Meet Interior Designer Jen West

_{Jen West with her Labradoodle, amusingly named Truly Scrumptious!}

Jen West is a talented interior designer based in Eugene, Oregon who I connected with through this very blog several months ago. We became instant pen pals, emailing back and forth, and when she first shared photos of her home with me, I was wowed by her work. She is definitely a designer to watch and I am very pleased to feature her here on So Haute. Jen’s designs incorporate a mix of traditional and modern and and are as warm and inviting as they are stylish and sophisticated. She has a passion for luxe textiles and loves to breathe life into vintage finds by refinishing and re-upholstering them with beautiful fabrics that she dotingly describes as “killer.” What I love most is that her design style is completely approachable and unpretentious. The fact that her Goodwill dining chairs are covered in Fortuny fabric is evidence that she cares little about whether or not a piece has provenance. Instead, she simply buys what she likes so long as it has good bones a bit of potential.

_{Jen’s first home as featured in the March issue of Cottage Living}

Jen’s entry into the interior design world was not by way of the traditional route. She graduated from college with a Political Science degree and went on to work at an industrial design firm before realizing that a career in industrial design was not her calling. Fate intervened after she and her husband purchased their first home, shown above, several years ago. Armed with great taste and a keen eye for vintage furnishings, Jen poured herself into decorating her new home. The result was published in the March 2005 issue of Cottage Living and that is when the opportunity to start her design business came knocking.

_{Jen’s former dining room photographed for Cottage Living.}

Jen was soon bombarded with requests for decorating help from friends and family so she got her license and started a business without thinking twice. That was just three years ago and the rest, as they say, is history!

_{The living room in Jen’s first home.}

Jen and her husband have since upgraded to a larger home to accommodate their growing family. Her new home, which she is constantly rearranging, features a sophisticated color palette and is well appointed with beautiful vintage and antique pieces that she has collected over the years. Jen is now happy doing what she loves and stays busy balancing her career as an interior designer with her role as mommy to three small kids. But as Jen puts it, she’s just a simple girl trying to change the world one pillow at a time! I hope you enjoy the interview along with a little peek inside her home.

_{The well-manicured façade of Jen’s current home – a charming Tudor style cottage.}

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR DESIGN AESTHETIC?
God, I’m going to say it. Eclectic. Did I say that? So overused…but I grew up with the suite of furniture that showed up on a truck…matching sofa, chairs, coffee table, side tables, lamps, etc…like Garanimals (no offense mom and dad). I think that is why I really, really like to mix new with mostly old. Pieces with flavor, history, scars. You get the picture. I just buy what I like, what looks good, what feels right… I mix old with new, high and low, precious and junk. It all seems to work out. I adore fabrics, though, and covet the opportunity to recover anything and everything. Nothing is safe.

_{In this photo: a vintage Japanese monochrome lamp, unique ormolu art from eBay, a vintage sculpture and mother of pearl and ivory inlaid vessel sit atop a vintage mahogany chest.}

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT YOUR JOB?
Working from home. I realize that it is a luxury. I don’t miss out on anything because I am always here! The downside is I have had to hide in closets or run outside when talking to clients or showrooms when my kids are having a meltdown or fighting. That is embarrassing. I once was talking to John Rosselli’s office in NY and my dog was going crazy. I told them it was my ‘shop dog’…painting a picture of me in my glamorous office …crazy dog lounging in her custom toile wicker bed. That was not the reality. I’m changing diapers and doing laundry while faxing in purchase orders.

_{A vintage shell mirror and blanc de chine lamps sit atop a pine cupboard.}

IF YOU COULD HAND PICK A DREAM CLIENT, WHO WOULD IT BE?
A great big happy loud eccentric family with lots of money and tons of great heirlooms to work with… And more friends just like them who needed a decorator, too!

_{A vintage bench underneath a vintage Chinese console. On top sits cinnabar vases from ebay, and french bronze and foo dog lamps (killer!) that were picked out by Jen’s husband at an antique store. Above the console are three antique hand-painted Chinese silk panels.}

WHAT DESIGNERS DO YOU ADMIRE PAST OR PRESENT?
Well…from the past I like Frances Elkins, Tony Duquette (insane) and David Hicks. Currently, some of the designers I follow are Michael S. Smith, Tom Scheerer, David Netto, Jeffrey Bilhuber, Fox-Nahem and Bunny Williams.

_{In Jen’s living room: a  red lacquer vintage  Chinese console. Underneath are a pair of rush baskets from Coco & Company. The mirror and bubble lamps are from eBay. The vintage Dunbar chair is covered in Robert Kime’s Susani fabric. On the wall is artwork from an estate sale, a local artist and a piece that was a gift from Jen’s in-laws.}

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ROOM IN YOUR HOME?
I love love love my living room because it is where we entertain. It is full of my favorite finds and it looks great at night all lit up. It’s cozy and a little bit glam.

_{Here, a vintage French bridge chair from Jayson Home and Garden is paired with a beautiful antique English secretary.}

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE SOURCES FOR FABRICS, FURNITURE AND ACCESSORIES?
I don’t discount any store. I have bought most of my art on ebay or at thrift stores. I bought my dining chairs at Goodwill and painted them and put Fortuny on the backs. They were $19.99/each. I bought a Louis XVI chair at Goodwill, painted it and reupholstered it with an old pink silk ikat robe that I bought on ebay from Uzbekistan. I ADORE block printed fabrics…Le Gracieux, Raoul Textiles, Groves Bros., Chelsea Textiles, Robert Kime, Jasper, Rose Tarlow, Peter Fasano. Those are my favorite fabric companies. There are so many beautiful fabrics out there that it is really hard for me to choose for my own home. I have bought a lot of Kravet furniture for clients. I think they do a great job. I have also bought some really fabulous pieces on 1stdibs. The crème de la crème. I love Christopher Spitzmiller lamps. Lower end items…well, I have used COM fabrics on Ballard Design items, Pottery Barn has a great ‘rush matting’ woven rug right now, seagrass, of course, is always great and inexpensive. I can buy something anywhere. I love custom Matouk bedding. I love Leontine Linen towels. I try to buy accessories from local specialty stores. Support your local businesses when you can!

