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.
Discovering Hygge in Copenhagen & Bringing It Home
As an interior designer, I’ve always been drawn to the way spaces can shape our daily experiences. I knew Hygge was a concept, but it wasn’t until my family and I traveled to Copenhagen that I truly understood its essence. It clicked for me—not as a trend or a style but as a way of life. And more importantly, I saw how it can be woven into our homes to create spaces that nurture us.
JHD Travels: Venice
When we decided to make the move from Houston TX to Berlin Germany a big deciding factor for me was to travel and show AJ the world. We have a long running list of places to visit still, but we started with celebrating AJ’s 2nd birthday in Venice. He’s not old enough to expect a proper party, he’s young enough to keep strapped in his stroller, these were are reasons. I would have made any reason really, I wanted to see Venice.
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.
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.
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
A Designer’s Living Room: The Heart of My 1920s Bungalow
Since I shared the space that inspired my living room I should share with you my living room. I LOVE this house. I feel personality in architecture and space and our house is very matronly and sweet. She's not fancy, but she's caring & comfortable.
Influenced by the Past. Domino 2005.
In prep for our upcoming European move I’ve scanned to many magazine articles I’ve saved. I mean I cannot drag these things around the world with me when scanning technology exists. I found my old Domino magazines and was immediately transported back in time. I’ve always loved, and still love, this home. I was heavily influenced by it in the design of our current home.
Inside the Jamie House Design Studio: A Functional and Inspiring Workspace
Our former office was a charming yet functional small house in Houston’s Montrose district—an intimate and inspiring space designed for efficiency and creativity. While Jamie House Design is now based in Denver, I wanted to share a look inside our Montrose studio, which perfectly embodied our high-end, full-service interior design approach.
Search Posts
Featured Posts
View Portfolio Projects
-
![Denver penthouse owner hired interior designer Jamie House Design to renovate his condo focusing on his art collection and entertaining.]()
The Collector
-
![Modern white kitchen featuring a custom black hood design and bookmatched marble slabs.]()
Sharp Dressed Home
-
![Modern floating vanity with marble vessel sink in a Denver spec home]()
Brass Tacks
-
![Antique starburst front door hardware in Littleton CO mid-century modern remodel.]()
Starburst
AWARDS AND PRESS
