Design is in Denise Jones’ DNA. An interior designer/planner and owner of J2 Design Studio in Bedminster, the New Jersey native grew up inside of her mother’s home-based interior design firm.
“She ran her business out of our house,” says Jones, adding that their current businesses, while separate, share office space. “By proximity, I developed an innate predisposition for design.”
Although Jones had a fundamental interest in interior design, academically she explored interests in psychology, business and education—she calls it “taking the scenic route”—before eventually earning a degree from her mom’s alma mater, The New York School of Interior Design, and opening her own company.
Like her mother, she worked out of her home in the beginning. In 2018, she acquired a kitchen and bath business and added it to her portfolio.
“I was coordinating and planning architectural projects with interior design, kitchen and bath projects, and the strategic acquisition of a kitchen and bath showroom put everything under one roof,” she says.
Jones, who saw the value in going beyond selecting paint swatches and arranging decorative items on shelves, created a comprehensive design service she refers to “master planning” or “pre-construction planning” because she realized that “interior designers were not consulted until the projects were nearly complete. I saw opportunities that were missed and mistakes that were made with that lack of buildout foresight that led to unhappy homeowners. We set out to change that.”
J2 Design Studio, she says, closes the design loophole by working with clients from early concept and planning stages through final construction.
Here, Jones demystifies the design process.
I just bought a house and it needs a lot of work, including a new kitchen and bath. Where do I start?
As master planners, we can help homeowners who want to make sure they maximize the function and utility of their space as well as the aesthetics in any or all rooms of their home, guiding them with projects as large as a kitchen renovation or as small as a closet design. We are a resource for people like you who need guidance.
What do I have to do to get the ball rolling?
Every project starts with a consultation either in our studio or on a phone call. We then go through a reality check where we talk about deadlines, budgets and most importantly, expectations of the process and usefulness of the final space. Budget is key; if you don’t know your investment range, we can help you with that by comparing your goals with other, similar projects we’ve done in the area and what they cost. The budget is the starting point and defines the operating instructions of a project. From there we build a process and develop a road map to reach your project goals.
I just want to do a couple of projects. Is a master plan really necessary?
Most of the time, yes. It allows you to see the whole picture, and it will make your house worth more when you sell it, which is why we like to get involved in the beginning of projects because everything you do impacts something else. Redoing your kitchen may involve moving doors or even replacing walls, all of which is best done when planned from the beginning. Sometimes, we are called into projects already in progress. For instance, we got a call from empty nesters who were remodeling a kitchen and were struggling with the constraints of the space. We suggested changes to their architectural plans, specifically in relocating the kitchen from the front of the house to the back; they were thrilled. It was a pivotal decision at a small upfront cost.
You had me at “small cost.” How much is the master plan?
It depends on the number of rooms and their square footage, but generally the investment starts at $2,500, which really isn’t much, considering a major renovation can cost tens of thousands of dollars.
I’ve heard that hiring an interior planner or interior designer is expensive.
In addition to our design knowledge and on-the-job experience, if you decide to hire us for the entire project, there are resources we can provide that will absolutely save you money. For one thing, with the master plan, we can do things in phases. We also can provide low-budget alternatives for items, such as generic models or pre-owned cabinets that can be purchased at a discount.
Once I’ve decided to work with you, how do I find a contractor?
We have a team of people—architects, contractors and skilled tradespeople—who we have worked with over our 30 years. Our pool of talent is the absolute best in the business. We all enjoy collaborating, and our role is as an air-traffic controller, navigating decisions from framing to fixtures and finishes, making sure that everything gets done correctly and on time. The team is like an insurance policy that assures you that you will be over the moon when the project is done. Your home is the biggest stock-market purchase of your life; you want to do it right so you can enjoy it while you own it and make money when you sell it.
Learn more at https://j2designstudio.com/
A master plan allows you to see the whole picture.
You will be over the moon when the project is done.