.  Of course, always remember that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and what is right for one home may not be for another.   

With the new year comes resolutions and they often (at least for me) include things that I would like to change about my home.  Many times, we like a lot of what we see in our living spaces, but just think something doesn't feel right, or we have simply tired of looking at the same backdrop for too long.  I am learning from clients that this is often the case and it is time to make some new choices.  Maybe it is a trendy fabric that you picked five years ago, a paint color you have fallen out of love with, or a bare space on the wall that continues to stare at you everyday beckoning for something to make it feel “finished”…we all have been there and it can feel overwhelming to begin.  Whether it be updating the paint, new upholstery, adding some art or changing out the lighting, making small changes here and there can make a large impact on the overall look of a space.  I believe in putting fresh twists on classic design principles in order to create spaces that can be enjoyed and appreciated for years and there is no time like the present to begin!

Instead of a “redo” I prefer, “refresh” and below is a sneak peek of some exciting ones in the works at Jessica Jennings Design. I am so excited about this new year and all of the opportunities ahead in 2017!  

 

 

In Business!

Well, after many months of planning, thinking and praying, I finally made the big decision to launch “Jessica Jennings Design”.  This is something that I have dreamed about for a long time and it is very exciting to see it finally come to fruition.  

My passion for design started at a young age and it has continued to grow and evolve over the years.  Creating beautiful yet livable spaces is the driving force behind this leap of faith and I feel like you can never go wrong with timeless and classic style.  I have spent many hours ensuring that the logo design and website are a good representation of my design aesthetic and provide a platform upon which to display my work. This is not to say that there have not been some challenges along the way but the good news is that it has solidified my decision that this is a career that I feel called to pursue and I have learned a great deal though out this entire process of setting up a new business. 

“Jessica Jennings Design” offers a variety of design services that can be adapted based on a client’s needs.  There are many exciting things on the horizon, including a big announcement in the upcoming weeks!  Also, I look forward to sharing several new projects including a “Living Room Refresh” and a “Nursery to Big Boy Room” that will be coming soon.  Finally, I am very thankful for the help and encouragement of family and friends and am looking forward to 2017 and all that it will bring!

Let There Be Light

 

There are so many different components that go into the overall feel of a home, but lighting for me is one of the most important.   A house can have beautiful curb-appeal and a perfectly designed interior but be improperly lit and the entire aesthetic is thrown off.  Likewise, poor choices in lighting fixtures or using ones that do not compliment one another can also affect the overall feel because it is often the first thing you see when entering a home.This can be a real challenge in an older home because of low ceilings and smaller room size. Today many homes are designed with more open floor plans, allowing rooms to flow from one into the next, with strategic window placement. With new construction it can be easier to control, as you are able to design based on how much natural light you will receive and whereto add lighting sources for darker areas. Personally, I feel like it is nearly impossible for there to be TOO much light in a home and truly believe that it is worth investing your time and resources into making sure that it is correct.  Often in design/builds, lighting budgets are much too low (I learned this twice from personal experience) and have to be adjusted along the way.  I remember several unpleasant conversations with the hubby when we had to revise original electrical estimates.  It can be a bit pricey to add can lights and outlets for lamps and other lighting sources but I have never regretted these decisions and think they are good investments. 

The amount of light in a room can affect the how various textiles can be perceived, causing them to appear darker than they actually may be.  This should be taken into account when selectingfabrics and styles for window treatments. Heavy draperies can really darken a space and I am a huge fan of plantation shutters for this reason, as they allow you to control the amount of natural light a room will receive while also ensuring the desired amount of privacy.  In our current home, I had a beautiful fabric pulled for window treatments but ended up leaving our entire back wall of main living area open because I love all of the natural light.  Sconces can be very simple, yet important lighting additions, especially in smaller spaces.  Outdoor lighting is also very important and should be chosen to compliment the exterior of the home.  For example, I love homes from Louisiana and Charleston areas, so gas lanterns are nearly always a favorite.

A carefully selected light fixture can really service as a focal point in a room and some lighting companies will allow you to custom order (typically for an additional cost) to match the brand and paint color of your choice.  Thankfully, there are many fabulous lighting sources available today both online and in design showrooms.

As with most everything in a home, investing on the front end (if possible) will pay off in the long run.  It has often been said in the design industry that “lighting is the jewelry of the room” so make wise choices and let your light shine!

The “New” Old House

Given the fact that you have chosen to visit “Something Old, Something New”, it will probably come as no surprise that my first post is about making a new home feel as though it has been around for many years…in a good way.  This has been a very popular and highly-discussed topic for a while now in the design world, with numerous articles and books being written  on the subject.  It is a very personal one for me, as we have built two homes in the past eight years and adding “old” features into a new structure can be quite the challenge to undertake.  While I enjoy many of the newer amenities found in homes currently being built today, I have always had an appreciation for the things that give a house “character” if you will.  Russell Versaci states it best in his book, Creating a New Old Houses when he says, “A new old house combines the emotional comforts of yesterday with the creature comforts of today.”

I suppose I come by this honestly after watching my parents spend many painstakingly difficult years designing and then building a “New Orleans Style” home that they have now enjoyed for the past twenty-two years.  They enlisted A. Hays Town, a famous Architect who passed away in 2005, along with Al Jones, one of his protégés, and ended up with a design that was perfect for them and authentic to the homes you see across the low country regions.  Now, this was a LONG and sometimes frustrating process but the end result was worth the wait.  In this welcoming and well-loved home, my parents have hosted many happy occasions, including the weddings of both daughters.   My inspiration comes from this childhood home, and from having the incredible opportunity to watch an architect and a designer, who have perfected their crafts, do it correctly.  

In my opinion, one of the biggest challenges is taking the design concept from start to finish and keeping true to the style of the home desired.  From the building materials used to the landscape design, the art is to keep everything consistent, timeless and classic.

Unfortunately according to Versaci, “Most of the new houses are cookie-cutter copies and ordinary” and “Many of today’s homebuilders seem to have lost touch with the principles of the old way of building.”  “Keenly aware of the attraction of old architectural styles, the faux traditional house has become universal in subdivisions across the country.”

This concept of “faux traditional” really resonates with me after disappointing visits with architects and even our own builder that resulted in designs and materials that were not always in keeping with the style of our home but were much easier for them to produce and to keep a house on the building schedule.  

How do you start from scratch and end up with the desired product of a “New” Old House?  Well, this is something that I am still trying to navigate but have learned a few things over our past building experiences that I do think are helpful and can be implemented to achieve the desired result:

• Old Brick (Porches, Fireplace, Mudroom )
• Old Beams on Ceilings
• Slate
• Landscaping
• Mixture of Exterior Materials
• Simple/Streamlined Woodwork (Cabinets, Columns)

 The ultimate goal is to “create the patina of age” (again by Versaci)  so that a new home will still have the quality and feel of one that has been around for hundreds of years. 

This probably goes without saying, but I also feel strongly that the interior accents also play a key role in “finishing” a house and helping to create the feel of a well-loved home even if it is new construction.  Never underestimate the power of a well-placed antique rug or stack of old books.  My parents’ longtime friend and designer Ellen Dupps was instrumental in the entire building process.  Her skillful knowledge of mixing and layering fabrics, while incorporating antiques in keeping with the French country style, all combined to complete the desired effect and one that has the “flow” we all instinctively desire when we enter a home.

What I have learned:

Pictures! + Patience! + Perserverance! = PATINA!!!