Meet 3A: Interview with Jessica

If you have been following along, today we continue our Meet 3A series with an interview with Jessica. Let's jump in.

When did you first discover your love of design and how did you get into interior design?

As long as I can remember, I have had a love and appreciation for design. Living in Europe as a young child, I was surrounded by great art and design. I can remember going to a museum and being in awe at some of Van Gogh’s original works. Our next-door neighbor was an artist, who was very kind to me. She taught me how to oil paint and the importance of scale and how to work with color. When I was nine we moved back to the states and I kept to drawing.  I would fill my notebook with drawings of what I wanted my bedroom and living room to look like when I grew up. When it was time to go to college I wanted to major in interior design but there was not a program locally and moving away to school wasn’t an option for me.  So, I ended up going to business school and later becoming a realtor but design was always tugging at me. I ended up enrolling in a graphic design program to cure the desire to be in design. While I did enjoy graphic design, I was still more interested in interior design and was constantly enthralled in design books and magazines. I couldn’t get enough of it and knew I had to give it a shot. A position for a design assistant became available at a local design firm. I wrote the owner a heart felt letter explaining my love for design and my desire to learn everything there is to learn about the industry. She gave me a shot and the rest is history.

How would you describe your design style?

That’s a tough one, as I love so many styles. I would say one part mid-century glam, two parts contemporary and a splash of global chic.

What is one thing you think every good design needs?

It would have to be an item that has a personal story. Whether it is a piece of art bought on vacation or a cool chest that was handed down.

What’s your favorite part of the job?  

Seeing the transformation.

When you find yourself uninspired and in a slump, how do you fix it?

The internet is a great resource but sometimes a change of scenery is needed. It can be as simple as visiting the tile store and seeing a beautiful new line or going to the bookstore, grabbing a coffee and sitting down with a stack of design magazines from different parts of the world. Currently, really loving what is going on in Australia- lots of natural materials and vibrant colors.

Why is design important to you?

For me personally, design is equivalent to movement to a dancer. It is a form of expression. Not only that, it is problem solving and improving how you interact with your environment. It affects you physiologically. Not to mention, good design increases the value of your property!

Stay tuned to Mallory's interview Friday.