As a designer, you don't always get time to talk about yourself outside of projects, so when VoyageLA reached out to interview me on Jennifer Lopez Designs, I thought to myself, " What do I say? How do I encapsulate myself and JLD in words?" Most people who are like me and have social anxiety mixed with other anxieties and are in this situation probably also think, "Who am I?!"
Luckily, VoygaeLA made it incredibly easy with great questions that made this interview a breeze! I placed the link to the article below but have also included the interview here for easy reading. I hope you enjoy learning about me and the business as much as I enjoyed this experience!
Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Lopez
Hi Jennifer, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Absolutely! Growing up, I was always creative. I would create toothpick art, I would draw, paint, and even got into creating uniquely custom gifts for friends. No matter what I was creating, you would find me at my desk for hours in absolute bliss.
I found my footing in design back in 2014. I was still living at my mom’s house and after 20 years of living with the whitest walls you’ve ever seen, she let me paint and design my room. That sort of freedom was liberating! I painted my walls two different types of orange (Marigold and Pumpkin Patch), I brought in warm beiges, blacks, and used white as an accent. It was basically Fall all year round and it was the PERFECT room for Little Jennifer! Would I design a room like that now? Probably not, but the sense of ownership, belonging, and serenity I had for MY space was comforting. I loved the process and I loved the result! I thought to myself, “I would love to help people feel how I am feeling right now. This is what I want to do!”
Ultimately, that was the beginning of my design journey! Since then, I attended community college for interior design and received my BFA in Interior Design at Cal State Long Beach. Since completing my schooling, I have worked in both residential and commercial design, which led me to start my own business, Jennifer Lopez Designs, focusing on residential interiors.
The goal of Jennifer Lopez Designs is to help create spaces that are perfectly curated for each individual. As humans, we are constantly evolving into the best version of ourselves and it’s hard to progress in life if you are still living in the past version of yourself. I want to help clients design a space that is who they are and is helping them get to where they want to be. Whether this space is to house them for the next year or the next 10 years, it’s designed for now and to grow with you.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
My road feels a little like chunky peanut butter on toast. It’s impossible to evenly spread the peanuts across the toast, so some parts are smooth and some parts are chunky.
I think a lot of my struggles have been more internal than external. It’s not easy being ambitious on your own. It’s not easy leaving a comfortable job with great pay and benefits to start your own business that could very well not be successful. It’s hard to not talk yourself out of doing the risky endeavor, but I am incredibly fortunate to be supported by an amazing husband and friends.
In terms of external struggles, I would say money is the biggest peanut chunk. When you have a mortgage, personal expenses, business expenses, trips you want to go on, and 3 incredibly spoiled cats, starting your own business with the high chance of it not bringing in money, is very stressful. Constantly putting myself out there and making my services available to those in need is a must to keep my business thriving and jiving!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am an Interior Designer who specializes in creating space plans, sourcing furniture/decor, creating mood boards, 3D models, realistic renderings, and a very intuitive clickable shopping list. Whether you want to design/source furniture for one room or a whole house, I am your gal! While Jennifer Lopez Designs currently focuses more on furniture and decor, the goal is to expand into architectural design in the near future.
I am most proud of the connections I am able to create in my profession. When you design for someone, you don’t just learn about their aesthetic, but also how they live their life. These connections allow me to create an incredibly personal design that is curated specifically for that individual and I think that is powerful!
I put my design emphasis on who they are as a person and I design for them as if they are one of my close friends. I think that personal connection sets me apart from other interior designers.
What matters most to you?
This is an excellent question!
The most important thing for me is happiness. Sounds kind of obscure, I know, but it’s true. I left my great paying/comfy job to start my own business because I was unhappy sitting at a desk in a loud office working on someone else’s dream. I can say with absolute certainty, that I am happy working for myself, even if it comes with challenges along the way! The challenges are worth it knowing I can live my dream the way I want to.
While I talk about my happiness, I also have to emphasize the happiness of those around me. Whether they are friends, family, or clients, my goal is to make sure that, one, I am happy, and two, that my happiness can help fill the cups of those around me.
