Design Notes from the Studio
After 20 years designing homes across the US, Europe, and Asia, I returned to Colorado to focus exclusively on South Denver neighborhoods. This journal shares what I'm learning as I navigate Centennial kitchens, Littleton historic homes, and the unique challenges of designing close to home.
You'll find project stories, design philosophy, practical advice, and honest reflections on what it takes to create homes that work for real families.
Jamie House Design's expertise in Speculative Home Design
When determining what type of projects we take on at Jamie House Design, the first thing I consider is how receptive the client is to new ideas based on their vision, and whether the project presents an opportunity for innovation. While I don’t typically work on speculative (spec) homes, I make exceptions for projects that allow for creativity and thoughtful design. One such project was a high-end spec home in Houston, designed for CM Batts Developers. Their openness to fresh concepts made this collaboration an exciting and rewarding experience.
A spec home is built by a developer on land they own, with a custom design and selections curated by a designer, offering homebuyers a move-in-ready luxury experience. Ideally, Jamie House Design is involved at the planning stage, allowing us to optimize the interior layout before construction begins. We specialize in maximizing space and creating a seamless flow within the home. While architects are essential to the structure, an interior designer ensures the home functions beautifully for daily life. The best results come from collaboration between the two.
Jamie House Design Weekender, ed. 4
Jamie House Design Weekender is my version of wrapping up the week by sharing items I've found interesting throughout the week, some interior design related, some not. But they're always interesting and never ordinary, just like Jamie House Design.
A Thoughtful Kitchen Remodel in Houston’s Memorial Neighborhood
At Jamie House Design, we believe that a well-designed kitchen is the heart of the home, especially in historic neighborhoods where original architecture deserves to be honored. One of our favorite projects was a full-home remodel in an affluent Memorial neighborhood in Houston, where the homeowners made a conscious decision to preserve their home’s charm rather than tear it down—a choice we deeply admire.
My Word of the Year, Checking In | 2018
We're at the half way point. Half way through 2018. It's wild. Years are flying by. In my endless search to learn more and improve myself I decided to pick a Word to define my focus for the year, in January. As many have done throughout the years, I just haven't till now.
Jamie House Design Weekender, ed. 3
Jamie House Design Weekender is my version of wrapping up the week by sharing items I've found interesting throughout the week, some interior design related, some not. But they're always interesting and never ordinary, just like Jamie House Design.
I've been busy this month prepping for my upcoming visit to the states. There is a lot to prepare when traveling with a two year old and coordinating what I can actually carry myself in our luggage.
Jamie House Design Weekender, ed. 2
Jamie House Design Weekender is my version of wrapping up the week by sharing items I've found interesting throughout the week, some interior design related, some not. But they're always interesting and never ordinary, just like Jamie House Design.
Here we are at the weekend already! I meant to have another blog done. Next week. This has been a cold cold week in Berlin. But it's sunny and dry and that makes the cold bearable.
Jamie House Design Weekender, ed. 1
Jamie House Design Weekender is my version of wrapping up the week by sharing items I've found interesting throughout the week, some interior design related, some not. But they're always interesting and never ordinary, just like Jamie House Design.
One thing about blogging about interiors is that it's not my entire life, I like talking about other things. So in that vein I'll be posting a weekly column about the interesting articles etc that I've run across during the week
One Year as an Expat in Berlin
We decided that if we're going to make a big move we have to do it while AJ is little. So we jumped. It's been tough. It's hard to have a small child with no network. It's hard to leave a thriving business. It's hard to start again in a country that speaks a different language, tells time differently (military time has been hard to get used to!), and even uses a different measuring system (thanks USA for setting up this fail). It's also been good to not have a car, to walk more (I average 60 miles a month without even trying), to eat fresher foods (markets everywhere), and most importantly to see different parts of the world more easily.
My Berlin Ikea Kitchen
The kitchen design process has been excruciating. Our beautiful pre war apartment did not come with a kitchen, or any lights, or any cabinets of any kind. Tis normal here. That means however that until we got the keys I couldn't measure or really get down to designing the kitchen. So six weeks of living without an actual kitchen has been pretty terrible, not the worst, but pretty terrible. Luckily the landlord provided us with a little stove and a sink to get us by. My industrious husband found a little refrigerator on Ebay (they use Ebay like Craigslist over here) so we were functional.
Jamie House Design Relocates from Houston to Berlin
Hallo, wie geht es dir heute?
I've relocated to Berlin and opened a JHD outpost here. I know it's a bit out of the blue. It's been a dream my husband and I have held for a long time. We decided to take the plunge
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![Denver penthouse owner hired interior designer Jamie House Design to renovate his condo focusing on his art collection and entertaining.]()
The Collector
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![Modern white kitchen featuring a custom black hood design and bookmatched marble slabs.]()
Sharp Dressed Home
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![Modern floating vanity with marble vessel sink in a Denver spec home]()
Brass Tacks
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![Antique starburst front door hardware in Littleton CO mid-century modern remodel.]()
Starburst
