Q & A with Jess from Hall We Need
11 Dec, 2020
Jess, husband Warren and their daughter Stevie, live in a historic hall they have been restoring since 2016. They describe themselves as DIY novices, but they have created a beautiful space to call home. Now their young daughter is growing up, her room has had a makeover using a mix of our most loved linens.
We catch up with Jess for a chat about all things design and little Stevie’s first big girls bed.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: Laidback, liveable and a mix of contemporary and traditional. I often draw inspiration from mid-century Tuscan interiors and traditional Parisian apartments and love muted tones and layering texture. My goal is for our home to feel like a reflection of our personalities, so I enjoy filling it with objects collected up over time that tell a story, especially pieces that were made or treasured by our loved ones.
Q: What do you enjoy most about designing a room?
A: I love thinking about who will use the space and what will make it feel special for them. With Stevie’s space one of the fun challenges was thinking about how she was going to grow into the space over time and making sure we can easily adapt it going forward. This is one of the great things about bedding, it can give a space a real sense of identity and is easy to change as tastes and seasons evolve.
Q: Where did your inspiration for Stevie’s bed come from?
A: The inspiration for Stevie’s bed came from our time spent playing together on the beaches around Auckland's north shore. I love the natural clay cliffs and small shell fragments along the beach. I wanted her bed to feel relaxing and peaceful yet reflect her playful age.
Q: How did you decide the colour palette?
A: I kept the palette minimal and natural after drawing inspiration from the colours at the beach...soft pinks, whites and nudes like the clay cliffs, sand and shell fragments that wash up. The navy blue in the gorgeous palm print on The Grove pillowcases was a happy coincidence and worked so well with the other colours I was using.
Q: What were the most important considerations when choosing bed linen for your daughter?
A: Natural fibres are really important to me, so I opted for a selection of beautiful high quality linen and cottons. It was also important to me to strike a balance between a fun, playful kids look for Stevie and a place that we appreciated and enjoyed too. I’m so happy with how it came together.
Q: And we have to ask, does Stevie love her big girls bed?
A: She LOVES it! Her favourite part is the round pink pillow. She carts it all around the house.
Q: Who or what inspires you right now?
A: I admire the style of Athena Calderone - she creates spaces with such a distinct personality. Most of my inspiration comes from the simple pleasures in life (while I chase our toddler around!).
Q: What is your next project?
A: I’m working on creating a bit of a sanctuary in our spare room. It’s the first time we’ve had a guest bedroom so I’m looking forward to making it a special place for friends and family to stay when they’re in town.