We recently had the chance to connect with Jenelle Lovings and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Jenelle, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
The first 90 minutes of my day, after I’ve brushed my teeth and washed my face, I will play one of the NYT games. Afterwards, I will head to Forest Park to walk for about an hour.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
With a BS in Interior Design and a Masters of Architecture, I have been in the design business for almost 15 years. I got my start in high end residential and have segued into commercial design, specializing in welcome centers and amenity buildings for master planned communities. While still working remotely for a commercial design firm out of Phoenix, over the pandemic, I launched Jenelle Lovings: A Design Studio. This is an online design firm that creates simple guides for clients to transform their spaces at their own pace and price point.
My brand is all about creating attainable luxury. Everyone has the right to great design and making design choices that are rooted in quality and function, will always promote a luxurious lifestyle.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who taught you the most about work?
I think my work ethic is genetic. My grandfather owned his own barbershop, my father owned a graphic printing company and my mother also has her own law practice. Seeing my family work hard taught me about work.
My first job was making copies at my dad’s print shop when I was in 6th grade. He would pick me up from school and take me to his office. I witnessed him running a business first hand.
When I was in elementary school, my mother was in law school. She would pick my sister and I up from school, drop us off at my grandmother’s and go to class in the evening.
Work was what we did. There was never an option, it was just what I knew life was and is.
What fear has held you back the most in your life?
Sometimes, the fear of just tapping fully into greatness. To be great, truly great, you have to be vulnerable and let go of creature comforts. It’s likely why I still have my day job. While I love what I do, giving up that security, especially right now…its a huge fear that holds me back.
I am also a believer in things happening when they are suppose to. Everything I am doing and learning is preparing me for that next step. I just have to stay the course,
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Is the public version of you the real you?
I am completely authentic to who I am, to a fault. Sometimes, I have to remind myself “you are at work” or “this is not your friend” because I tend to overshare and tell too much about me. While there are times where I do think it is important to be vulnerable and my true self with everyone, I am learning to have discernment on who and when I share that side of me with.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. If immortality were real, what would you build?
If immortality were real, I would make a project I designed in grad school, a reality, The project was about creating housing and sustainable neighborhoods in underserved communities in St. Louis.
When I say housing, I don’t mean apartments, but single family dwellings or townhomes. I truly believe there is value in having a front porch, a front door. It gives people a sense of ownership and pride. Being able to create neighborhoods that are thoughtfully designed and functioning for its residents is something I would love to build, even if immortality wasn’t real.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jenellelovings.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenellelovings
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenellelovings/
Image Credits
Jenelle Lovings
