Concert violinist Andrea Jarrett talks her minimal style, dedication to slow fashion, and growing Instagram following

Justina Blakeney, a prominent figure in contemporary design, reveals that despite her widespread influence, she doesn't consider herself a traditional interior designer. She found the practical aspects of client-based interior design, such as driving, schlepping, managing purchases and returns, and client negotiations, did not align with her creative and fast-moving personality. Instead, she sought to explore how she could engage with interior design without the constraints of traditional client work. Her blog, The Jungalow, has become a leading resource for bohemian design, solidifying her status as a 'multihyphenate' in the industry. Blakeney's career path has been unconventional. She initially pursued performing arts but shifted to design after studying in Florence, Italy, where she lived for several years working in the field. Her entrepreneurial journey began with a handbag company co-founded with her sister in Florence. Her early experiences with selling on eBay provided her with foundational knowledge in digital media and retail, sparking a passion for collecting vintage items and fostering a multidisciplinary love for fashion, interior, graphic, and product design. Upon moving to New York at 27, she worked on craft books and contributed to arts and culture magazines, eventually starting her blog in 2006 at the suggestion of her publisher. This blog initially served as an announcement platform but gradually evolved into a daily practice focused on interiors, photography, writing, and global communication. The blog's growing popularity led to requests for home design, inadvertently labeling her an 'interior designer.' Blakeney's career milestones include a marketing activation with CB2, which resulted in a feature in Elle Decor, and the publication of her first interiors book, initially rejected multiple times. After rebranding her 'Jungalow' concept to 'The New Bohemians,' the book became a New York Times bestseller, a pivotal moment that cemented her confidence and dispelled self-doubt. Blakeney emphasizes that there is no typical day in her profession, as she constantly juggles diverse projects, maintaining a rhythmic lifestyle despite varied daily schedules. Her signature design style, which she identified by analyzing her Pinterest boards, is characterized by color, pattern, and plants. This 'Jungalow' aesthetic is a personal expression, incorporating elements from Italian modernism due to her time in Italy, African influences reflecting her roots, and natural materials stemming from her Berkeley upbringing. Blakeney views social media as a powerful, free tool that drives a significant portion of her business, advocating for authenticity and transparency. She believes in sharing resources and information, such as product sources and costs, which is often kept private in traditional design circles. Her advice for aspiring designers on social media is to overcome ego, start posting regularly, and engage actively with their audience. She underscores the importance of providing valuable, empowering information, not just inspiration, and fostering two-way conversations. Regarding personal growth and business ownership, Blakeney acknowledges her privilege but also highlights her strong work ethic and passion. She details how she maintained her blog even during full-time jobs, often waking early to write. For those looking to transition into design, she suggests gaining experience through assisting on installs or honing photography skills while still employed, and shadowing professionals to confirm career fit. To manage a demanding schedule and maintain a big-picture perspective, she dedicates focused work time to evenings and weekends at home and incorporates walking meetings for mental clarity and environmental change. Ultimately, she believes design is about human connection and personal expression, cautioning against solely following trends. She emphasizes that success in the digital design industry relies on empowering audiences with valuable information and engaging in consistent, reciprocal communication. #InteriorDesign #JustinaBlakeney #TheJungalow #BohemianDesign #Multihyphenate #DesignBlogging #SocialMediaStrategy #CreativeEntrepreneurship #DesignCareer

