Meet Jessica Love | Interior Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jessica Love and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jessica, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
My name is Jessica Love and I am originally from Liberty, a small town in East Texas. My upbringing in a low-income family, often sharing a room with my younger sister or having limited privacy in a strict household, played a pivotal role in shaping who I am today. These early life experiences instilled in me a deep-seated need for personal space, which unknowingly ignited my interest in design. It was a space where I could feel safe and secure, a haven that was distinctly mine. This need for creating personal, meaningful spaces led me to pursue a Bachelor’s in Interior Design. For nearly two decades in the design industry, these roots have continuously influenced my work. My background has endowed me with an empathetic understanding of the importance of personal space, regardless of its size or grandeur. It has driven me to focus on creating not just aesthetically pleasing environments, but also functional, comforting spaces that resonate with the personal narratives of those inhabiting them. My approach to design is deeply rooted in my early life experiences, emphasizing the creation of spaces that offer security, comfort, and a sense of belonging.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Starting the first iteration of design firm, Love Designs, right after graduating with a Bachelor’s in Interior Design, was a clear indication of my ambition and drive. However, the path to where I am today with Urbane Design wasn’t a straightforward one. During the challenging times of the 2008 recession, in an effort to expand and solidify my presence in the industry, I took a significant step by purchasing a larger design firm, Designer Showcase with a business partner. This move was aimed at leveraging their resources and market position to weather the economic downturn.

Unfortunately, the recession brought unforeseen difficulties. and Designer Showcase struggled to compete with larger stores that had more buying power. Additionally, the shift towards online furniture retailing caught us at a disadvantage, as we lacked the necessary support staff to make a successful transition to the digital marketplace.

This period, fraught with challenges, led me to Austin where I initiated a fresh start with Urbane Design. The lessons learned from the experiences with Love Designs and Designer Showcase were tough but invaluable. They taught me the importance of not only having a vision but also the agility to adapt to changing market conditions.

Urbane Design is a culmination of these lessons. It stands out for its resilience, adaptability, and a keen understanding of the dynamic nature of interior design. I am most proud of how we’ve managed to blend time-honored design principles with contemporary trends, creating spaces that are both classic and modern. My journey, marked by perseverance, learning, and continuous growth, is a narrative I want the world to connect with. It underscores the fact that in business, setbacks are not endpoints but crucial learning moments. Urbane Design epitomizes the essence of resilience, adaptability, and a passion for creating spaces that are not just aesthetically pleasing but also deeply functional and meaningful.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
In this journey of mine, there’s a pivotal figure I must acknowledge, even though, regrettably, his name escapes me now. He was an FBI agent I had the fortune of meeting briefly during my sophomore year in college. At the time, I was pursuing Forensic Psychology, and our chance encounter turned out to be a defining moment in my life. He generously shared insights about his career in the FBI, including the realities of the job and the daunting 100-page application process. More importantly, he opened my eyes to the practical aspects of life, like the debt-to-income ratio, that come with such career choices. His candid advice made me re-evaluate my path and ultimately steered me towards interior design. I am immensely grateful for that brief yet significant interaction, for his honesty, and for helping me find my true calling. It’s amazing how a single conversation can alter the course of one’s life, and I am forever thankful for that.

Website: https://urbanedesignstudios.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theurbanedesign/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/urbanedesign/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theurbanedesign/?fref=ts&ref=br_tf

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuQrAG2XI5I5HGR7y1r_UlA

Other: https://www.pinterest.com/urbanedesign/

Image Credits
Laura Morsman Photography