Designer Profile: Jordan Edwards — the e-design workshop

Washington D.C. based E-Designer Jordan Edwards

As part of our new Inspiring Designer series, we interviewed the superbly talented E-Designer Jordan Edwards. Her designs anchor around rich color, texture, pattern, and an inspiring mix of unique pieces. Jordan cultivates her refined-eclectic style from her international travels and time living abroad & across the United States with her military husband. She’s revealing her biggest inspirations, tips for designers starting out, and a glimpse into her creative mind and process.

EDW: Did you always want to be an Interior Designer? How did you get started in interior design?

JE: I used to create house layouts and draw floor plans as a kid but I actually began my education aiming at becoming a fashion designer. I got really into fabric and sewing in high school and figured that was the right track to take but it turns out I am just obsessed with textiles! I finished my degree in fashion design before making the switch, but I think interior design was where I meant to be all along.

Who or what are your biggest design inspirations?

Some of my favorite designers are Pierce & Ward, ETC.etera, Flea Market Fab and Kelly Wearstler. Ask me that in 6 months and I’m sure you will get a different answer :) Beyond other interior designers my biggest inspiration comes from travel and textiles. I could design an entire room around a piece of fabric!

How would best describe your style?

I am 100% eclectic and love mixing several styles into a space. We lived in Florida and Guam before recently moving to the DC area so I was leaning more toward a tropical boho vibe. Now that we are in a much smaller place, I am shifting into a modern global feel trying to pair my carved wood furniture, abundance of plants and quirky accessories with more refined modern lighting and art.

How do you stay inspired for your work?

There are definitely times when I am feeling super creative and can whip up an initial design with no problem but also times when I feel like choosing a pillow is the most difficult task of my life. I try to keep a stream of inspiration coming from multiple avenues like design magazines, visiting museums, browsing through sites like Chairish and EBTH, reading fiction, and following artists or branding creatives on instagram.

What’s your favorite design trend currently? Your least favorite?

Right now I am loving the sculptural forms of furniture and lighting pieces - curved sofas, low slung chairs and interesting sconces. My least favorite design trend deals with the resurgence of some 80’s & 90’s fashion. I can’t handle the chunky white Filas and acid washed jeans!

What’s your favorite aspect of being an interior designer?

Seeing a project completed, no matter how small it is. It is a fantastic feeling seeing the vision you dreamed up turned into a reality. Second I would say is teaching a client to see their space differently and to look at items from an alternate point of view. Who says a dresser can only be placed in the bedroom? I like to give clients the confidence to look outside of the “normal” design rules.

What do you consider an essential element for any room?

Art and plants! It could be just one plant but I think they are crucial in adding a lived-in, organic feeling to a space. Art is essential in making a room feel personal. It is something that you choose because it makes you smile, reminds you of a trip or brings your favorite colors into a space.

How does your eDesign service work?

I played around with a few different services before settling on a la carte options. A lot of my clients are doing things in stages or need help with pieces they have struggled to find on their own and aren’t necessarily outfitting a room top to bottom with new furniture. Clients get to choose exactly what they need from me - ranging from space planning to sourcing pillows and furniture or creating a full gallery wall. I have a design questionnaire that digs deep into style preferences, budget, problem areas and what a client wants/needs to make their space feel complete. The deliverables include a shopping list and mood board with styling instructions.

What’s your favorite thing about eDesign?

The flexibility to set your own schedule. My husband just got out of the Navy so we have moved about 6 times in the past 7 years and that has made it really difficult to work for a local firm or build up any sort of local clientele. Any vacations or date nights were booked basically last minute so I have really needed the flexibility to work from home!

What advice to you have for designers just starting out?

Don’t make things too complicated! Think about your services and verbiage from a client’s point of view, not a designers.

If you had an empty, white room and just $200, where would you start?

I would make it into a modern library/work space. Assuming this is a DIY situation, I would buy a gallon of paint and create an interesting wall feature. That could mean painting large geometric shapes, a vertical stripe that extends onto the ceiling and down the other side or a few sweeping organic lines. Then I would head to Goodwill or the nearest flea market and purchase a lot of books, a table with two chairs (or a chair and a stool) and a large vase. I would set the table and chairs on one side of the room and the vase on the floor in a corner with some found branches or greenery. I would place a few vertical stacks of books on the other side, add a plug-in pendant cord with a bare bulb above the table and voila, you have a minimalistic den.

Connect with Jordan!

www.jordan-interiors.com | Instagram | Pinterest

Images provided by Jordan Edwards.