Meet Jen Kolb | Interior Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jen Kolb and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jen, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I’ve had a lifelong passion for interior design, but I never considered making a career out of it. I’d worked in the non-profit sector for over a decade but decided to take a break during the Covid-19 pandemic because I wanted to spend more time with my kids and be present for them as they navigated the changes the pandemic caused in our lives. In the meantime, a couple friends asked if I’d help them with some design projects, and I had a real lightbulb moment when I realized being self-employed allowed me the flexibility I’d been looking for.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Like many other creatives, my path hasn’t been linear. I have been a voracious consumer of all things interior design for as long as I can remember, and I’d even planned to major in it in college but because I’ve always struggled with math I was intimidated when I looked at the course catalog and realized I’d have to take several advanced math courses. Instead, I graduated in liberal arts and after a brief stint working for a major fashion house in NYC, I went into non-profit work.

I loved mission-driven work and the idea that I was giving back to my community. I also enjoyed the careful orchestration of engaging various stakeholders in service of a larger goal. Jen Kolb Interiors allows me to use those skills on a smaller scale. Each project takes a team of people, and it’s my job to ensure we’re all on the same page and headed in the same direction. I love design, but I love people even more, and the regular collaboration and shared experience of each project is one of my great joys.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
The Houston Museum of Natural Science is hands down one of my favorite places in the city. As someone who draws a lot of inspiration from the natural world, I think it’s a total dream. Opening all the drawers in the Cabinet of Curiosities, and walking through the Cullen Hall of Gems and Minerals are particular highlights. The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is another personal favorite. I love the way it brings the city together, and it really highlights what an incredibly diverse and culturally rich city we live in!

I think the diversity is also what makes Houston a culinary dream, and I love that I can tailor dining experiences to individual guests depending on what their interests are. If I were being forced to choose a favorite restaurant, it would be Nancy’s Hustle. The food is insanely good, and the ambiance strikes the right balance between elevated and relaxed.

Any night out almost always ends with a classic cocktail at Johnny’s Gold Brick.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There is not a day that goes by where I don’t feel incredible gratitude for my community. Jen Kolb Interiors wouldn’t exist without the encouragement and support of other people. It was a dear friend who told me I needed to make design more than just a hobby, and she called me and walked me through step by step how to file the paperwork to start a business. My first clients are also great friends, and they champion my work every chance they get. They’re my number one hype team!

I’ve also been really fortunate to work with great craftspeople who have taken the time to teach and mentor me along the way. I can think of a beautiful idea, but I really rely on the experts to determine whether it’s feasible and how to execute it. Some of these folks have been doing this work for decades, and that they’re willing to slow down and take the time to help me understand how and why we might choose one way of doing things over another is really such a gift.

Website: www.jenkolbinteriors.com

Instagram: @jenkolbinteriors

Image Credits
Ellen Renee Photography Brandy Stoesz Photography