THE TRADE EXCLUSIVE
Kathy Kuo Home Trade Member Spotlight: Victoria Jaeger Of J. House & Co.
Hi there, cuties! It’s that extra special moment in the month when we shine a spotlight on our Trade community members! This month, I am thrilled to introduce you to J. House & Co. founder and principal designer Victoria Jaeger!
Based in the Dallas-Fort Worth, TX, area, J. House & Co. is an interior design firm “rooted in traditional yet creative boundary pushing concepts.” They serve clients throughout the Lone Star State (though are open to nationwide projects as well) where founder Victoria is a native.
“We’ve been with the KKH Trade Program a little over two years and are here to stay. With attention to detail and intensive care for the Trade members, we’ve loved the wide variety of product mixed with the competitive tier pricing. We’ve been big fans for a while but after hanging out with our rep and some more of the KKH team at High Point, we’re sticking around for the long haul.” -Victoria Jaeger
Read on to learn all about the J. House & Co. ethos and approach to interior design. Love their vibe? Stay tuned in the year to come: “J. House & Co. is diving into the boutique hospitality world very soon with lots of exciting things in the pipeline,” Victoria says. We can’t wait!
J. House & Co. founder and principal designer Victoria Jaeger
Tell our readers about your business—what are your specialities and core offerings?
With over 15+ years of interior design and 5+ years of construction experience, J. House & Co. not only can design out a thoughtful and intentional design for your space, but we can also support that design with construction knowledge on how to build it. Rooted in traditional concepts that capture the spirit of time-honored living instilled with refined elegance, hospitality, composed charm, and a deep sense of place.
“Our spaces, while functional and inviting, are innovative through curated and narrative driven details.”
Do you have a favorite interior design style to work with on projects?
Something that sets us apart is that each of our projects are vastly different. We prefer working with a variety of styles because it allows more creative freedom for us, it doesn’t keep us in a box. You don’t look at our portfolio and see the same style but in turn you see multiple different ones done the J. House & Co. way!
How would you describe the style of your own home?
My style is where modern meets west. It’s simple, timeless, and livable mixed with laid back unexpected moments.
Tell us about a notable project from the past few years.
Over the river and through the woods of the DFW metroplex, we recently wrapped up a high end residential new build that showcases KKH furnishings throughout each room. With each room tugging on our heart strings, the Formal Living Room (photos included here) takes the cake as our favorite from the project.
What have been some of the biggest joys and challenges you’ve faced in your career in the design industry?
Paving a way in a saturated market and holding our own in the construction industry so that we can not only “make things pretty” but make pretty things reality.
“Seeing the beauty at a project’s end, and the construction and design worlds melding together, always keeps us coming back for more.”
Are there any design trends you see on the horizon for the season to come?
Quiet Luxury is definitely on its way in and growing attention. It’s been a main aesthetic for our team from the get-go, but I think the world is moving in a way that people are starting to catch onto the importance of living humbly and we’re starting to see the pendulum swing away from flashy/”look at me”.
What advice would you give someone who wants to work with an interior designer on their home, but they feel intimidated or hesitant?
Ask a ton of questions regarding pricing, process, and deliverables at the forefront of the project prior to signing a contract. Get everything on the table—what they’ll be doing, at what cost, for how long, etc.
“Everything should be totally transparent and agreed upon from the beginning. It will prevent a ton of headaches down the line.”
Then the biggest advise to follow that—if you get through those questions and answers and hire the designer, then trust us. You hired us for a reason, let us do our thing—it will go much smoother and the product turn out much more cohesively.
Speaking to fellow design pros: what advice do you have about working a challenging client or overcoming unforeseen obstacles on a design project?
No. 1 is to expect the obstacles and challenges. If you know they are going to come and walk into a project with that perspective, when they arise, it’ll be a lot less chaotic, for everyone. In our position as the designers, we take it upon ourselves to keep the positivity and enthusiasm up throughout the duration of the project—happy client, happy life!
Where do you draw the most inspiration from as a designer?
Being brought up knowing everyone has a story and that’s what makes them unique and who they are, we tend to view interiors the same way. Whether it’s a complete remodel or an antique furniture piece we snagged, learning it’s story and what it’s wanting to share with the world is the call I’ve heeded to as a designer.
Outside of work, where do you find joy and peace?
Family, friends, church. Removing myself from the day to day hustle and bustle. It’s super important to separate it all and “turn off” for a bit.
The Kathy Kuo Home Trade Program
Feeling inspired by Maggie Griffin Design? If you’re an interior designer or architect you can apply to our Trade Program to enjoy a wide array of professional benefits, as well as access to a thriving community of interior design pros. You can learn all about it HERE, but in brief, KKH Trade members receive: Competitive Trade Pricing, Free Shipping, Low Storage Fees, Dedicated Trade Specialist to Coordinate Orders from Start to Finish.
