Portfolio

Get to know Jennifer Lynn Interior Design

 

Why did you start?

After Kohler, I worked with Water Works for 3 years. I was a Regional Manager. This job took me away from working directly with clients. It was a great experience learning about this different part of the business, but I realized that I really missed working face to face with clients and being on job sites with them. This is when I started thinking about starting my own design firm. I always knew I wanted to go back into design, but I didn’t want to go to work for another firm. I had a vision for what I wanted to do. My family was nervous for me – afraid for me to leave a firm full time job. Also, with Waterworks, I had moved to Florida and my family was concerned about me starting this new business so far away from them in Chicago. “You don’t know anyone in Florida”, they said. I would be starting from scratch. I had to learn all the details about running a design business. It was very different from Kohler so I had to learn it all.

 

What were you doing before you started?

Before starting my company, I was working for Kohler. I was designing kitchens and bathrooms and working in the showroom. I had been there for 8 years. I enjoyed working directly with clients on designs and materials – all the tiles, cabinets and construction. I discovered that I loved connecting with these clients and they enjoyed connecting with me. I remember working with a client that I worked with for a few years designing their lake house in Wisconsin. Then we designed their main house that was just across the street. I still work with them today and I have even started working with their daughters on the design of their homes. You could say that I’ve become the family designer. This is a common experience for me with my clients. Building long term relationships that have been built on trust and quality results.

Our ideal client is someone looking for support from start to finish, from renovation to getting all the furniture moved in. They are looking for someone they can trust and allows us to help them make decisions and then lets us do things for them. Many people feel overwhelmed by the process of renovating the old and redesigning the new. There are so many details to consider and if you aren’t familiar with how to make decisions in all of these areas it immediately becomes way too much. These details and these decisions are what we do every day! It’s what we are trained to do. We are the experts in this area. Our ideal client is the one that understands the value of an expert designer and how to partner with us to achieve their ultimate vision for their project. It can be very difficult when a client hires us, but then doesn’t let us do our job. They hire us and get our ideas, but then they feel the need to take all the next steps which, once again, become very overwhelming for them.

I remember a client from New York, and she wanted to do a condo renovation here in Jupiter. The condo was just outdated and wanted an updated, coastal look for her property here in Jupiter. She heard about us through an app that I had on Thumbtack. This was early on in my business, when my advertising was limited. I knew as soon as she let me use my creativity to do the design, and she didn’t challenge each decision. We had a wonderful relationship of trust. We had weekly contact during the six-month project. I worked with several contractors and throughout the process I ended up establishing some great contacts with contractors that I still work with today. When we completed the project, she said that I had made it very easy for her because she was in New York the whole time. She was very thrilled the way everything came out. During this process, she purchased a rental property that we completely gutted and redesigned for her. That project worked out wonderfully as well.

 

What do you love about your job?

As an interior designer and business owner, I have the privilege of doing what I love every day. I wake up every morning excited to go to work and create beautiful spaces for my clients. But what really brings me the most joy is teaching and mentoring my team. When I started my business, I knew I wanted to create a company culture that was focused on growth and development. I believe that when you invest in your team, they will invest in your business. So, I made it a priority to create an environment where my team members feel valued, supported, and encouraged to learn and grow.

One of the things that I love most about my job is seeing my team members thrive and excel in their roles. Whether it’s helping them refine their design skills, or mentoring them on how to be effective leaders, I take pride in knowing that I am helping to shape their careers. I also love the creative aspect of my job. As an interior designer, I get to work on a variety of projects, from residential to commercial, and each one presents its own unique set of challenges. But it’s these challenges that keep me engaged and excited about my work.

From selecting the perfect color palette to sourcing the right materials, there’s always something new to learn and explore. And when I see the end result of a project, it’s incredibly rewarding to know that I played a part in creating a beautiful and functional space for my clients. Overall, I feel incredibly fortunate to have found a career that not only allows me to express my creativity, but also gives me the opportunity to inspire and mentor others. I love my job as an interior designer and business owner, and I look forward to continuing to grow and learn alongside my team.