We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jenna Steckler. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jenna below.

Jenna, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. How has Covid changed your business model?

When the pandemic hit, I had a few new projects I had recently begun. My normal process had always been to have every meeting in person. Since the quarantine made in-person meetings impossible, I turned to zoom to keep my projects moving along. For sharing floorplans, 3D renderings, and anything else that is on my computer, I actually prefer using Zoom vs meeting in person. It’s easier for my clients to see what is on my screen. For a final presentation, however, there are a lot of things to show clients in addition to the floorplans and 3D renderings. There are fabric samples, wood, and metal finish samples, stone, tile, paint, etc. During quarantine, I would request two sets of every sample and deliver a set to my client in advance of our Zoom presentation. I had to carefully label everything for them to make it as easy as possible. While I am back to doing final presentations in person, I now am doing my initial concept and floorplan meetings over Zoom with clients and it is effective and efficient!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Jenna Steckler. I have always been artistic and creative and while my intent was to pursue a career in the creative arts, I veered off into a more “practical” direction and ended up with a marketing degree. I worked in corporate sales for fifteen years and then resigned to take care of my growing family. During those years I became obsessed with becoming an interior designer. I decided it was time to take action and make a career out of my passion. After earning a certificate in design and working as an assistant to a prominent DC-based designer, I went out on my own and have never looked back.

Jenna Steckler Interiors is a full-service design firm based in Bethesda, Maryland. We specialize in creating homes with elegance and edge. We incorporate high style with warm and inviting vibes, with a turnkey experience our clients love.

My clients are busy professionals and executives who often have tried to decorate their homes on their own. After costly mistakes, not getting the wow factor they are after, and realizing they do not have the time nor the patience to deal with decisions and logistics, they hire me. My clients are people who see the value in outsourcing anything that will allow them to reclaim their free time and keep their minds focused on the things they do best. These are people who have spent a lot to buy their homes and realize that their spaces need more than a few pieces of furniture to maximize the joy and comfort they want to feel when they walk in the door after a busy day.

Hiring a designer can be intimidating for people. People feel vulnerable opening their homes to someone who they feel might judge them or talk down to them. Prospective clients sometimes warn me of the state of their homes. I tell them that I am there to help them, not for them to impress me. I have a down-to-earth attitude and tend to attract the same type of clients. My business background has helped me understand how to run a sustainable and organized business that will allow me to continue to service my clients for years to come.

I can work with any style and intuitively know what a client will love, even if they don’t know what they want. My designs aesthetically fall somewhere in the middle of maximalist and minimalist. Even though every design is different, my designs tend to have just enough texture, pattern, and accessories to keep things interesting without feeling over the top. What is most rewarding to me is experiencing my clients’ reactions when they see the big reveal. I have had clients hug me, shriek with excitement, and even shed a few tears of happiness when they see their results. 

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

Referrals! My first paying client lived in my neighborhood. From there, people would see her house and that led to more projects. As I would get referred to clients, I would meet their contractors on-site who realized that I was helpful in making their projects go much faster as I locked down finishes, paint colors, etc. So these contractors would bring me into their other projects. Real estate agents have been a fantastic source of referrals as well.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

While I love admiring the end results of my work, the most rewarding thing is that I get to use my natural creative ability to solve problems for my clients. Clients don’t always even know what the specific problem is. They may use general terms like the space feels awkward or icky. I can pinpoint the issue and do something creative to fix it.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.jennasteckler.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennastecklerinteriors
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenna-steckler-98370813/