Jenny Keenan, a Charleston-based interior designer, founded her own firm in 2004 and has been making waves on the coast ever since. She gives us a glimpse into her experiences, passions, challenges and insights as a professional in the industry.
We love a good designer origin story! How did you get into interior design?
My father used to drag me to all of his favorite antique and junk store spots. He would educate me on fine antiques, or we would go searching for treasure. It was so fun to see him light up when he learned the history of a piece or where something came from; he thought every piece should have a story. He is so good with his hands and could build or fix anything. I was submersed in his creative, talented life from the beginning, and I certainly think that shaped the direction for my future.
When did your love of design begin?
Technically, it started when I was very young, but I started wanting to take design classes while in college working on a biology degree. I was planning to go to medical school, but I was more interested in art classes than chemistry. After finishing with my bachelors of science, I took some time off, then went back to design school which led to this path.
How would you describe your overall style?
I like to think our style is timelessly modern and collected.
How does living in Charleston influence your designs?
Charleston has such a rich culture—just driving around the city can give you so much inspiration. I think one thing that I love about Charleston is all of its colors: colorful people, colorful architecture and a colorful lifestyle.
You’re known for using a lot of original pieces in your designs. What is your favorite style of artwork?
This is a loaded question because I am drawn to so many different styles. I love fine art photography and have always liked mixed media and collage. We probably use photography and contemporary painting most in our projects. We do a lot of abstract and figurative pieces, but I like more literal, stylistic modern pieces, too. That is part of the fun of the art world, there is just so much variety in the different styles
and mediums.
What’s your approach to helping clients choose art pieces for their homes?
I think first you have to learn what style your client seems to be drawn to. We have clients who really want investment pieces, and we work with art consultants sometimes in these situations. Then we have people who like more traditional styles and others who just love colorful abstracts. We can nail different styles and love working on projects that are different. We present pieces to our clients, and you can tell when they instantly are drawn to a piece or a certain artist. This selection process of the design is the icing on the cake, makes the house feel like a home and can be a really fun process to go through with your client.
What tips would you like to share for choosing the perfect artwork for a home?
Artwork is so personal and makes the whole project pop. It can take a long time to find the perfect pieces, but the right piece is always worth the wait. I don’t think you should force a piece just to fill up a wall. I also believe if you find a piece of art while traveling you should buy it! Special pieces that you find on your travels will always make you reflect on that time in your life and bring back lovely memories. I prefer a layered, collected look so much more than just buying to get things decorated. It might take a little more time, but the finished product will have meaning! Selecting art is a part of the project that I really enjoy working through closely with our clients.
Scout & Nimble is a retail site and blog that aims to make expert design accessible to all. Follow at blog.scoutandnimble.com.