Julie Sousa, a 2017 graduate, discovered her passion for interior design during high school when she ingeniously decorated her bedroom using multicolored construction paper and tape, as her contractor father was hesitant about her painting decisions. This early experience taught her to creatively achieve desired effects with available resources, a pragmatism that later became fundamental to her interior design business. In 2020, while working as a digital marketing specialist at PTC and redesigning her Boston condo, Sousa launched Avant Garde Home LLC. She leveraged TikTok and Instagram to document her home decor and design journey, realizing that not everyone possesses an artistic inclination. Consequently, she began sharing insights into the design process, making artistic concepts accessible through practical advice. This strategy helped her rapidly build a social media audience, leading her to leave her corporate job after three months to pursue interior design full-time. Sousa's analytical skills, honed at Bentley, proved invaluable as she monitored website traffic and the performance of her social media posts. Her first viral video, which garnered 5.1 million views, offered tips on how to avoid the 'farmhouse' decor style. Sousa personally favors biophilic design, a concept that integrates nature into indoor spaces. She finds that incorporating plants and greenery into her home provides a sense of calm and helps her manage her attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, stating that walking into a room filled with plants is very relaxing. Beyond plants, other elements of biophilic design include maximizing natural light, opting for natural materials like wood and glass over plastic for furniture and accents, installing small indoor water features, and using natural stone. The core objective of biophilic design, according to Sousa, is to create a seamless transition between the outdoors and the home. This approach not only offers health benefits but also contributes to sustainability by encouraging the use of more natural light and fewer plastic products, which is environmentally beneficial. Sousa's design philosophy is also influenced by her Brazilian heritage. She particularly embraces the 'jungle concept' and is integrating it into her baby's nursery with Brazilian-based furniture, bold colors, and earthy materials, reflecting the significant impact of her culture on her aesthetic style and taste. #InteriorDesign #BiophilicDesign #HomeDecor #JulieSousa #AvantGardeHome #SocialMediaMarketing #SustainableDesign #Entrepreneurship

Aurora James, the creative director of Brother Vellies, offers a glimpse into her personal style, shopping habits, and the unique elements that define her Brooklyn home. She discusses her preference for online shopping, specifically MatchesFashion.com, which she praises for its curated selection. Alongside high-end retailers, James is a frequent visitor to flea markets and vintage stores like Stella Dallas, where she sources unique vintage blouses. A strong advocate for supporting fellow designers, especially women, she engages in product trades with friends like Ace & Jig, Ulla Johnson, and Ryan Roche, fostering a sense of community and shared resources within the fashion industry. James reflects on a memorable Gucci dress, humorously recalling it as her 'wedding dress' for a CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund awards night, an event where she unexpectedly won, experiencing happiness rather than the anticipated tears of disappointment. Her home environment is a testament to her philosophy of surrounding herself with beloved items accumulated over eight years. She cherishes a driftwood coffee table sourced from LA, highlighting her appreciation for unique and meaningful pieces. When it comes to beauty, James maintains a consistent and minimalist routine. She is a devoted user of coconut oil and Lucas' Papaw, incorporating Aesop oil for nighttime hydration and various Origins moisturizers for daytime use, including 'A Perfect World' and 'Make a Difference Plus+'. She also emphasizes the importance of regular facials, preferring a low-key establishment called Audrey in Bedford, recommended by a makeup artist. James describes herself as 'not a big makeup person,' opting for a natural look with occasional use of eyebrow gel from brands like Anastasia and Glossier Boy Brow, and she made a conscious decision to stop waxing or plucking her eyebrows, rejecting conventional beauty standards. James also integrates her professional life and ethical considerations into her personal style. She mentions a shirt from Kenya, acquired through the 'T-Shirt Project,' an initiative that repurposes vintage shirts found in landfills in Kenya. This project aims to provide skills training using the proceeds and raises awareness about the environmental impact of discarded clothing in developing countries. As a lover of vintage, she often finds 'diamonds in the rough' during her trips to Kenya. Her passion for vintage extends to furniture, with regular visits to the Brooklyn Flea and interactions with furniture vendors. She proudly recounts finding vintage Milo Baughman pink swivel chairs on Craigslist for a low price, which she later rented out for a significant profit, demonstrating her keen eye for valuable vintage finds. Her home decor style is characterized by a love for vintage, brass, pink, and an abundance of plants, which she embraces even when they inevitably die, understanding it as a natural process. #FashionDesign #VintageStyle #HomeDecor #SustainableFashion #BeautyRoutine #EntrepreneurLife #BrooklynLifestyle #InteriorDesign #PersonalStyle