Meet Jen!
Jen's spot for inspirations, inside her life as designer and artist. I share progress, tips on sources, spaces that inspire and how to push the boundaries of every space.
Be brave, and go for it.
xo, Jen
Instagram is the best place to source fresh work. I still love Pinterest as a search engine for visuals, but it has become a bit stale for new current work that is happening in the design world.
There are a couple go to’s of our first place to be inspired.
Not sure when my love of wallpaper will end. I have spent countless hours sourcing new indie designers with a fresh perspective. Just when I think I have seen it all I come across classics. I love the place of discovery. Current wallpaper crush and a few selections from Peirre Frey and Dedar and a few of my other current favorites.
Anyone who has ever worked in an office, designed an office, or sat in an office before knows this struggle. Pretty and practical do not meet in Office chairs. We have all seen the Knoll, Steelcase, an Herman Miller office chair solutions. They are some of the best office chairs on the market. Only issue is that they are not terribly attractive. We searched the market and curated a few chairs we guarantee meet all your needs.
For more inspiration, take a look at our Pinterest board: Attractive and Ergonomic Chairs
Author: Sydney Piwowar
Benjamin Moore released a new line of paint in 2017 called Century. It is the world’s first Soft Touch Matte Finish paint with never-before-seen depth in 75 exclusive colors. We are obsessed with the level of depth in these colors and find it is very comparable to the infamously expensive Farrow & Ball line. The best part of these soft, cozy colors is that they are curated to look good all year long. See our Top 5 below!
We were all in shock when the trend hit in early 2017 and have been drooling over them since. Black powder coated steel framed glazed partitions. In other words, those beautiful black framed window walls that we are seeing in interior spaces. After the swoon faded, I discovered a very practical issue with these walls… Arent walls supposed to separate spaces and provide privacy? Well, not these ones. The goal of these window walls are to separate zones in space without compromising on light, still maintaining the open feel of the space. To prove it to you, I have rounded up our top 5 favorite PRACTICAL applications for these.
Interstitial spaces can be a pain to design. Often, they become this weird in-between space with no purpose other than to offer a transition in space. These glass walls offers a connection from the outside in, making a smoother and aesthetically pleasing transition.
Anyone who has ever owned a studio apartment or condo knows the struggle of defining zones within a larger, open space. We have seen endless Ikea temporary hacks, but for those who are in it for the long run, this offers a solution that embraces your small space.
Since the development of open concept, our clients have come to us with lots of noise control issues. Families are finding that noise carries through the house in unwanted areas. No one wants to hear the kids playing cops and robbers while you’re trying to make a work call in our home office. These glazing walls offer create barrier between spaces, blocking some sound, and separating quiet spaces like your office.
It sounds contradictory to build a wall to open up the space, but this glazing wall offers a protective railing for the stairs without the cluttered, repetitive lines of balusters.
There are some spaces, like mudrooms, that unfortunately receive a lot of light as they are connected to the exterior of the home, but get VERY messy. Frosted glass partitions offer a way to carry in that light without seeing the mess! This can be a great solution for spaces like kids play rooms, pantries, offices, etc.
This is a steel and glass wall we did for a modern condo in the West Loop to split the master bedroom from the main living area. We also had custom cast brass door handles made.
Author: Sydney Piwowar
I have decided to start a series called Design Details where I touch on the details of a space. There are so many little things that effect your every day life that people don’t think about. This week topic is: Toilet Paper Holders!! Yep. That’s right. Everyone has a specific method they prefer (upright, side ways, open ended, spring bar, etc.) Who knew there were so many options?!
I have curated a list of a few of my favorites to liven up a very practical detail in design.
Chrome:
Black:
Brass:
Wood:
Author: Sydney Piwowar
Some people have those rooms where you better not get caught with your feet on the table - we encourage COMFORT at JTD. If you can't live in your home, then your home isn't right for you. Ottomans are essential for kicking up your feet and settling in after a long day. Not only are they very practical, but can be beautiful accessories. Take a look at a few of our favorites for getting cozy this fall!
The best part about ottomans is that in small spaces, they can double as an extra seat! Here are a few sturdy stools we love for their functionality and looks!
For more inspiration, go to our Pinterest page: Ottomans + Stools
Author: Sydney Piwowar
Contrast trim became famous for providing non-contractor grade options for trim. It was a missed opportunity for years to provide another aspect of color and depth to space. Rather than just picking the base grade or what ever is cheapest at Home Depot, we encourage you to put an interesting spin on a building necessity. Here are our current Top 5 Favorite Contrast Trim Colors now.
We have all heard of the black trim trend at this point. At JTD, we appreciate the unique ways people are using black in space. Here is a great space where the designer chose to trim a unique white wallpaper with black.
Although providing a visual contrast, this soft grey brings a sense of comfort into the space.
We love the way this emerald toned trim compliments the original stained glass windows. This is a great way to modernize traditional spaces.
If your kids are anything like I was, they constantly want to update their room. An easy, non permanent way to do that is to paint trim. No need for painting or wallpapering whole walls.
This soft, baby blue paint color was pulled to compliment the paper pattern.
Author: Sydney Piwowar
When you go out for a night on the town with your pre-planned outfit you've been waiting to wear, you never go out without jewelry. It is what completes the outfit, right? At JTD, we see side tables the same way. There is no need to wear your old jewelry to a black tie event and there is no need for lame side tables. Here are a few attractive (and practical) side tables to liven up your space
We call this one the "anywhere table" because you could literally put this in any room and it would look good.
