Interiors Expert: Jenni's Tips For Tackling Home Renovations

Rip & Tan: What’s the most important thing to know before starting a home renovation?

Jenni Kayne: I think before starting a renovation it’s important to know what you want. To have everything picked out, know what you’re inspired by, and to be able to project what you want it to look like.

Rip & Tan: What’s your approach to creating a vision for a space?

Jenni Kayne: I like spending time in a space and getting an understanding of how it feels and flows and what I really envision, and then I like pulling inspiration, whether it’s from nature, from old books, from different architects and artists, Pinterest. The more visuals you have that tell a cohesive story, the better.

Rip & Tan: How do you keep track of the many details that go into a finished space?

Jenni Kayne: I think being really organized and thinking about the details is always important. I like to keep a pretty cohesive list or schedule so that no area gets overlooked.

Rip & Tan: What tips do you have for not getting overwhelmed with the endless possibilities of creating a home? 

Jenni Kayne: I think when you’re designing a home, you should keep it simple and really think about the way you want a room to function and how you want it to feel. I think less is more, always.

People can get overwhelmed by the options or care about what other people are going to think, or they try reinventing the wheel. I think it really comes down to feeling grounded in the space. When you strive to create something beautiful and timeless, you’ll never go wrong.

Rip & Tan: Any tips for finding the right contractor and architect?

Jenni Kayne: I think interviewing as many people as you are referred to or come across that you gravitate towards is a great way to determine who you will work best with.

I always say that it’s like entering a relationship with someone. There’s a courting period where you should really get to know the person and feel really good about getting in bed with them.

Rip & Tan: What are the home renovation elements worth the splurge? Where can you save?

Jenni Kayne: I think there are definitely places to save and places to spend, and it depends on the space.

For me, floors and hardware are always a nice detail to invest in. I also think the kitchen and bathrooms can make a huge difference.

And then when it comes to furnishing your space, I like to focus on anchor pieces like a sofa and then sprinkle in smaller elements as you go.

Rip & Tan: What’s one thing you learned from building your home?

Jenni Kayne: It’s always going to take longer and there’s always going to be stressful moments, but I think it’s important embrace the project and process and to not put so much pressure on every minute and detail.