Jennifer Kole

You have a background in the art world and in jewelry design, how did that transition into interior design?

I've always been into art. I had a job in New York where I was selling corporate artwork - big, huge pieces of reproduced art to office buildings, towers, restaurants, hotels. It was kind of on the corporate side, but it was fun. While I was in New York doing that, I also was doing my jewelry. I had always been inspired by walking into these different beautiful hotels and restaurants, and I always knew that interiors were something that really resonated with me.

It didn't really come together until I moved back to Chicago and started doing real estate. I only did [real estate] for a little bit, but I noticed I was really good at my job because I was able to help people envision spaces in a different way than they might have. When I stopped doing real estate, I had my kids and I did my own home without a designer, just myself. I had a very good realtor friend who was blown away and asked me to do her house. So I took a class at Harrington, which was the interior design school in Chicago. I did her house and it got featured in a magazine, crazily enough, and she kept giving my name out, and it just never stopped.

I never thought I was gonna be an interior designer. It was the three careers in my life. Making jewelry was very creative, and selling artwork took me into these incredible spaces which really got me going. And then real estate connected me with this woman who basically piloted my career. It all came together and unfolded organically.

I think if you've got an eye for design, that can translate into a lot of different spaces.

There's so many talented designers in this city, I feel like you need to have more than just talent and a good eye for design. You have to have that knack with people as well. You're in people's homes, you're working with their budget, and you have to know how to deal with people in a really well-runged manner also. A lot of people don't know what they want until you tell them. That's why a lot of these really, really great designers don't end up successful because they don't know how to navigate that process, which is extremely difficult to get your great taste within your mind into people's homes. There's a whole middle section where you have to really know people.

How would you describe your signature design style?

That evolves over time, but I would say that I'm definitely Layered Transitional with a lean on Art Deco. And I really love Art Deco. That's my all time love, but that doesn't always work in every space. I love shapes. I love architecture. I love moldings. I love layers...all of those pieces that were brought from that Art Deco time. I'm not afraid of color or shapes or patterns.

Do you have a favorite color/palette to work with?

I love blush and browns. I love creams, nudes, and taupes together - maybe adding a little bit of a jewel-tone, like purple. I lean toward that really soft, yummy, feminine palette. Which is funny because if you would have asked me this five years ago, I was really into darker colors like blues and greens, and I'm kind of softening right now.

When you're designing, how do you balance function and style in a home?

That's a big question. Sometimes you do have to sacrifice style for function. It just is what it is, so you try to find that happy medium. A lot of fabrics are so family-friendly right now. It's a lot easier to do things in lighter palettes where you really couldn't before because of children and pets. [A lighter palette] wasn't really functional because it would get stained or dirty. Now, I'm able to keep that palette that I love alive because of all of these amazing textiles that are indoor/outdoor or washable.

As far as functionality and furniture, I always try to tell my clients to pick one thing out of the design that you may not find completely functional, but that's artistic and beautiful, and try to make the rest of the room functional. It's give and take. So if they're gonna do a really architecturally-inspired chair, then I'll make sure that there's a sofa and another chair in the room that are super cozy and comfy. Maybe the kids only sit on those, and then this chair is more for the adults.

How do you envision the future of your business?

I want to stay niche, stay boutique. I don't really want it to grow much more than it has, to be 1honest. We're busy, but we're still able to produce beautiful projects and give personalized service. I don't ever want to grow too far away from that, where we become too busy to deal with smaller design requests. I believe on a whole, design is important in all aspects. The architect is just as important as the designer picking the right paint color. It all works together, and I don't want to get so busy where I'm not able to give attention to detail.

Do you have any advice for someone who is starting in the industry?

Follow your dreams, follow your heart. If you can't stop thinking about design - if you eat, sleep, and breathe it - go for it. I always tell people who are starting in this career that there's a lot of hats you have to wear. It's not just making spaces pretty. There's a lot of elements - there's procurement, there's dealing with clients, and then there's knowing how to design. It's something challenging, but if it's in your heart and soul, go for it.