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Jenefer Macleod

Residential Interiors

Jenefer Macleod

“One of the most important things to learn about a residential client is their lifestyle – do they have kids, are they entertainers and most importantly what do they need to get out of the space?”

Jenefer Macleod is an interior designer passionate about life, home, style and travel. Feeling it was time to bring a more personal touch to interior design, Jenefer created eat.bathe.live in 2011 and hasn’t looked back!

1 Tell us about your career journey and how it has evolved?

I have always been a creative person! Following completion of my interior design studies I was lucky enough to work with a local architect doing internal drafting and design for high end homes. After a break and some travel in Europe, I returned to working part time for both a cabinet maker and a builder, doing design and sales for both businesses predominantly with a kitchen and bathroom specialty. As I started my own business, my focus was on designing fixed and fitted elements. It has now evolved to include decoration, furniture and soft furnishings.

2 I see you have worked in different parts of Australia, how would you say interior design trends differ from state to state?

Whether in Australia or worldwide, I believe trends are directly related to local culture and the lifestyle of individuals within the area. Different climates also have an impact, particularly within the residential design field.

3 What are the top 3 things you need to know about your client before you start on a project?

One of the most important things to learn about a residential client is their lifestyle – do they have kids, are they entertainers and most importantly what do they need to get out of the space? Getting a feel for the budget is a big one, as I feel it’s very important that I design something that the client will be able to go ahead and build. It’s also really important to establish whether they have any strong dislikes when it comes to styling, colours etc.

4 What's it like running an interior design business?

I love running my interior design business eat.bathe.live, because it allows me to provide my clients with the service and satisfaction that I believe is so important. I love that my clients feel that I listen to their needs, and they trust me to make the right decisions for their investment. At times it’s hard work being the only one in the business, particularly because it entails doing lots of non creative work like admin and accounting, which are definitely my least favourite part!

5 What advice would you offer students looking to start building their portfolio?

Do your best to show a range of different work, from colour selection, to planning and soft furnishings. If you’re not happy with the amount of quality work that you’d like to use within your portfolio, try putting together some mood boards with styling ideas for a potential project.

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