As an interior designer, Jodi Berger knew exactly what she wanted to create the most stylish and comfortable home for herself and her family.
Jodi, please tell us a bit about yourself.
I was born and raised in Potomac, Maryland, and have always been in love with design. As a little girl, I would always find myself drawing my dream house on paper and loved organizing my room. I ended up going to the University of Florida for Interior Design and worked for a few interior designers before going out on my own. I started out in NYC and then moved back to my hometown about six years ago with my husband and dog. We now have two daughters aged 1 and 3 and live in the neighborhood next to where I grew up! I have a team of 6, including myself, and we are all type-A creatives who are beyond passionate about our projects.
Did you have an influence in your youth that shaped your career path?
I wish I could say I did …. I was always influenced by my friends’ houses growing up and loved going to new homes to see what was inside. With my curiosity and interest in interiors, architecture, and furnishings I knew I wanted to be an interior designer. Architecture school was hard – I used to call it Archi-torture, but I was determined, and having an architectural background has made me an even better designer.
Please tell us more about your home.
This was the first home my husband and I purchased after renting for several years and moving every couple of years. I was SO excited to make this house ours and a place to showcase my work. We renovated our kitchen and primary bath and laid new flooring in the lower level, foyer, and mudroom. The wood floors were sanded and stained a much lighter shade and millwork was refinished.
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You have your own full-service boutique interior architecture and design studio. Did you opt to do your home’s own interior design?
Yes of course! My firm and I did all of the design, drawings, and selections.
How would you best describe your design style?
We design for our clients and really can do anything, but I would say I am best known for my classic and timeless designs with a unique twist depending on the client we are designing for. We pride ourselves in our unique designs and don’t like repeating for clients. Everyone’s home should be designed for that specific homeowner and furnishings are selected to enhance function and efficiency in our client’s lives. That is so important! Function and fashion.
Where/what/who inspires your design style?
We get inspiration from everywhere. Instagram and Pinterest mainly. I also love flipping through design magazines. I will always enjoy that!
How do you keep things fresh and new in terms of decorating?
As a design team, we make sure that we get to the design center and meet with our vendors at least once a month. We always update our library with the current lines and make sure discontinued fabrics and materials that we have had bad experiences with in the past are out. We love finding different ways to add special details to a design to make it stand out.
Is there a specific color you are drawn to in interior design?
I am equally drawn to light and bright spaces as well as moody and dark. It’s all about layers, depth, texture, and how a space is designed.
Do you believe in repurposing?
Always! We love reupholstering or refinishing an important piece of furniture that clients don’t love anymore but have a history with. We love seeing it look like a brand-new piece of furniture! We always find value in meaningful pieces.
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Which part of your home is your favorite?
I love every part of my home. It is livable, vibrant, and cohesive with lots of texture and color throughout. Each space tells its own story but the colors and vibe flow throughout. I specifically love my formal living room – I was able to have fun in this room with a dark and moody ceiling, custom-shaped area rug, and textured tweed wallpaper.
In which part of your home do you spend the most time?
Definitely the family room. We have the comfiest, oversized sectional that we all love to lay on. There is a playroom connected to the family room so my daughters can easily go back and forth on their own. The space is open to the kitchen and playroom, cozy and warm. We love it!
May I please ask who you share your home with? As an expert in your field, were/are you open to design suggestions from them, especially your child(ren)?
I live with my husband, our two daughters, and our dog. My daughters were too young to have an opinion when we did the main house and their bedrooms. Now, if I asked my three-year-old what she wanted today she would want everything red I would pretend to ask my husband for his opinion but at the end of the day, it was up to me. However, my husband definitely proved to be my toughest client!
Do you have any designers that inspire you?
So many!! I have so much respect for other designers, knowing what goes on in their daily world and truly find inspiration from so many. Instagram is a great social network to get in touch with other designers and see what they are working on. One of my favorite designers from my childhood is Kelly Wearstler. The boldness and edginess of her designs have always caught my attention. She uses unexpected materials and shapes and I have always been a big admirer of her work.
