First/Person: Jewel Marlowe

RAPID FIRE

Coffee or tea… hot chocolate.

Mantra… I can do hard things.

BLANK is the new BLANK... brown is the new black.

Color you couldn’t live without… dark olive green.

Fave color combo… always changing, but today I am into citron and burgundy.

Fave flower… cherry blossoms.

Design muse… Miles Redd.

Favorite museum… National Portrait Gallery.

Last book you read… The Tattooist of Auschwitz.

Art will always… be worth waiting and saving for.

If you were a color it would be… yellow.

If you were a texture it would be… spandex, always stretching :).

I’m a firm believer in… hard work. My grandma still runs a horse ranch, and she turns 90 next summer.

I'm deeply grateful for… my supportive and loving family.

OUT OF THE BOX 

My brainstorming process is somewhat messy and nonlinear. In addition to all my computer mockups, I sometimes like to pile my inspiration in a corner, or out on a table for a day or two. Every time I re-enter the room, I like to process how I feel, and re-evaluate how the elements play off each other. This process helps me simmer and reflect on my choices, and is an important part of the process for me. In regards to workflow, I’ve never been great at balance. When I’m in on a project, I am ALL IN! When I pour this much into a project, I can’t help but feel connected to my interiors. 

LIVE ECLECTICALLY

I feel most comfortable when designing eclectic spaces. I love the drama of curating old and new, and trying out new color combinations. I’m a sucker for murals and wallpapers with large repeats—instant impact! I’m often drawn to large-scale geometric trims, but I also love a good lip cord these days.  

A WANDERING SPIRIT

My eclectic aesthetic is a result of our experiences traveling and moving as a military family. I spent a couple of years buying, repairing, and reselling antiques and vintage pieces at the British auctions. I think these years were critically important in helping me hone my style.

HOME SWEET HOME 

Since my focus is largely on residential interiors, I see the effects design has on families. I just wrapped-up a project with a deadline the week before Thanksgiving dinner. We finished just in time for a dozen people to arrive at the newly redecorated home. They were able to make memories in these beautiful rooms. During the months leading up to the big reveal, it made my work especially rewarding to imagine family members gathered around the new table in a gorgeous new dining room. Homes can be exciting, energetic, and glamorous, but they can also possess a sense of whimsy and reflect the history and values of those who live there.