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
We are up for a LUXE Magazine RED award and we would love your support by voting for us! Voting closes Jan. 24th, so please take a minute now. Vote under Chicago, Contemporary Modern Interior, Jen Talbot Design.
Thank you, thank you! We are really appreciate 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.
Doors are the best first impression and impact for not only the curb appeal but overall look of the home. Doors in the last 5-7 years have become a major design feature and no longer an after thought.
I typically lean a little more modern on doors, because we know they have been thoughtfully planned an executed. It’s about edited the impact of the front of the house and creating a lasting impression, the same can be for interior doors. Interiors doors can become the design showcase for any space.
We are so grateful for all of the incredible people we have been gifted to work with in 2019 and the last TEN years!! A TON has changed in my life in the last 10 years. I have cultivated and nurtured two strong, beautiful daughters that are just starting to come into their own, ended one business to start a new one, have been published multiple times in national publications and have continued to be authentically me and people have finally begun to take notice! I am exorbitantly blessed in my life as a creative person, mother and entrepreneur. Let’s GO 2020, I am READY for you!
End of the year wrap up with the move to neutrals that you will begin to see more in forefront this year. They have been gone since the late nineties and they are about to make a come back in full force. But like all come backs, they will be refreshed and reworked!
Pierre Frey- Tarangire 2. Kravet Couture 3. These Walls 4. Kerry Joyce Textile- Sandstone Channels 5. Custom Cabinet Front- Intelligent Spaces
Humble materials. Textures pulled from nature and the return to natural materials.
2. Interesting Wall covering.
3. Mix metals. Brass, bronze, keep it mixed.
4. Mixing Pattern. Large, small, organic, blocked. More the mix the better.
5. Neon is not dead. Get creative with neon, more as an art form over the usual text or phase.
We always love great hardware at JTD. We are continually on the search of good looking selections that also will not break the bank. The hardware budget can get out of hand quickly because there are some many pieces needed, especially in a kitchen.
Here are our TOP 5:
This one may take a long time to come from AUS but worth. Beautifully crafted.
We look at a lot of designers work from all over the world and across all creative fields- fashion, interiors, home goods, furniture, therefore we are able to see new trends emerging. There a different stages of trends. First they may start in another country such as Australia, little bits and hints of the trend starts to surface. Next, designers will start to embrace and begin to include in interiors. Lastly, it will reach the everyday consumer, such as we may start seeing the trend on the shelves of Target.
Here are our Top 5 trends to look out for in 2020.
SNAKES. Like them or not they are coming. We are loving this Frida wallpaper from Relativity Textiles.
Tigers- Animals never really go out of style, but right now they are everywhere. The Tiger in particular. We love this vintage guy.
Curves. Gone are the sharp corners and grid patterns, make way for the curves in furniture, pattern and print. This Horseshoe Side Table is a great example of how the trend has already integrated into “ready to wear” home furnishings.
Blush color or what I like to call it Dirty Pink. It’s not too bright and a bit muted. Love this wallpaper from These Walls from a recent install we did for a clients powder room.
Textured wall treatments. Is a great way to add interest without adding pattern, especially when you want to incorporate pattern in the furnishings. Love how this custom textured wall treatment turned out from Valhalan. We had them custom color match it to a Benjamin Moore paint and cut in 18 x 18 square sections which we installed every other square rotated to create more visual interest. The paper was originally intended to create almost stripes, but thought it would be more interesting if we broke up the lines.
Frida Snake
2. Tiger
3. Curved Horseshoe Side Table- CB2
4. Blush Color- These Walls wallpaper
5. Textured Wallpaper- Valhalan
We are so honored to be selected to participate in the Lake Forest Showhouse 2020. The Lake Forest Showhouse raises funding for the Infant Welfare Society. The showhouse is coveted invite of top designers in Chicago and the event and overall show is attended by influential Chicagoans.
We are planning to continue to be true to ourselves and stay in our lane which is curated modern spaces.
We are cooking up some great plans that incorporate custom wallpaper and show case local artist talents. Thrilled to include a couple of these insanely talented artisans.
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.
We just wrapped up a great home office makeover. This is not your average home office. This space was craved out of the space above the detached garage by the previous owner, but remained uninspired until we got our hands on it. We had a local artist paint a mural of a humpback whale, installed a light installation. We also incorporated muted green built in’s into an awkward side room. This providing natural office storage. Check out below.
I know we are not the only ones completely girl crushing on Kelly Wearstler. Let’s breakdown why we love her:
The Colors Are Just Right- She has an innate balance and eye for the right color. For example, It always seems like fresh new shade of cream. She is not inviting the wheel, she just demands for excellence in tweaking until it in 100% right.
The Proportions Are On Point- She plays with scale, that is with intent and creates interesting visuals. For example, by creating a back of a chair that seems over sized and even disproportionate to the rest of chair is interesting.
