The Designer’s Journal: Jessica Davis Creates Colorful, Personal Spaces Full of Life

Interior designer Jessica Davis of Atelier Davis, and founder and creative director of Nest Studio, brings her signature style of playfulness, color, and layering to every space she touches. Drawing inspiration from the architecture of a site, the cultural histories of her clients, and the environment itself, Jessica crafts intensely personal spaces that inspire, recharge, and ground those who live in them.

Her ethos? “Design should never be too precious,” she says. “It’s about living with the things you love.” Whether she’s working on a New York apartment, a Pennsylvania lake house, or a split-level renovation in Atlanta, Jessica embraces the belief that design is as much about joy and self-expression as it is about function.

Describe your design style in three words.

Playful, colorful and layered.

Where do you draw your design inspiration from?

I tend to draw inspiration from the site itself. The architecture of the building and my clients–their lives, history, culture–really inspire me.

What is your design ethos?

I craft intensely personal environments where people feel inspired, recharged, and grounded by the clear expression of who they are.

What does your home say about you?

It says that nothing is too precious. Design is fun and you should live with the things you love.

What design “rule” do you always follow, and which one do you think is made to be broken?

I always follow the rule: The more art the better! Made to be broken: you should always match hues. I really think you can use different shades of the same color—it adds depth.

What are you working on right now?

An apartment in New York, a lake house in Pennsylvania, and a split-level renovation in Atlanta.

Do you have any design mentors?

I really admire Young Huh, who is a fellow founder of the AAPI Design Alliance. Her work spans so many styles but always remains classic, and she is such a kind and open person when it comes to advice on running a design business.

Favorite way to create a statement-making moment in a room:

A bold piece of art or a statement rug.

Favorite piece of decor in your own home:

A big painting that I collaborated on with my kids.

Favorite Schoolhouse product and how would you use it?

Gosh this one is so hard. I am a huge fan of the winter + summer coverlet. It’s modern and geometric but with a nod to the traditional at the same time so it works in so many different spaces. I love to use it at the end of a bed but it also works as a throw on the back of a sofa.