Jamie Ivey didn’t start off in the design world; in fact, after graduating with an engineering degree, she worked as a management consultant in New York and Washington. It was her time in New York City that sparked the idea to pursue design. “I took the leap, left my consulting job, and went back to school for my interior design degree,” says Ivey. “My friends thought I was crazy, but it was honestly the best decision I ever made.”
Seventeen years later, Ivey is a full-time interior designer based in Richmond, Virginia, with residential and commercial projects in her region and beyond. She’s known for her rich color palettes and clean aesthetic—and says her favorite part of her job is hearing her clients express how much they love their new home. “While I’m not saving lives, creating comfortable and enjoyable spaces for my clients, especially in today’s world, is incredibly fulfilling,” Ivey says.
We caught up with Ivey to hear more about her approach to design and a recent 9,000-square-foot home she designed in Powhatan, Virginia. The country-meets-contemporary design is the ultimate family haven, complete with playful elements including a bowling alley, custom mural-wrapped game room, and even a slide.
Where do you look for inspiration?
I draw inspiration from a variety of sources, including social media platforms like Pinterest and, more recently, TikTok. I also rely on traditional resources like magazines, trade publications, and design books. While I’d love to travel more, I always make a point to appreciate the local architecture whenever I do. I organize the images I find in cloud-based folders, making it easy for the team to access and review when we begin a new project.
What do you find most challenging about your work?
One of the biggest challenges we’ve faced recently, due to the pandemic and inflation, has been the significant increase in pricing. Achieving the same design aesthetic now costs considerably more. Many projects require engineering, which is often disappointing because it usually impacts the [budget for the] most impactful design elements, like lighting and furniture.
Give us the backstory on this project.
While I was in the middle of designing a large modern home here in the outskirts of Richmond, the client’s sister reached out to see if I could help with her home as well. I was having such a positive experience with my current client that I was confident working with her sister would be equally enjoyable. And it was!
What type of design were your clients looking for?
My client envisioned a family-friendly home designed for entertaining both adults and children. They wanted large, open spaces and a variety of fun zones, including a craft room, bowling alley, golf simulator, putting green, a gaming area with an overhead hangout net, and even a slide connecting the floors. Multiple lounging areas and kitchen/bar/dining zones were also incorporated to make hosting gatherings a breeze. Because the house is located in the country, far from typical entertainment venues, the goal was to bring the fun to them—creating a space where they never need to leave.
What were the steps involved in your creative process?
The home’s contemporary architecture called for a complementary interior design. Our client envisioned bold color accents in certain areas while preferring a neutral, yet still impactful, palette for the kitchen, primary bedroom, and bathroom. The house boasted stunning two-story windows in the main living areas, and we were determined to maximize those views.
With these elements in mind, I began developing concept imagery and a basic color and material palette to capture the desired mood. We also prioritized space planning to ensure all of the client’s desired furniture would fit comfortably within the open-concept main floor. Once these foundational elements were established, we moved on to designing the key features of the home. It was a fun and collaborative process, with the client actively involved in every step. This home was my client’s vision through our unique design lens.
What aspects of this project were most rewarding to you?
The most rewarding part of any project is when we can fully immerse ourselves in the design phase and create truly custom elements. Great design requires time and effort, not just from our design team but also during installation. We were able to do this on a grand scale for this home, which was incredibly satisfying. The brass inlays in the floors and walls, the teak bathtub surround, the custom mural and lighting in the expansive gaming room, and the bespoke furniture and rugs throughout … this home is truly unique in every detail.
What are your favorite details of this design?
I love how this home balances a playful color palette and some fun, unexpected features (like the spiral slide next to the dining room!) with a sophisticated, high-end feel. My personal favorite elements are the two-tone, large-format tile flooring with brass inlay and the custom 12-foot walnut dining table that we designed and commissioned from Daniel Rickey.
What ideas can our readers take away from this project and apply to their own space?
Adding color to your home doesn’t have to be overwhelming. A great approach is to build a foundation with neutral elements and then incorporate moments of color through furniture, accessories, and paint.
And finally … what’s your favorite tip that only a designer will tell you?
Contrast is the key to bringing interest to your interiors, even if you’re loving the all-beige interiors that are so trendy right now. You still need some darker pieces—think deep camel or chocolate—to break things up. The same goes for shapes. Those wonderfully bulbous, round furniture pieces that are everywhere these days? Your whole room definitely shouldn’t be filled with them. You need to mix in some straight lines to keep things interesting and avoid that “just-walked-into-one-store-and-bought-everything” look.