Draws From History- She pulls inspiration from line, shape and textures from her travels to Morocco, France and Italy, etc. If you know architecture the lines she uses are simple shapes distorted, again by scale, to create something innovative. She also pulls inspiration from vintage pieces from the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. These are not decades that have been reworked so much that they seem tired. Unlike our friend mid-century modern, that has been living among us for 20+ years. It is so dead. The 70’s and 80’s feel fresh again. Of course she is also extracting the best parts of your eras and modernizing it.
At the turn of the 20th Century, the Neoclassical Revival was in full swing. Chicago deeply embraced the movement. It represented stability and rebirth after a devastating fire ripped through the city. A style that was once reserved for public buildings trickled into residential homes.
From Hyde Park to the North Shore, our team has several projects on the books to revive these 100+ year old beauties. Rather than replicating a bygone era, we are pumping in fresh ideas. Say goodbye to stuffy wingbacks in dark corners, and hello to soaring ceilings with epic crown moulding! Take a look at our inspiration:
Salvage the intricate moulding and add quirky artwork.
Layer with modern furnishings and accessories. Source link.
You don’t have to live in the Sistine Chapel to enjoy a mural in your home. Overscaled wallpaper can offer the same flair. Check out Ashley Woodson Bailey’s collection of dramatic florals. Source link.
Parquet flooring in bad shape? Consider playing with a more modern pattern, like chevron. Source link.
I will forever have a soft spot for vintage rugs. But at one point in time and perhaps in a near future they will all be collected and sold. They will be gone. It has been harder to and harder to find the special ones that stand out from the usual. Here are a couple we have loved and used over the years. This is my favorite source.
Wilmette Livingroom
Adam St Loft
Wilmette Family Room
Bucktown Modern
In my early career, I starting by doing solely kids spaces, so when I get an opportunity to create one for a client it’s a natural place to slip into creatively.
My biggest goal is always a room the child can grow into. Mixing fun, educational, interactive elements that can be swamped out for a teen make over when the time comes.
We just wrapped up an install for a client in Hinsdale and love the results of this playroom. First image is where the ideas started and image two is a quick Iphone shot. Scroll down for source list.
Accessories are the key to rounding out a space. It is a critical piece to create a “well lived in” feeling and to personalizes a room. Accessories are much like a great pair of heels or chunky cuff bracelet to punch up a look. We are forever on the search for great accessories and have a private Pinterest board devoted to special finds we stumble on in our research in designing a home.
The happy combination of accessories is size, texture and layering. Key to any well styled accessory book shelf or coffee table is:
4-5 small to medium solid shapes.
Open and woven shapes, such as small sculptures, baskets, etc.
No glass vases. Solid colors create better silhouettes. Mix of the color and shapes, unless you are going for an intentional all white look. It will feel more organic and natural if they are different sizes and shapes.
Personal items, such as a clients collection of vintage coins or memories from travels.
Coffee table books and varied sizes of decorative storage boxes. These make great opportunities to create height.
Check out a couple of our current obsessions.
Author: Sydney Piwowar
Endless times have clients requested the cloud sofa. While the 100% down feather filled cushion wrapped in your “custom” choice of upholstery sounds lovely on paper, it does function as lovely in real life. Clients are often drawn towards the modern and relaxed look of the cloud. While there is nothing wrong with modernity and a relaxed setting, this sofa creates a lot of stress due to its construction.
The first, simpler issue is that the oversized frame makes it difficult to install in homes - you need to double check your door widths to ensure it will fit in your home.
Taller clients, or those that like to cuddle up and watch movies on their sofa, are often attracted to the oversized depth of the sofa. Deep cushions are actually one of the things RH is famous for. While you may think the cloud is cuddly and wraps you like a hug, your grandmother or great aunt might think different. Comparable to a bean bag chair, this sofa sits very low to the ground and is very hard to get out of.
Its 100% down feather cushion fill does not help with this either. Each time you sit on it, the feathers relax and compress, similar to your down feather bedding. Only issue is that since there are so many feathers needed to fill it, its own weight compresses it down and doesn’t allow it to fluff back up after you sit up. As a result, each sofa cushion should be regularly fulled after every use to ensure it keeps its fluff. If that wasn’t annoying enough, try lifting one of those cushions yourself. If you don’t believe how much these feathers can weigh, stop by an RH near you and try for yourself. You are NOT going to want to lift that daily.
This blog post isn’t meant to bash Restoration Hardware. I simply believe you have the right to know these things that sales associates won’t share with people willing to spend $14K on a sofa.
Since I am being honest with you, I should tell you that 100% linen upholstery on this sofa is also a nightmare. Since the sofa does not bounce back once you sit in it, the fabric stays depressed and wrinkles with every touch. Not to mention, linen is also a stain magnet for children.
To summarize, remember that bigger is not always better. Remember to check your cushion fill to ensure you have the appropriate balance of synthetic materials and down. It should be noted that the exact percentage will be different based off of personal preferences. And always bring home a sample of fabric before you agree to custom terms of agreement. Rub it on your dog to see how much hair it collects, let your two year old play with it for an afternoon and see how hard it is to clean - you will not regret it.
