Tell us about your journey into design! How did you begin your career as a designer? Jenna Gross, founder of Colordrunk Designs, has been serving up masterful mixes of pattern and color in homes and boutique commercial spaces since 2013. Jenna grew up in the design business, spending countless afternoons distilling her ability to pair textiles at her family’s antiques and upholstery shops in Columbus, Georgia. After graduating from the University of Georgia, she initially planned to apply her keen eye to the world of fashion—trading in gracious, small-town living for the bright lights of New York City and a career with fashion icon, Marc Jacobs. She immersed herself in that world. It was a wonderful time, infused with colorful patterns and people, and it taught her to create fearlessly. When she returned to the South, Jenna maintained the smoothness of her well-aged, traditional sensibilities, but with hints of a new-found edginess blended into the mix. Realizing the intoxicating power that colorful surroundings have on people’s moods and attitudes, she turned her attention from fashion to interior design. Today, whether her clients want interiors that are sparkling or still, Jenna serves up complex combinations that are refreshing from start to finish.
Your (designer) style icon: Celerie Kemble
Where do you look to find inspo: Fashion and Art
Can you give us a glimpse into the process of bringing this beautiful bathroom together? This bath is part of a studio apartment in a large turn of the century estate. The apartment was originally built to house the family’s business partners who were visiting from Europe, but I saw it as an Au Pair Suite. I wanted the design to be young and feminine, but with an air of fun sophistication. A Parisian garden apartment meets Barbie’s dream house. To that end, I fell in love at first sight with the sassy version of a classic toile pattern by SHASHA BIKOFF for the wallpaper and shower curtain in this bath. At first glance, it looks like a traditional toile print- but if you look a little closer you see that the star of this toile is living her best life- poodles, beach cabanas, days at the lake, handsome suitors…The pink and green colorway was also perfect. I worked with Trim Tech to make the custom vanity in a custom green stain to complement the green in the paper. And I knew a simple shower curtain wouldn’t cut it, so I commissioned a custom shaped valance in the same toile print to make the (otherwise pretty ordinary) shower a focal point in the room. The lighting, art by Cathy Lancaster, and, of course, amazing Weezie towels, brought the whole thing together!
The Design Brief:
Wallcovering/Fabric: Uptown Toile by Vervain
Lighting: Visual Comfort
Mirror: Serena and Lily
Fixtures: Kohler
Art: Cathay Lancaster
Accessories: Made Goods and Dunes and Duchess
Before you go…
Favorite Weezie item?
My Weezie Plush Robe. I wear it every morning!
What are you reading? Britney’s The Woman in Me
Who are you following? @alicepalmerco @housebeautiful @shopburu @katesturino
What’s next?
I just recently launched my own wallpaper and textile line, tipsi. Tipsi is an ode to the playful side of life with classic designs in a vibrant color palette with a modern sensibility. Think your grandmother’s drapes dipped in chartreuse and hot pink.
Recent interiors splurge: Custom colored tile for my kitchen backsplash
Recent interiors steal: A Chinoiserie Rose Garden planter from the Atlanta Restore