My name is Jennifer (my friends call me Jen and my family Jenny) and I have been passionate about all things related to art & design my entire life. I have been extremely fortunate over the years to help many create meaningful homes that truly reflect themselves. A home should tell your story and be a true reflection of who you are, where you have been and who you aspire to be. It isn’t about trends…it goes much deeper.
Everyone deserves a beautiful haven where they feel they can be themselves… regardless of any lack of resources.
Growing up in the desert of California, my family struggled to survive and simply put food on the table. We moved often as my dad looked for construction work or we could no longer afford the rent of our current home. Never staying in one place for very long. When I was younger, I recall movies depicting people returning to their childhood home. The place that held all of their precious memories and was the backdrop to their entire back story. I was also so fascinated and often dreamed of what that must be like. Being have to something so stable…a foundation of your life. We had very little, but I believe we may have been far richer than many in other ways.
My sweet mother was a Saint. I really have no other way to describe her that seems fitting. She always found a way to ensure our childhood felt magical. Even when there was no money for Christmas, birthdays or even dinner many times. Her name was Dianne and she was a gentle and incredibly artistic soul. The details of her pencil sketches were stunning and her eye for interior design was impeccable. She could produce pure magic from nothing. She would do wonders with thrift store finds and pieces given to us over the years-or even found on the side of the road. Wherever we were she would create the most beautiful home for us out of what others may consider garbage. I would often rush home from school excited about seeing her latest masterpiece.
Thrifted curtains would become beautiful slip covers for worn and stained sofas. Carefully propagated plants would fill the home with life and color. Paint changed everything… beat up coffee tables, old dressers, dining chairs… you name it. Early on I learned from her that creating a beautiful environment for yourself was not about materialist things or trends at all. It wasn’t about how much money you had, but about creating a safe haven that was a reflection of the the family who lived there. A place where you could thrive and all of love could be felt immediately upon entering. A place to be creative and always feel welcomed.
I lost my sweet mom almost 2 years ago now from an extremely cruel brain cancer. Even at 70, she was so young and vibrant. The diagnosis came out of nowhere and devastated us all. It was an 8 week battle and rollercoaster from diagnosis to her passing. It is still hard for me to talk about.
I feel the profound loss of her daily. But I also feel her love and inspiration. She is the reason I love design as I do. She is the reason I have a deep sense of empathy for others. She is the reason I am highly creative and compassionate. She always encouraged my creativity. I decided to start this blog and my Instagram account in her honor. Looking forward to sharing stories, design tips/sources and hopefully inspire along the way. She would have loved this so much.
Jennifer Grammer Designs 