Author: Sydney Piwowar
Often for whom this is their first time working with an Interior Designer freak out at the idea of custom furniture. They want to see in front of them exactly what they are paying for, before they pay for it. This is often not the case in our practice. Nearly all of the millwork (cabinets and built ins) we design are custom. This means combinations of designs, colors, and patterns never done before. By nature, you will not be able to understand its full glory until completion. If you are working with a good and transparent designer, she/he will take the appropriate measures to ensure you have all the tools necessary to feel comfortable with your investment.
To create peace of mind for our clients at JTD, I have come up with a 5 step system to ensure you are happy with your purchase.
Not every interior designer has experience with construction drawings or details. It is important that no matter how creative your designer is that they are able to successfully communicate their design intent in these drawings. This will maintain total control of the design and limit the amount of miscommunications and damage control later.
Some more complex or large installations should be conveyed in 3D or color 2D renderings. This will help you start to imagine how form and function are working together in your piece. Some designers who do not offer this as a service should be able to outsource it or complete themselves at an additional service fee.
If your designer does not provide you with samples for all materials, they are not doing their job. You should see all finish materials for metal, woods, and upholstery. It is custom that they do not show you building materials that are not visible in the finished product though.
For those who are hesitant to pay for an additional service or contractor for their custom piece, it helps to review their existing portfolio. You can see their craftsmanship and previous experience this was to create peace of mind.
At the end of the day, they know what they are doing. Designers have a muscle in their brain that allows them to envision spaces and forms without any external support. Many people without this muscle struggle to trust. If you have never worked with this designer before, or have never worked with a designer before, it is ok to ask about their experience with custom furniture. Ask to see some of their other work. This will not only allow you to see their capabilities, but the level of originality and practicality of their custom designs.
Author: Sydney Piwowar
Something designers across the board talk a lot about is color depth. Whether that is in space, graphics, photography, fashion, etc. it is all very similar. In interiors, people often confuse color depth with having lots of colors. The more is not always merrier people! These monochromatic palettes have me falling in LOVE. Despite each room essentially being painted shades of the exact same color, it creates a sense of visual and architectural depth to a space in a way that just painting it all one color wont do. Take a look at these Inso images to see for your self!
I absolutely love the way these different paint colors highlight the architectural significance of this wall. Traditionally, people would choose a floral wallpaper to pop in these panels. I have never been a fan for the obvious choices though - be bold, be different.
This picture needs no introduction. What a great way to highlight the unique arch of the ceiling without drawing the attention up and away from the bathroom features.
After 5 years in NYC transplanted to LA and then migrated to Chicago, this client was craving the sunny, relaxed vibe of Southern California they left behind. The inspiration was to feel as though the outside came in for tea. The space is a central hub of activity of kids and mom play dates., were the family continually gathers. We included a bright palm wallpaper, pop of black and white pattern and boho rug to tie the room together.
Author: Sydney Piwowar
Early in our lives have we all overpaid for a sofa that barely lasted 5 years. We all felt the cushions start to cave in after a year in our favorite spot… its heart breaking to waste the money. As designers, we have been trained in this knowledge to make sure you are getting the best bang for your buck in both aesthetics and quality. To help ensure your sofa will withstand the test of life, I have curated a list of 5 Tricks to Make Your Sofa Last Longer.
Be sure to look at the materials and reviews. If you are working with a designer like us, you can be sure we are considering these things when we source for you. That cannot be said for all decorators though so be sure to as blatantly.
Not all sofa cushion fills are made equally. If you read one of my recent posts, you will see my review of RH’s Cloud Sofa. Though harsh, it was true. Some cushion fills require much more maintenance while others synthetic blend of fibers are self sufficient. Not to say that poly blend it better though - once you find a compression in the cushion, it is not repairable. You will continue to develop a sink hole till you replace the cushion. This is why it is important to find a balance of the two. I prefer a down feather wrapped poly core with more feathers than synthetic fibers. For everyone the ratio of soft to firm will vary with preference though.
Faux leathers will age the fastest and the worst in my opinion. Once you form cracks or minor holes from regular use, there is no going back. The second worst is linen. I love linen to death - I love the way the fabric softens with age, the relaxed and welcoming texture it provides… But I do not have kids yet. One drop of mustard, coffee, tea, or red wine and it is game over. There are several fabric lines, like Perennials, who are creating linen look-alikes that feel and appear to have the same texture, but are far more durable. You will find these synthetic blends are farm more stain resistant, resistant to fading, and easier to clean.
Some cushions are made reversible so that you can flip them over should there be an issue with the upholstery on one side. This is also helpful to do for maintaining the rate of age. If you are able to rotate the cushions, you will be able to stop the one cushion that gets sat on the most from getting trashed before the rest of them.
Many furniture manufacturers offer lifetime warranties on their products. Even if there is something outside of your warranty, like your dog urinates on your sofa, many offer replacement parts at a fraction of the cost. It is always worth checking with them first before trashing your perfectly good sofa and purchasing new.
