Drawn to Design

Jenny Rapp, owner of JCR Design Group, gives us an insight on how to make every design project a success.

Edited by Moe Godat

Portrait photography by Colin Miller/Strauss Peyton

Photography by Anne Matheis

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Give us a short, three-sentence bio about yourself.

Jenny: I am very fortunate to have a life filled with close family and wonderful friends, as well as a successful and rewarding business. I love travelling, spending time with family and friends and taking advantage of all our city has to offer. I was born and raised in New England, but I love living in St. Louis.

 

How did you get started in this field?

Jenny: I was always drawn to the color, balance and scale of art and architecture. I began by designing rooms and decorating for family and friends, and over the years the hobby grew into a career. My husband’s aunt founded a successful design firm in St. Louis (Julie Morris Interiors) in 1962, and she has always been a great inspiration to me.

 

What is your favorite project to work on?

Jenny: I love the variety in our work: from designing floor plans, either for new construction or existing spaces, to the furnishing and decorating of homes, but it is the multi-faceted projects which draw on all aspects of our expertise that are the most rewarding.

 

Do you have a favorite design style?

Jenny: I tend towards a clean “updated traditional” look: polished and timeless, not trendy.

 

What’s the most challenging aspect of your field?

Jenny: Delays, backorders and cancellations that are beyond our control but affect the timeline of a project.

 

What’s one thing homeowners should know when choosing you as an interior designer?

Jenny: It’s helpful to find a designer whose portfolio is attractive to you, but equally important that your personalities connect. As designers, we become a team with our clients, coming into their homes and lives to work closely together, often over a long period of time. Clients should do their best to select a designer who they believe will make the process enjoyable and rewarding.

 

What makes JCR Design Group stand out from other interior design firms?

Jenny: We are easy to work with, and we don’t have one particular “style”. We listen to our clients and integrate their wishes into designs that work for their lifestyle based on our knowledge and experience.

 

What, in your opinion, makes a project a success?

Jenny: Happy clients.

 

What’s the most important quality to possess as an interior designer?

Jenny: How about three: good listening skills, diplomacy and of course, great taste!