Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jessica Love. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Jessica, thanks for joining us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

Growing up, I had a great appreciation for finding the beauty and functionality in all things. I did not grow up wealthy, and I remember my family struggling to get by. I yearned for finer things in life as I grew older, but because we couldn’t afford them, I did my best to beautify our everyday, ordinary things. I was the first in my family to attend college, and I dedicated myself to building inspirational and functional spaces every opportunity I had. I truly grasped how design and aesthetics can change lives at all ages and incomes, so I poured my energy into not only creating Urbane Design for private clients, but also my nonprofit, Design Changes Lives. I believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to create a special space that reflects their personal style, comfort, and needs.

Jessica, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I truly believe that having a space that reflects your desires and preferences is important for the creativity and inspiration of each person. Growing up I was told that interior design and art was a luxury; however, I passionately feel that these spaces and works of art are necessary for personal development and growth in life. As a graduate of Sam Houston State University with a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design, I learned the rules of the trade at a young age so that I can now strategically break them. I believe in individuality over trends and work to bring my clients’ personalities through each design. I pride myself on being intensely creative and highly adaptable, and these traits have built a loyal clientele over the past eighteen years who value my transparency and ease when it comes to the design process.

At Urbane Design we specialize in remodels, new builds, and furniture. Our services include concept development, space planning, finish specification and finish determination, paint and color determination, photorealistic 3D renderings, furniture specification, custom furniture, custom drapery, custom bedding, and art procurement.

I believe that confidence in our lives begins with a well-designed, carefully thought out home. I strive to bring a sense of empowerment not only to my clients, but to my community as well through volunteer positions with local nonprofits such as Big Brothers and Big Sisters. Additionally, I served on the board for Ten Thousand Villages and partnered with Austin Habitat for Humanity as the beneficiary of my annual music showcase, Open Door Showcase, during SXSW. As a huge animal lover with two rescue pups of my own, I have also volunteered with Austin Pets Alive! and Barkitecture.

Wanting to bring my own vision to life in the nonprofit space, I created a 501c3 nonprofit called Design Changes Lives, whose mission is to design spaces for children in order to build confidence, empower them, and to improve the quality of their lives. This nonprofit organization is something extremely close to my heart, and something that I would have truly benefited from as a child. By pairing local interior designers with a child in need, the designer listens to the child’s needs and desires, and provides a comprehensive design plan that will be carefully executed in order to improve the life and overall well-being of the child.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

When the recession hit in 2008, overnight our clients put a stop to their projects regardless of where they were in the process or how much they had already invested. Every single person pulled out of our agreement, and I learned many lessons as a business owner during that season. I thought of closing our doors temporarily and working for a larger design firm until the economy solidified, but I quickly discovered that no one was hiring. It got to the point where I was calling clients and asking if I could clean their home to make ends meet.

In 2009, hopeful that the economy started to recover, I acquired a previously established design firm, excited to work with new clientele and get back to doing what I love. However, the business partner I had at the time fell through, and all of the new clients we took over after purchasing that business put a stop to their projects as well. Many of their designs had previously been put on hold because of the recession, and once owners of the business changed, everyone dropped out once again.

I was trying everything I could possibly think of to get up and running again, but I learned that I have little control when the economy goes awry. Determined to rebuild once again, I took inventory of everything I learned over the years as a designer and business owner, and I focused intensely on our core values. I relocated to Austin and we grew slowly, intentionally, and we learned to safeguard ourselves against future economic recessions. When COVID-19 arrived and changed the world, we of course took a hit like everyone else. However, because of all the previous lessons learned, we were able to not only stay afloat, but we continued to grow exponentially.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

We believe in being transparent, honest, and working with integrity. We want our clients to be fully prepared for all costs, time estimates, and hiccups that might come up in a project. The design process should be fun and full of creativity, and we encourage our clients to ask any questions they may have.

We are dedicated to seeing a project through from concept to completion, and we celebrate the unique and collaborative ideas our clients want to develop with us. It’s our desire to create a space that is reflective and empowering of our clients’ taste and preferences. This shines through in the relationships we’ve built and the trust we have gained over the years.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://urbanedesignstudios.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theurbanedesign/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theurbanedesign/?fref=ts&ref=br_tf
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/urbanedesign/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/UrbaneIDesign
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuQrAG2XI5I5HGR7y1r_UlA
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/urbane-design-austin

Image Credits
Molly Culver