Talk Shop: Jenelle Lovings // Jenelle Lovings Design Studio
ABOUT JENELLE
Jenelle Lovings has art and design coursing through her veins. Her mother was a painter, and her father was a graphic artist who owned a printing company in St. Louis, Missouri. With the talents she inherited from her parents, it was inevitable that Jenelle would seek a creative career.
At a very early age, Jenelle began to develop her love for fashion and design. Spending many hours in her father's print shop, she would construct houses and televisions out of cardboard boxes, experiment with fashion design, and dabble in countless other creative mediums. These childhood pastimes evolved into a passion, which led to her pursuit of a bachelor's degree in Interior Design and a Master of Architecture from Washington University in St. Louis. With over ten years of experience in high-end residential and commercial interiors, developing designs for multiple award-winning projects, she created Jenelle Lovings Design Studio.
At her eponymous interiors studio, Jenelle combines her love of fashion and interior design, developing spaces that imbue luxury and quality that are accessible. Jenelle believes that luxury should not be limited but embraced by everyone. This sentiment echoes through A Black Girl in West Elm, Lovings’s viral Instagram account that celebrates her love of the aforementioned store. Her IG account's popularity has since segued into a blog and features in national news outlets.
Jenelle's style invokes classical roots, blended with contemporary and global elements, which create timeless designs that are chic but approachable. We sat down with the design aficionado to chat all things interiors – check it out below!
Describe your style in three words or less:
Timeless, Chic, Approachable
What have been the three biggest influences on your aesthetic in your life:
Travel is my biggest influence. Experiencing different cultures and countries opens my eyes more than anything. Fashion would be next. Many of the rules in fashion are the same in interior design, so I study the latest issues of Vogue. Lastly, history - history is always the greatest influencer. From the halls of Versailles to what I designed two years ago, there are so many lessons.
How did you start your company, and/or what is your favorite thing about what you do:
I applied for my LLC in 2017 and did absolutely nothing with it. In May of 2020, I started A Black Girl in West Elm on IG and it took off! One of my friends from HS contacted me (both of his parents are Architects and his mother gave me my first internship) He said, “ Jenelle, you have 3000 followers and still no firm.” He was right...so I took two weeks to get it all up and running. I gave myself a hard deadline. I knew it wasn’t going to be perfect but it would be out there...I can always change it. I was always afraid to just go out on my own. It’s an industry that is solely dependent on clients. Online Design made it easy for me to keep my day job while breaking out on my own and building a clientele.
My favorite part of the process is getting to know the clients. Interior Design is a service industry and it’s personal. Getting acquainted with clients is necessary to create a design that is not only aesthetically appealing but functions for how someone lives.
Do you have a mentor in your career, and if so, how have they helped to shape your trajectory:
Honestly, I don’t have a mentor. Entrepreneurship is in my blood. My grandfather owned his barbershop, my father had his own printing company and my mother has a law firm, so it was inevitable. I will say, I have developed a support team on IG. I’ve developed some pretty solid friendships on the platform. I know they are there if I ever need anything. I have become an “unofficial mentor” to a few people, which has been gratifying. I am the oldest of 3 sisters, so it is natural for me to offer guidance. When someone reaches out to me, I am always willing to help them. Our culture has created this narrative that there is only room for one, especially in the Black community. My motto is, there is enough for everyone to eat. Why not help a young designer just starting out? Why does everyone have to learn the hard way? While there is value in figuring out things on your own, it is not always necessary. Plus, you develop great relationships.
What does your home say about you:
My home says I am a person in transition. Things are ever changing, especially now. I believe I am finally at a point where I have settled into who I am. With that said, some of the styles aren’t representative of who I am now...so they are changing. At the same time, my heart is still there. A lot of the items I’ve collected over the years have personal meaning to them. From framed sketches I’ve drawn from when I studied in Buenos Aires, to a pipe purchased at a market in Cuba that reminds me of my grandfather. These are feelings and expressions of me, so they will never go out of style because they represent who I am.
Where do you find inspiration:
I find inspiration everywhere. I can see an interesting pattern in a fence and create an entry floor. I have this thing with doors. They are your first impression of a building sometimes. I’ve photographed so many and I plan on making a coffee table book of them one day.
Who are your style icons:
For interior design style, Kelly Weastler, hands down. For fashion, Solange...she is my muse!
