How Jaime Zehner Infused This Coastal Abode With a Sense of Home

Rip & Tan: Trending this season: obsession-worthy outfits that redefine that meaning of everlasting style.

Jaime Zehner: I think deep down I always knew I wanted to be in design, but it took me a little bit to find my way to it. I tried my hand at the corporate world but my heart was just never in it. When I was working in marketing, events, and retail, it was always the designing and creative aspects of those jobs that I was most drawn to. In 2013, I started working in design for a new home builder, and I knew that was it. No matter where my path went, designing homes was where my heart was. I was working at that job while taking online design courses and helping my parents design their forever home on the side. I was completely overwhelmed but in the best way possible and I felt like I was exactly where I needed to be. A few more turns and some amazing experiences later, I started my business.

Rip & Tan: Walk us through this home’s aesthetic. How do you balance your own quintessentially Californian vision with each client’s hopes for a space?

Jaime Zehner: It definitely starts with my clients’ needs and their wishlist. The foundation of my visions, for the most part, starts with a neutral palette rich in texture. It was the same for this client. I like to use pieces that will stand the test of time, so we look at classic, durable elements like hardwood flooring, performance linen fabrics, and leathers that will age beautifully over time. Our first meeting has nothing to do with accessories and just focuses on the main elements of the home. I bring a bag of sample fabrics for them to touch and feel so that I can see what they gravitate toward and we work off of that. 

Rip & Tan: Which element of designing this home was the most fun or fulfilling for you? Were there any rooms that presented more of a challenge?

Jaime Zehner: The living room for both! This room is long and narrow. So we knew that adding in more furniture would be tricky, but I still didn’t want it to feel stark and empty or use too many solid patterns in one place. Almost everything in this room was custom.

We used a deep sofa with a chaise for comfort and added an ottoman with a small, moveable table that doubles as a footrest or seating if they’re entertaining, and we added a long bench seat at the large bay windows in a bold fabric that tied all of the elements together. This room also gets amazing light; so we made sure to balance the neutrals with the black accents to ground the space and soak up the gorgeous light.

Rip & Tan: You strike a seemingly effortless balance between crisp, bold elements and organic textures. How do you decide when to lean contemporary and when to incorporate more of a storied, vintage feel?

Jaime Zehner: Thank you! Again, I like to listen to what the client’s wants and hopes for the space are. In starting with the foundational pieces of a home, we decide if we want to lean into a more neutral feel or go a bit bolder. I will say, I like my designs to feel like home, and not a showroom. So in any project, I will lean into those organic, layered textures for that reason; they feel inviting and lived in.

I also ask my clients to lay out the pieces in their home that they love or want to incorporate and I try to reimagine them in an updated way. This lends itself to a more elevated, personal touch. Because of this, we’ve turned a gorgeous antique buffet into a full-blown bar, turned a collection of mismatched photographs into a large-scale monochromatic gallery wall, and created a built-in cabinet to show off an impressive collection of vintage glassware that had previously been boxed up. These details change project to project, but blend the things of the past with the present and make it exclusive to each client. Lastly, I like to add live plants in unique vessels to each space to bring in that natural, organic feel and bring in earthy green tones and interest. It’s the very last thing, but always makes the magical finishing touch.

Rip & Tan: As a self-proclaimed fan of road trips and found treasures, what are some must-stop spots for sourcing home goods? What advice do you have for those who may be new to flea markets or antique shops?

Jaime Zehner: It’s funny, because my parents taught me both how to love vintage and antique pieces and how to plan the best road trips.

I love reimagining old pieces or finding something unique that tells a story, there’s something nostalgic about it. Since I’ve lived all over Southern California, I’ve been able to add some incredible shops to my never-ending, always updated list and am more than happy to hop in a car for a road trip up or down the coast. Some of my favorite stops around Southern California are Big Daddy’s Antiques, Surfing Cowboys, Galerie Half, Pasadena Antique Warehouse, and of course the local flea markets… to name just a few. We finally made it to Round Top, TX last year—a whole town that just sells antiques! That is an amazing experience if you can make it happen.

I think if you’re new to flea markets, it can be exciting and overwhelming at first. Definitely define your style before you buy a bunch of things; but if you absolutely love something, don’t sleep on it! Carry cash and be ready to bargain. And most importantly, if you see a unique piece of furniture or art, don’t be afraid to update it and make it personal with a new fabric or frame!

Rip & Tan: When considering decor, what’s the key to selecting pieces that feel grounded and intentional?

Jaime Zehner: It’s so important to love what you put into your home. Don’t try to force a trend that you don’t resonate with; trends come and go. I like to focus on investing in quality foundational pieces and build around them. Don’t worry about trying to get it all done at once. Live in your space to get an idea of what you really want and need.

If you want a specific, expensive couch…wait and save for it instead of settling for something you won’t love as much. This helps form an intentional space. Once you start this process, it will be a lot more fun to source the items that compliment your style and aesthetic and make you enjoy your space that much more.

Rip & Tan: Are there any recent design trends you’ll carry with you into future projects? Any you’d like to see disappear?

Jaime Zehner: I will definitely bring texture any and everywhere. From walls to furniture to artwork and accessories. Good design is built in layers and textures. Every space should be filled with elements that pull you in with fine details and connect you to the space so that ultimately, you feel at home.

I would like to see less of all light and bright and white everything. I love seeing more earthy shades of brown and natural grains of wood. They pair really well with the neutrals that we’ve been seeing, but give a bit more dimension!

Rip & Tan: What does living well mean to you?

Jaime Zehner: Living well is something I encourage not only for myself, but for my clients as we design their homes. Interior Design is an investment and I want them to fully appreciate that in the spaces we create for them. I believe first and foremost that home is a feeling, and it’s our goal to help infuse that into every inch of a space. I believe that the real elevation of a home happens in the fine details which is why we obsess over the finishing touches. 

Living well is living in and appreciating these details that you touch and feel and live in every day: good textiles, home-cooked meals, mastering the perfect at-home cup of coffee, a healthy mindset, good books, good friends, limited screen time, and so forth.