Designer of the Week: Jessie Jones
Jessie Jones is the Founder and Principal Designer of Interiors Curator, a Houston-based interior design studio known for creating timeless, collected interiors with a fresh perspective. Read on to hear how she used Ernesta's Rosie rug in Dusty Rose to bring this design aesthetic to her client's nursery.
Why do you love interior design?
I’ve always been drawn to beautiful spaces and the way our surroundings can influence how we feel. I studied Interior Design at Texas Christian University and began my career in commercial design, working on larger-scale projects before eventually transitioning into residential design. Residential design felt like such a natural fit for me because I love the personal side of it, getting to know my clients, understanding how they live, and creating homes that feel collected, thoughtful, and uniquely theirs. I ultimately founded Interiors Curator as a way to bring my own point of view and approach to that process.
What is your idea of great design?
To me, great design feels personal, timeless, and effortless. It shouldn’t feel like everything was purchased at once or that the room was designed simply to follow a trend. The best interiors tell you something about the people who live there. They have layers, meaningful pieces, and a mix of materials and eras, but they’re also comfortable and functional. Ultimately, I think great design is a home that feels beautiful when you walk into it, but more importantly, feels like the people who live there.
How would you describe your style? How does that come through in your designs?
I would describe my style as classic and collected with a fresh perspective. I’m drawn to traditional forms, antiques, beautiful textiles, and pieces with history, but I love balancing those elements with cleaner lines and more contemporary touches. In my projects, that often comes through in the mix, such as an antique chest paired with modern lighting, a traditional patterned fabric against a quieter backdrop, or a classic silhouette upholstered in something unexpected. I want a room to feel layered and interesting without ever feeling overly designed.
I see you’re in Texas. Did you grow up there? How does Texas influence your style, if at all?
Yes! I grew up in The Woodlands, just outside of Houston, and now live and work in Houston. Texas definitely influences my approach to design, although perhaps not in the most literal sense. There’s a wonderful appreciation here for gracious, comfortable homes and for spaces that are meant to be lived in and shared with family and friends. I think that sense of hospitality comes through in my work. I want rooms to be beautiful, but they also need to feel welcoming, approachable, and functional for everyday life.
Jessie Jones
Describe your design process when working on a new project.
I always start by getting to know my client and understanding not only what they’re drawn to aesthetically, but how they actually live in their home. From there, I look at the architecture, existing pieces, functional needs, and overall feeling we want to create. I develop the design as a whole rather than selecting pieces individually. I’m always thinking about how the furniture, textiles, lighting, art, and accessories will work together. Once we establish that overall direction, we refine the details, source each piece, and ultimately bring everything together through installation and styling. I love that final layering stage because it’s often what makes a space truly feel like home.
Tell us about your project with Ernesta. What was the vision, and how did the custom-sized rug bring it to life?
This project was a nursery designed to feel graceful, soft, and timeless. We layered soft pinks and greens throughout the space, incorporating delicate patterns and textures to create a room that felt sweet and feminine without being overly precious. The rug played an important role in grounding all of those softer elements and creating a warm foundation for the room.
Being able to customize the rug size with Ernesta allowed us to get the scale just right for the nursery and the furniture layout. Rather than working around a standard rug size, we were able to create something that felt tailored specifically to the space. The finished rug helped pull the entire room together while maintaining the soft, serene feeling we wanted for the nursery.
Did you use Ernesta samples in your process? How do you typically incorporate samples?
Yes, and samples are such an important part of my design process. I always prefer to see materials in person whenever possible because color, texture, and scale can read so differently on a screen. I like to look at rug samples alongside the other materials in the room: upholstery fabrics, drapery, paint colors, wood finishes, and any existing pieces we’re keeping. It allows me to see how everything relates and make sure the entire palette feels cohesive before making a final selection.
When you’re selecting or sizing a rug for a space, what factors do you consider?
The furniture plan is usually my starting point. I want the rug to feel connected to the furniture rather than floating independently in the room. From there, I consider the dimensions and architecture of the space, traffic flow, door clearances, and how much flooring we want exposed around the perimeter. I also think about how the room will be used when selecting the material, something appropriate for a formal dining room may not be the same choice I would make for a family room with children and pets. Having flexibility with sizing is incredibly valuable because every room and furniture arrangement is a little different.
Your goldendoodle is adorable. What are some things you’d say pet owners should consider when designing their spaces?
Thank you! Jagger is definitely part of our family, so I understand firsthand that a home has to work for everyone who lives there, including the pets. I always encourage clients with pets to think carefully about performance and durability when selecting fabrics and rugs, but I don’t think that means sacrificing style. There are so many beautiful performance fabrics available now, and thoughtful material choices can make a huge difference. I also love incorporating washable or easy-to-maintain pieces where it makes sense. Ultimately, I think you should design for the life you actually live rather than creating a home you’re afraid to use.
Name a current trend that you love.
I love seeing a renewed appreciation for antiques and vintage pieces. There’s been a shift away from rooms where everything feels brand new and perfectly coordinated, and I think that makes interiors so much more interesting. Incorporating something with age, patina, or a story immediately gives a room character and helps create that collected-over-time feeling that I love.
Where do you find inspiration?
I find inspiration everywhere! Travel, fashion, art, architecture, old design books, antique shops, and even small details I notice in everyday life. I’m especially inspired by interiors that have evolved over time. I love spaces where you can’t immediately identify when everything was purchased because there’s a thoughtful mix of old and new. I also spend a lot of time looking through vintage interiors and studying the details that have stood the test of time.
What is one design rule or “trick of the trade” you swear by?
Scale is everything. You can have beautiful individual pieces, but if the proportions aren’t right, the room will always feel a little off. Rugs in particular are an area where I tend to say bigger is better. A properly scaled rug grounds the furniture and makes the entire room feel more intentional and cohesive.
Jessie Jones, Founder and Principal Designer of Interiors Curator
Jessie Jones is the Founder and Principal Designer of Interiors Curator, a Houston-based interior design studio known for creating timeless, collected interiors with a fresh perspective. A graduate of Texas Christian University with a degree in Interior Design, Jessie began her career in commercial design before transitioning into residential interiors and ultimately founding Interiors Curator.
Her work blends traditional silhouettes, antiques, layered textiles, and thoughtful details with contemporary elements to create homes that feel polished yet approachable. With an emphasis on livability and longevity, Jessie believes the most beautiful interiors are those that reflect the people who live in them and feel as though they have been thoughtfully collected over time.
