Podcast, Ep. 114: designer Jennifer Nanni

This week we welcome Jennifer Nanni, owner of Rittenhouse Home in Newtown, Pennsylvania. Jennifer talks about how her hobby in design and a naturally great eye for spaces turned into a sought after business with critical acclaim in luxury interior design. Jennifer talks about the kitchen being the hub and heart of a home, what trends she is seeing in kitchens and living rooms currently, and designing for aesthetic meeting the needs of form and function. 

What You’ll Hear on This Episode:

• Trials regarding some expensive drawer upgrades, and squirrels vs. a cutting garden.
• Triumphs of gaining a whole new wardrobe when you Marie Kondo it up, pleated shower curtains, and what cayenne pepper has to do with a successful bird feeder.
• Jennifer’s business started as a hobby and she was always a purveyor of beautiful things with an eye for design.
• Jennifer is Italian, and she feels the heart of every home is in the kitchen. She discusses what she loves about electronics in kitchens, and how they help us become better cooks.
• More about the use of gold finish in kitchens, and how it can go with our existing brass and metal.
• How we can glam up a kitchen using seating, hardware, lighting, and certain backsplashes.
• Ways we can carry the glam from our kitchen to a living room using subtle accents and shine.
• Not everything needs to be matchy-matchy, and Jennifer is a big proponent of integrating personal style instead of transient trends.
• What Jennifer’s personal kitchen looks like, and how she created it to function for her children ranging from 3 to 14 years old.
• The “magic” fabrics that have us not worrying too much about our rugs and sofas.
• Why rug pads in the nursery are a great idea.
• How Jennifer takes risks with her design, including creative closet solutions, tile, and colors.
• More about Jennifer’s showroom, and how it showcases how she can work in different mediums but still tie in a beautiful space together.
• What wattage is best for different lights, and what brightness we use in the bedroom.
• Walk-in showers are awesome, but we are still loving a tub in the home as well!

Decorating Dilemmas:

I have a north facing bedroom that gets little to no light. Directly behind it is a bathroom painted SW Tame Teal. The bedroom has white furniture with a hint of gray on the top surface. Can you suggest a bedroom color that would brighten the bedroom a little and compliment the bathroom?

Thanks,

Phyllis

We love how vibrant your teal is! Check out Benjamin Moore Classic or Nimbus Gray. They will be in the same color tone as your teal.

_________________

Hello,

I have a living room and bedroom with no ceiling lights at all. I am renting this place. What type of lights do you recommend? I have a fire place in my living room (that I wont be using at all), so anything to go with this style? Also, my bedroom has my study table too so is there anything specific that you recommend? 

Thanks in advance,

Venkatesh

You can do one lamp on each nightstand, and a taller one on the dresser. Another option would be to get the remote so you can turn on all the lights as soon as you walk in. Add some surfaces in the room, and fill them with some lamps and light and you will be in a great position!

Show Notes:

• Ikea Hackers
• Renee’s Garden
• Rittenhouse Home
• Jennifer Nanni’s Instagram
• Dacor
• Victoria + Albert
• Lauren Liess

Please send in your questions so we can answer them on our next episode! And of course, subscribe to the podcast in iTunes so you never miss an episode. You can always check back here to see new episodes, but if you subscribe, it’ll automatically download to your phone.

Happy Decorating!

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