What are your key ingredients for entertaining:
Good people, good food and good drinks. What more do you need? Music - always music.
Do you collect anything:
Eyeglasses. I probably have at least 10 pairs. I know this doesn’t seem like much but when you have a prescription as strong as mine, glasses get expensive. I was put on to Warby Parker and it was a game changer for me. Growing up, I never had sunglasses b/c those were even more expensive. Now, I have about 5 pairs. I’ve also started on my plant collection. During the beginning of COVID, I got this urge to take care of something. A friend of mine gave me a pothos that she propagated (and I have now propagated her propagation). I’ve since added a fiddle leaf, a rubber tree and a monstera.
Favorite Instagram accounts to follow for inspiration:
@AlvinWayne, @carmeon.hamilton, @ashleystark, @hannahbronfman, @tarakantorinteriors, @traceeellisross, @elledecor, @hollyhunt, @forbesmasters.
What design “rule” do you always follow, and which is made to be broken:
My favorite design rule - Do what makes you feel good.
My favorite rule to break - Never mix design styles.
What are you working on right now:
I am currently working on an online design project in Shaker Heights, OH. The client is renovating a 5,000sf house. I am also working on the design of a 15,000sf home. I’m a bit overwhelmed but I honestly work better that way. I wish I didn’t but the pressure fuels me.
Wardrobe staples:
Chambray shirt with high waisted Gap denim jeans (black or denim), my Louis Vuitton Toiletry Bag 19 (it makes the perfect clutch...I own three different ones) and loafers from Louis et Cie. I am also really into cropped crewneck sweatshirts. You can wear them with leggings are dress them up with a cute skirt and booties.
Favorite fabric/wallpaper:
I love a lush mohair - anything in a wine color, to die for! Kelly Wearstler has the best wallpapers, of course. Forbes + Masters recently did a collaboration with Mitchell Black and I love all of it!
Best interior advice you ever received:
To trust yourself. I often second (or third) guess myself and I always find my way back to my original thought.
Best career advice you ever received:
Just quit. I know it sounds crazy but it was so freeing. I took a job that just didn’t sit right with me. I had nightmares after working for one day. I kept trying to justify staying, but I couldn’t shake this unrest. Finally, I spoke with my mother and she said “Girl, just quit!” The thought never crossed my mind. I never felt more free than in that moment.
Types of home purchases you invest in, and save on:
Anything you sit on, invest. I remember an interview Tom Welling (I was addicted to Smallville) did with InStyle. He said the most profound thing, essentially “Invest in your bed and your shoes because you spend the most time in them.” Save on shelving - Ikea’s Vittsjo line are great metal shelves.
Your greatest extravagance:
Fashion wise - a Prada bag (but it was gifted by my husband, he said he would never buy me another bag after that one, lol); For interiors - a custom sofa (still waiting on it, actually)
Favorite places to shop for home:
West Elm (obviously) but lately, I’ve been leaning more towards CB2. H&M Home and Zara Home have some great accessories.
Most prized possession and why:
My most prized possession is the Pictograph Media Console from West Elm. When it originally came out, I was in awe. After about a month, it disappeared from the site. I was devastated as I was saving up for it. I even reached out to a millwork company to knock it off. After a few months of checking back daily, it was back! I threw caution to the wind and purchased it immediately. Now, they have it in an array of sizes and finishes but 3 years ago, that wasn’t the case.
Your interiors motto:
Form follows function...always
Your life motto:
Do you.
Advice for someone looking to define their own interior style:
Look at your closet. What you like to wear, colors, patterns, cuts, materials...it all translates to interiors.
Take Ten: My Favorite…
Food: Brownies
Drink: Old Fashioned
Film: A tie between The Count of Monte Cristo, The Thomas Crown Affair, Friday and Closer
Hotel: Santa Monica Proper Hotel (i’ve visited but haven’t stayed...its on the bucket list)
City: Paris and St. Louis (there’s no place like home)
Bedding: Macy’s Hotel Collection has the most amazing linens
Tea or Coffee (and how do you take it): Both - a Jasmine green tea with honey. My coffee, with cream. If i’m fancy, a Honey Lavender Latte
Playlist: Beyonce, Meg the Stallion, Ari Lennox, Jazmine Sullivan, Stevie Wonder
Weekend Activity: Watching reruns of Gilmore Girls or Roswell.
Design Book: All of Kelly Wearstler’s books