Jenny Keenan, Charleston, SC-based interior designer, founded her own interior design firm in 2004 and has been making waves on the coast ever since. She joins us on our blog to give us a glimpse into her experiences, passions, challenges, and valuable insights as a professional in the industry.

From where her passion began and everything she’s learned in her career, to Charleston’s influence on her work and what it was like designing for the Spectator Hotel in Charleston, we’re taking a deep dive into Jenny’s perspective of design.

Jenny’s bright, eye-catching spaces have been featured in publications such as Better Homes & Gardens and Southern Living, as well as several Charleston magazines, highlighting award-winning projects throughout Charleston and its surrounding islands and in New York City and Baltimore.

With a collective 22 years in the industry, Jenny runs her design firm with six other team members to help bring her visions to life for her clients.

In the Spotlight: Jenny Keenan, founder of Jenny Keenan Design

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 a direction for my future.

When did your love of design begin?

Technically, it started when I was very young out traveling and shopping with mom and dad, but I started wanting to take design classes while in college working on a biology degree. I was planning to go to medical school and then had a revelation that I wanted to sketch and design. I was more interested in art classes than chemistry. After finishing with my BS in Biology I took some time off, then went back to design school which led to this path.

We adore your work and love your use of color and pattern in your designs! The spaces you create are so inviting while being effortlessly cool, and many have a coastal feel to them. How would you describe your overall style?

I like to think our style is timelessly modern and collected.

What’s your favorite thing about being a designer and business owner?

When we finish a job and our clients are over the top with the outcome. I have always been a people-pleaser, and nothing makes me feel better than when our clients are happy. Our work is service-based, so even though we are creative, we are ultimately trying to make things go smoothly and reduce risk for our clients.

I also love the collaboration with the girls in the office, the architects, and our amazing subcontractors. Designing can be so fun with a great team.

What’s the hardest thing about being a designer and business owner?

The hardest thing for me has always been the balance between work and family. This is a full-time job and that means you are working all the time. Turning it off can be really hard. Asking for help and hiring more people can be stressful but always helps in the long run. There are so many pieces and parts to being in the design business, it is certainly not just shopping for a living. I think many women business owners struggle with the balance in life, so my advice is that it is okay to ask for help and always be nice to those who give you the help you need.

What is the most valuable thing you’ve learned as a designer and business owner?

Maintain good values, be positive, and appreciate those around you.

I had a job once where no one ever said thank you for any of the hard work put in. I cannot say “please” and “thank you” enough to the people who work with me. It’s a roller coaster of a business, and the people you work with or who help you deserve to be appreciated.

Positivity also goes such a long way in this business because it can be super stressful. Some days can be hard, but keeping positive vibes around when things are tail-spinning helps everyone. We will always work to make things right even in a crisis situation, and dealing with things with a smile on your face is the best thing you can do. There is no such thing as a “911” design emergency — things always end up okay, and a little southern charm can go a long way because it takes a village!

How does living in Charleston influence your designs?

Charleston has such a rich culture that 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 can’t help but be influenced by the culture of Charleston because, by living there, it’s all around you.

We saw on your Instagram feed that you’re doing a restaurant design — Gingerline. You also did the Spectator Hotel in Charleston and seem to be continuing down the road of commercial projects. How did you make the jump into commercial spaces?

Little projects just kept coming up. First, a friend wanted us to help with his restaurants; next, a family member was building a hotel, so we slid right in to help the cause.

How do residential projects differ from commercial design?

You’re dealing with many more groups of people in a commercial project, so there can be a lot of cooks in the kitchen at times, but there is such satisfaction after you finish a commercial project because you know the public will get to experience it.

Also, in our experience, budgets can be tighter because there may be investors and loans from the bank that you cannot exceed. You want these projects to be amazing on a budget, so sometimes you are scratching to get the look for less or you really have to get creative to make it great and not go over budget.

