My mother was my first design influence! Even as a little girl in Dallas, I remember my mom waking me up by putting fabric on my lampshade next to my bed. Coming home after a day of school, I would often find her re-working a room in our house or a space in the garden… Like my mom, I too began a love affair with design expressly for fabric, tassels and trim.

But it wasn’t until my husband and I purchased our second home and I hired an interior designer, did I realize that this might be a turning point in my life… Ironically, the designer I hired, hired me right back, leading to more work with a series of other designers. In time, I launched “Fun House Furnishings and Design”, a design studio and retail store. But after running my business with my partner for five years, I wanted to focus exclusively on my true calling, interior design, and Jennifer Connell Design was born!

Originally from California, I spent most of my formative years growing up as a true, blue Texan in Dallas. I only later moved to New Jersey after meeting my husband. I adore my life in the garden state especially the beauty of the changing of seasons that I never had a chance to experience in Texas. Even now that Jersey is my home and has been so for many years, don't be surprised when you meet me and hear an occasional “Y’all” . You can take the girl out of Texas…. But you can’t take the Texas out of the girl.

My Biggest Pet Peeve

I cringe when I walk into a room and everything is the same! The blandness, the monotony and lack of contrasting items drive me absolutely crazy! I always say - "If everything is the same, then how do you see the beauty in any of it." These are words I live and design by!