For a more classic approach, this cast bronze side table ages perfectly with a brown patina. This is a piece you will want to hand down for generations.
For a more rustic or natural look, a pop of wood in its nearly original state brings a very raw and organic feel to the space.
For those that need some storage to hide coasters, remotes, and all those not-so-pretty things.
Author: Sydney Piwowar
Sometimes when considering cabinet hardware, brass just isn't enough.. You know that phrase less is more? Sometimes more is more. Sometimes when we can't decide one, we decide both. You're probably thinking, "What the heck, you can't have multiple types of hardware on a cabinet." Well, you're right, that might look a little weird. But that doesn't mean your hardware only has to be one finish! Take a look at these amazing multi-colored cabinet hardware pieces and you'll know what I mean. They have a very classic, yet fresh approach to accessorizing cabinets.
Author: Sydney Piwowar
Now-a-days media consoles are mostly about aesthetics as most people no longer use DVDs and VHS players have gone extinct. There are still some needs for storage though as the modern family probably hides video and board games here. We have created a "Best Of" list according to 5 categories - including closed storage, open storage, bar storage, vintage charm, and funky flare. See our top 5 list below.
Author: Sydney Piwowar
The perfect bar or counter stool requires a balance of aesthetic, lumbar support, and seat comfort. We have curated a few of our favorites below that we believe contain that perfect harmony.
A backless stool allows for cleaner, more streamlined views as you can tuck it fully under a table or counter. This is perfect for spaces where you don't want to overcrowd the room visually. Here are a couple of our favorites!
Author: Sydney Piwowar
Brass is all the rage now, but at JTD we dont like to get stuck in the trends! Here is our guide to the best brass door hardware for a classic, timeless look.
Author: Sydney Piwowar
I have always been more of a visual person - so please let these 5 stones speak for themselves as reasons to consider other options than white marble.
Author: Sydney Piwowar
Growing up, my mother told me that as people, we have the tendency to look down a lot. She said to look up and it will give you a whole new perspective on the world. Design is similar. It is not limited to what sits on the floor in front of you and the walls around us - it includes the ceiling too! At JTD, we do not limit ourselves in this way, we consider the entire architecture of the space when designing.
We have curated a few of our favorite ceiling installations that are begging for your attention. These show stoppers will inspire you to start looking up. Let us know what you think of these inspiring, bold moves! Do you have the guts?
We love starting a new project with fabric and wallpaper selection. Opening a package of freshly sent samples is the best mail at the office. We love sourcing fresh prints and colors from new lines that are typically a small business run by an artist putting their ideas into print and paper.
A couple of our new favorites are St. Frank, Skinny Laminx, Imogen Heath, Adelene- Simple Cloth. Check out a couple inspiration boards we are working on for upcoming projects.
Plants are often overlooked as a potential element to design a space. Plants not only bring in needed color and life, but can be integral in finishing a space. Plant life is also a great way to keep the space fresh visually and satisfy the need to mix it up. One of the most popular "designer" plant trends is the Fiddle Fig tree. It has big waxy leaves on a long stem and is very sculptural.
Below are a couple examples of plants being used in the designing of the space. Imagine the rooms with out the plants or hold up your finger to block out the pops of green and see how different the space would feel without.
I love plants and find it relaxing to do my Spring plantings, but I also understand are not for the fait of heart and not everyone has a green thumb or patience to care for a plant. There a several companies that are doing a great job with high end artificial plants. They are not cheap, but the investment is a pay off verse killing a $180 – $250 Fiddle Fig tree several times over. One of my favorite companies is here.
In the last several years, I've noticed a trend in the striping of color from wardrobes and adding it to environments. Color can be tricky and much harder as a sweater paired with someones complexion. In art school students are first taught to draw in pencil, only using black and white- in order to understand highlights and low lights. If color is introduced too soon students are not able to get a full understanding of how light affects a shape and ultimately affects the color when finally applied.
The same rules apply when adding color into your space, be thoughtful and selective about which colors and how much color to add. Pick two colors and keep with those two mixed with neutrals. Feel free to use a variation on tones of the color you picked- meaning not all blue need to match to feel cohesive. If you mix the tones of blue, it will make the space feel more natural. Often times the use of selective color can make that highlighted color stand out more than if a multiple of colors were combined together.
Be Brave! xo, Jen
Dark painted cabinets are having a moment. A moment that I think is going to stick around for a awhile. We have spent 20 years in the beige range that dulled our senses and put us to sleep. It is an exciting time to be in design and see the marketed shift in peoples comfort zone. It's not like this is our first time in history experiencing dark cabinets. They pull from points in history of old drawing rooms and English libraries, which are rich, warm and inviting. For your first dark cabinet plunge, start with a dark neutral tone paint color, such as gray, blacks or navy. I couple of my go to favorites are Benjamin Moore Hale Navy, Farrow & Ball Hague Blue, Benjamin Moore French Beret or Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray.
xo, Jen
West Shore Dr Library
Hyde Park Butler Pantry
Hyde Park Family Room Built In
Author: Sydney Piwowar
Finding affordable, art can be hard.. it's expensive! To find affordable art that is original, is even harder. This is one of the main reasons why I love to embrace new, up and coming artists. Often these artists have not only a fresh, new look, but more reasonable prices too. It's a natural blend from my background in art installation, and I'm always on the hunt for the talented and promising artists. Here is a quick list of a couple of my current favorite up and coming artists.