Residential projects differ because you get to work one-on-one with your client and many times form a relationship with them. Budgets for residential projects can be a little more forgiving because a client can decide if they want to make the investment in a piece or not. We can stick to their budget, but if there is a piece of art they just have to have and it is not in the original budget, it’s really up to them to see if they feel it’s worth it for the house. So, the residential projects can be more personal but they might not get the attention that a commercial project would.

Which do you prefer: residential or commercial?

They are both so different. We love our residential clients. They really are so great, and we get to know them so personally. Each piece is curated for the perfect final project. We do more residential work and we love it, but when we get the opportunity, we will always entertain a commercial project. Even though it might be a harder project to work through, it’s always such a satisfying outcome when it’s finished, and the whole world gets to enjoy the spaces.

Let’s talk about the Spectator Hotel a bit more. How did this project come about?

My husband, father-in-law, and their partners had developed three other hotels in the Charleston area. They owned some property adjacent to one of the hotels that they were using for valet parking. They had a vision to build a new boutique hotel on this property and asked us to help with the design. It was such a great opportunity and an exciting project for the city that we jumped right on board.

What was your favorite part about this project?

My favorite part was how much I learned about developing a project of this size. The team was so great, and every detail was well thought-out. I really enjoyed the process, from coming up with a concept to the naming and branding exercises. It was just fun to be a part of such a collaborative process with a great team from start to finish.

How long did the project take to complete?

As sometimes happens on a project like this, there were delays. There was a switch to a new contractor right before groundbreaking, so that set the project back a bit and caused us to have to start over with the new builder. We had to start again familiarizing them with the project and waiting to get their pricing back, so it was probably more of a three-year project from our first kick-off meeting to the grand opening.

What’s the most valuable thing you learned from this project?

Getting your team in place early and having all groups work together toward the same goal will give you the most cohesive and best product.

We had the owners, architects, designers, contractors, hotel management company, branding company, and PR company all working together from the beginning. Things ran smoothly and everyone understood the vision throughout the entire project, and working so closely together we stayed on brand.

You’re a big fan of original artwork and known for using a lot of original pieces in your designs. Do you have a favorite artist?

I would say that one of my favorite artists has to be Alex Katz. My friend and I who have been traveling together this summer were discussing what an icon he is in the way he translates modern American portraits. I love his large-scale, simplified images, his colors, and that he paints family and friends. I also love fine art photography, and I have always been drawn to Alex Prager. Her cinematic style creates Hitchcock-like still scenes which are so funky and stylistic. The colors are as dramatic as the scenes, and I love the people. She, like Alex Katz, photographs friends, and the movie-like images evoke such strong emotion for me.

How do you go about discovering new and original artwork to showcase in your designs?

I love the local artists in our town. Charleston has amazing plain air painters and we really try to support them in our projects. The South in general is an art scene we try to keep up with because there are so many great artists. We have also used some art consultants to find artists that we love nationwide, and trips to shows such as Art Basel and Frieze allow us to see artwork from all over the world.

What is your favorite style of artwork?

This is a loaded question because I am drawn to so many different styles. As I mentioned above, I love fine art photography and have always liked mixed media and collage. That is part of the fun of the art world, there is just so much variety in the different styles and mediums.

What style/medium do you feature most in your designs?

We probably use photography and contemporary painting mostly in our projects. We do a lot of abstract and figurative pieces, but I like more literal, stylistic modern pieces too. I have more classical pieces in my own home too, but our clients seem to like fresh pieces with lots of color.

What’s your style or 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 had clients who really wanted investment pieces, and we worked 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, a certain artist, or a gallery. 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 with our community for choosing the perfect artwork for their homes?

Artwork is that third layer that 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 buy 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.

A big thank you to Jenny Keenan!

Thank you so much, Jenny, for taking the time to share your passion, tips, and experiences with us. Don’t forget to check out all of Jenny’s work and follow her on Instagram for progress updates on the Gingerline project, and to see all of the wonderful designs Jenny continues to put out into the world!