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

Jenna, appreciate you joining us today. Can you tell us the backstory behind how you came up with the idea?

The idea for my residential design studio didn’t happen in one dramatic “aha” moment. In fact, when I was in design school, I swore I would NEVER do residential design! It’s funny how circumstances and intuition can dramatically shift your mindset.

For nearly a decade, I worked in the corporate design world: commercial interiors, multifamily, student housing — big projects with big teams and detailed processes. I loved the structure, the precision, and the complexity of that environment. But over time, something in me shifted. I found myself craving a different kind of impact, one that felt more personal. I wanted to design spaces that shaped someone’s daily routines, their habits, their sense of comfort and connection. Homes do that in a way that commercial spaces simply don’t.

At the same time, my personal life was evolving behind the scenes. I was preparing to start a family and the reality of the corporate structure just didn’t align with the kind of presence I wanted to have at home. I wanted flexibility, and I wanted the freedom to build something that matched both my creative vision and the lifestyle I was stepping into.

But the thing that really made it feel like a worthwhile endeavor is my genuine passion for interior design. It’s not just something I’m good at, it’s something I literally dream about. It’s woven into the way I experience the world. It’s how I analyze spaces, notice details, solve problems in my head before anyone else sees them. Design is part of how I think, how I observe, how I interact with everything around me. The idea of building a business around something so deeply ingrained in who I am felt not only logical, but almost inevitable. And beneath that passion was the practicality: I had spent ten years building skills that translated organically into residential work. Commercial design had given me a level of discipline, organization, technical knowledge, and communication skills that weren’t always common in the residential world. The combination of my passion for design and the rigor of my commercial training became the thing that made me believe I could actually succeed.

Jenna, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m a Registered Interior Designer with a small studio based in Austin, but my love for design started way before college. As a child, I was very artistic – excelled in art class, took extracurricular oil painting classes, and was sketching constantly. The tell-tale sign: rearranging my bedroom furniture basically every other weekend. I was always in search of the absolute best way to configure my little corner of the house. I was teaching myself about flow, balance, and space planning before I even knew what those things were. Side note: I still rearrange furniture in my house these days more than I’d like to admit. Ask my husband!

I studied Interior Design at Texas State University but the real experience came when I got an internship during my last semesters of college. I consider myself lucky to have been immersed in the design world before I graduated because I gained invaluable, real-world experience that set the stage for my future in the industry. I ended up getting hired so I must have done something right!

Today, in my own business, most clients come to me overwhelmed by decisions, unsure where to start, or worried about making expensive mistakes. I simplify the process by curating options, creating clear plans, offering visuals, and bridging communication with contractors so nothing gets lost along the way. I’m big on prioritization and value—helping people invest where it truly counts while still keeping their vision at the forefront.

My passion for design, combined with years of commercial-level experience, allows me to marry creativity with clear communication. A successful design isn’t just about having a strong concept, it’s about ensuring every detail is understood, coordinated, and executed exactly as intended.

At the core of my brand is creative problem-solving—I use it in every design I touch. I’m proud of the ability to take someone’s goals, preferences, and dreams and translate them into a beautiful work of art. My approach is always rooted in balancing vision and value, creating spaces that feel deeply personal while also making strategic sense for the home. That balance is where the magic happens, and it’s what drives every project I take on.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding part of being a creative is knowing the impact my work has on other people’s lives. Our environments have the power to shift our mood, our energy, our sense of calm. Helping someone transform their home into a space that genuinely supports them feels incredibly meaningful. There’s something really special about being trusted for your expertise and seeing how much clarity and excitement it brings to the end-user.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My creative journey is driven by a really simple mission: to build a career that never feels like something I dread. Life is too short to spend your days doing work that drains you. There’s that old saying, “If you do something you love, you’ll never work a day in your life,” and while I think most of that is true, every job has its unglamorous parts. But for me, interior design keeps creativity at the center of my everyday life, and that’s what matters most. I never want to lose that spark. My goal is to always enjoy the work I’m doing, stay inspired, and protect the passion that got me into this field in the first place. When creativity stays alive, the work feels meaningful—and that’s the kind of career I want to continue building.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jennacaradonnadesign.com/
• Instagram: @jcaradonna_design
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenna-caradonna-rid-54570b24/

Image Credits

First 5 images: Bryce Vandergriff (Bryce Vandergriff Studio)
Last 3 images: Kim Jones (Kim Jones Interior Photography)