Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Rhode
Hi Jennifer, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I did not take a direct path to becoming an interior designer. After growing up in Northern California, I spent my twenties working in fashion in New York City, first for Calvin Klein, and later as a free-lance wardrobe stylist where I dressed people for photo shoots, commercials and a couple of TV shows. During my early thirties I was back in San Francisco working as a window stylist for Banana Republic. I loved that job because the mannequins were very easy to work with – they never lied about their size or complained about their outfits, like the actors sometimes did. The rest of my thirties were spent in Amsterdam where I had my two babies and remodeled our canal house. I was completely inspired by the the Dutch design aesthetic of creating modern, streamlined interiors in buildings that are hundreds of years old. I also loved the Dutch concept of “gezellig” which means cozy, but in a more comprehensive way. When we moved back to the states and I was ready to work again, I decided to focus on interiors, rather than clothing. I wanted to create a feeling of “modern gezellig” in my family home and later in the homes of my clients.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I don’t think any road is ever smooth. One of my first challenges was realizing that designing homes encompasses a lot more than creating beautiful spaces… there’s accounting and delays and marriage counseling and all kinds of other obstacles and frustrations. I learned early on that I needed support and hired a brilliant accountant. I also started cultivating a whole network of helpful vendors, builders, artists, photographers and craftspeople to lean on and learn from. Each project is unique and I am constantly growing and learning.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
I have an interior design business that I began in Boulder, Colorado. I am so excited to share that I am moving my business back to my home state of California in June 2024. I work on both residential and commercial projects. I think something that sets me apart from other designers is that I work with my clients to create warm, personal spaces that reflect their loves and interests. I want to showcase their heritage pieces, their children’s art, their family photos, whatever is important to them. At the same time, I like to create highly edited, modern spaces that are calm and give the eye places to rest. I also love collaborating with artists and connecting them with my clients. I like to help my clients find art that is meaningful to them – whether it is depicting something they love or made by someone they can meet or represents a special time in their lives.
In addition to my design business I have a blog: https://www.jenniferrhode.com/blog My posts toggle between interviews with artists, product round-ups, design stories about my projects or stories about my cheeky children and my darling dog, Hank.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
This might not be too surprising given my profession, but I was absolutely obsessed with my dollhouse for most of my childhood. I sent away for little mail order kits to make tiny rockers or beds and assembled and painted them, I made all kinds of food out of colored clay and I spent all of my allowance money at a local dollhouse shop called “Mz. McFizz.” I had a huge family of stuffed mice who lived in the house and one summer I sat at my father’s typewriter and wrote up their whole history – how they immigrated to America and made their fortune with a cheese shop. Given how much I liked furnishing and arranging their home, I guess it’s not surprising that I ended up working in interiors.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jenniferrhode.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenniferrhode/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jenniferrhodedesign
- Other: blog: https://www.jenniferrhode.com/blog
Image Credits
Heather Knierim of HBK Photography