_{On top of this vintage desk sits a tortoiseshell tea caddy and a pair of reverse painted vintage Chinoiserie lamps. Above hangs artwork by Tom Hardy purchased at an estate sale.}

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE PLACES TO SHOP ONLINE?
1stdibs. Period. I just had the most amazing table made from Antiques on Old Plank Road in Chicago. They restored some old French bridge chairs and made a trestle table that looks like it was plucked from a winery in Europe. Unbelievable. I have also bought some unbelievable light fixtures there… Yum!

_{Portieux and Vallerysthal opaline glassware, mostly from eBay.}

DO YOU COLLECT ANYTHING? IF SO, WHAT?
I collect too much. I have a great collection of old French turquoise opaline pieces by Portieux and Vallerysthal. I use it a lot and it gets broken but it can be replaced so I just buy new goblets on ebay. I also have a gorgeous collection of what I think is a rare pattern of Minton china. It is a twig or coral pattern. I bought 2 tea cups from my dealer friend and then found a whole lot on ebay and bought it all. I have only been able to add one bowl to it since then. It is absolutely gorgeous. I just adore it. I also have a thing for lamps and chairs. I have a storage unit full of lamps and chairs. Intervention!

_{In her daughter’s bedroom, this vintage chair in upholstered in Lulu DK’s ‘chant’ fabric. The pillow is in Jim Thompson’s ‘silk Illusion’.}

EVERYONE IS SKITTISH ABOUT SPENDING MONEY IN THIS ECONOMY. WITH THAT IN MIND, DO YOU HAVE ANY TIPS FOR DECORATING ON A BUDGET?
Well…try not to spend your money on anything trendy that will lose its impact in 6 months. That is like throwing your money away. Or just use a trend in a small way without spending too much money. When a budget is an issue I definitely like to steer clients toward using an inexpensive neutral fabric on larger pieces and buying special and more expensive fabric for pillows. Window treatments…use yards and yards of neutral linen and add a killer trim. These are old tricks but very effective.

_{A vintage McGuire sideboard, alabaster lamp and leather chair. On the wall is a drawing by Jerry Garcia and a vintage bullfighter painting. The ikat pillow are covered in a China Seas fabric. The rug is pottery barn and the window shades are from Smith & Noble.}

ARE YOU NOTICING ANY TRENDS IN DESIGN RIGHT NOW?
My friend who owns an antique shop is having her best year ever! I think people are starting to understand that there is value in antiques. Don’t get me wrong…the Pottery Barns of the world have their place but they lose their value immediately. Those pieces don’t look good scarred up like an old Georgian chest does.

_{A wicker sofa from Goodwill is dressed up with Peter Dunham’s ‘rajmata’ fabric and lots of beautiful throw pillows.}

ANY PARTING WORDS OF ADVICE FOR THE DECOR CHALLENGED?
Well…decorators are not as expensive as one might think. They save you time and money by helping you make the right decision the first time. Or…just pick your most stylish friend and bribe her for help.

Thanks so much Jen for allowing me to share your home on So Haute!

And for those of you who wish to see more of Jen’s design work, you’ll be
happy to know that she JUST launched a blog where she will post photos and updates on her design projects! I’m sure you can tell from the witty tone of her interview coupled with the fact that she named her dog Truly Scrumptious, that her blog is guaranteed to be a fun read that is also filled with lots of yummy eye candy. Click here to check out her blog and you can also follow her on twitter here. For your viewing pleasure, I have included a few more photos of Jen’s home below. Enjoy!

_{I love these vintage chairs that are upholstered in this beautiful hand-printed fabric from Groves Bros called ‘Monferato.’}

_{On top of the red Chinese lacquer table a pair of Egyptian revival candlesticks and Anglo-Indian tortoise and ivory box and a vintage mercury glass lamp.}

_{This insane horn stool was another ebay find! It’s covered in a stripe fabric from Hinson & Co. The vintage Greek key fireplace surround is also noteworthy.}

_{Jen has perfectly styled vignettes on top of every surface in her home! Here, more of her eBay finds are on display including the artwork and mercury glass lamps.}

_{Jen’s kitchen features honed black granite counter tops, custom 2×6 glazed subway tile and a Hartmann and Forbes bamboo shade on the window.}

_{In the breakfast nook, a vintage capiz shell pendant from eBay hangs from the ceiling. The wallpaper is Coronata Star from Osbourne & Little. The table, chairs and art are all vintage.}

_{In the dining room a vintage table from Baker’s Far East collection is surrounded by Louis XVI style chairs from Goodwill. The chairs were painted and upholstered in an inexpensive solid linen from Pindler on the front and a luxe Fortuny patterned fabric on the back. The end chairs are done in a linen from Cowtan & Tout and the pillows are done iin Galbraith and Paul’s ‘Tulip frost.’ The chandelier and art are all vintage.}

_{For good measure I had to throw in a photo of Jen’s beautiful backyard. Of course the pretty wrought iron patio furniture is vintage.}