We were lucky to catch up with Jackie Barnes recently and have shared our conversation below.

Jackie, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

In April 2020, a third of the Wendel family’s cherished home was destroyed when a tornado swept through my neighborhood of Wyoming in Cincinnati, OH. Renovating and redesigning this home was non-negotiable.

The Wendels took this devastating turn of events and decided to bring to life a new chapter for their home and family. They didn’t want to put their home back together exactly as it was before the tornado hit. They wanted to recreate a home that would be truly functional, which would require adding on some extra square footage.

Carrie Wendel worked closely with her contractor to create the layout of their new space while I helped apply the finishing touches (paint, tile, fixtures, furnishings).

Carrie and I met in 1986, both having recently moved into a newly developed neighborhood on the west side of Cincinnati. There was rarely a day that we were not together riding bikes, creating mixed cassette tapes, or weaving pot holders and friendship bracelets. Through the years she and I parted ways in high school and college, but reunited again exactly 30 years later. We literally ran into each other while walking with our 7-year-old daughters (the SAME AGE as when Carrie and I first met) who were participating in a Fourth of July parade in our small neighborhood of Wyoming in Cincinnati, OH. Since then our friendship has remained close.

Given the devastation that the home suffered during the storm, there was so much to do, so here’s a breakdown of how the Wendel home rose from the ashes!

We took that cramped laundry room/closet and constructed a stand-alone laundry room for the family. Again, we designed this home with functionality in mind. A dual-purpose laundry room can quickly become overwhelming if not meticulously maintained.

The old laundry room/closet became a wet bar!

The master bedroom’s ceilings originally stood at 7-feet, a typical style for less modern design. We increased that height to create cathedral-style ceilings.

We completely redesigned the master bath to include a freestanding tub and a double shower! This was one of the most beautiful designs we implemented in the Wendel home. Where there once was only a shower, now there is a gorgeous bathroom area with multiple options for bathing as well as a walk-in closet.

Last, we knocked out the front entryway to potentially make room for a U-shaped driveway. I also picked out colors to paint over the exterior yellow color and redesign the roof of the home.

My main objective was to help my friend in need.

When the project first kicked off, Carrie was understandably overwhelmed. We were embarking on a journey that would involve completely remodeling a huge portion of her home, and it was never going to happen overnight. But in Carrie’s own words, “[It was] overwhelming until I would meet with Jackie, and she was able to put my mind at ease. I had too many decisions to make, and she would help me through making [those] decisions. She was able to organize this project, and this was something I desperately needed.”

Taking on a project － no matter the client － requires an immense amount of trust. And I know that doesn’t come easy for all clients. But Carrie knew she was in good hands as we watched her home rise from its own rubble. The seemingly endless decisions and problem solving that naturally goes with redesigning a home were the last things she and her family needed. I know she would have done the same for me, so I stepped in.

The project took 14 months. Yes, that is the reality of completing a design project in a COVID world. But she and her family were so happy and excited to get back into their new rooms and start over!

According to the Wendel family, their goals and hopes were met. They wanted to make sure, in the end, that all of the new spaces in their home would easily flow and tie in together as we decorated different rooms. But most importantly, this family wanted to keep the character of their 1937 house. And why wouldn’t they?! I love an older home! So, we took those goals and hopes and made them a reality.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I’ve lived in Cincinnati all my life. Growing up, I moved between the West side of Cincinnati, Hyde Park, Columbia Tusculum and now I’ve settled in Wyoming, Ohio. Because the city values a rich tradition and culture, when people come here, they usually end up staying.

In fact, it seems to me that everything in Cincinnati is made to last. There is an obvious interest in history here, which comes through in the way our homes are constructed and designed. We value quality over extravagance, seeking materials and pieces that will hold up to the test of time. We value family, friends and community.

My design philosophy includes 5 values and principles that I hold very dear to my heart.

1) Interior design needs to be more than pretty. Our environment has a crucial impact on our health, happiness, and way of life. That’s why spaces should be more than pretty — they should positively support your wellbeing by transforming the way you feel and interact with others in your home. This not only requires good design and smart solutions, but it also requires a mindful, whole-person and holistic family approach.

2) All products you purchase for your home should fit you and your family like a glove. A great designer doesn’t just bring your vision to life, they elevate it — leading to spaces that are perfectly tailored to you, spaces that make you say, “WOW. Why didn’t we do this sooner?” The goal is to bring out the full potential of your home by highlighting what you love most and customizing the rest through a creative — sometimes out-of-the-box — approach that will meet your needs and desires. In the end, you’ll have the home you’ve always wanted, one that can fit your unique lifestyle.

3) Interior design should be be valued as a smart investment, and not a pretentious one. Everyone deserves to live in a home that makes them feel good. That’s why interior design should be seen as a smart investment in necessary self-care — not a pretentious luxury. Devoting resources to a place you will spend so much of your life is a wise investment, and an intentional design process will ensure that you feel good about how that money gets budgeted.

4) We all deserve to enjoy the transformation that is taking place, which is why I hang my hat on providing white glove service. As a homeowner, you shouldn’t have to deal with the full-time stress and overwhelm that comes with figuring out and managing the many details of a renovation or redesign project. Instead, the customized transformation of your home should feel exciting and fun! You should be able to continue on with your life and focus on the things that matter most to you with full confidence that your home, money, and vision are well taken care of — with no details overlooked or resources wasted.

5) We need to be mindful of our impact. The simple truth is that the choices we make for our homes do impact the planet. It’s our responsibility to be as environmentally responsible as possible. We keep what you love, remake what you don’t but still works, and responsibly discard or donate the rest. We also make sure you love what we bring into your home so it can serve its purpose for many years to come.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I believe that everyone deserves a space that they feel safe, comfortable, and loved. If you walk into a space that has been curated, where all of the details have been tended to, decor intentionally placed, and fabrics and colors have been expertly chosen you feel important, you feel valued. The space has been shown love, and you inside that space feel that love.

It’s really very simple: interior design affects our mood. But more specifically, and most importantly, interior design affects our mental health. Everyone should pay attention to and desire a space that positively impacts their daily mood, mental health, and ultimately our physical health too. This passion is what keeps me going!

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

My most effective strategy for growing my clientele is focusing on my true passion, and caring about my clients. First, I needed to gain clarity on my messaging and my goal, which is tailoring forever homes for busy families, helping others understand how much their surroundings affect their mood and stress levels, and aiding in improving their lives as families and individuals. Second, I focus on the clients. I encourage them to communicate their vision and desires, then help them to execute that vision. Their needs and joy that they feel at the end of the project are what I set my sights on.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.jackiebarnesdesign.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jackiebarnesdesign/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackie-barnes-design/

Image Credits
Sarah Parisi Dowlin Parisi Images