A colleague in the interior design industry recently asked to interview me and I was reluctant at first because I really don’t believe anyone would be interested in reading about me. But, as we chatted, I realised that my life to this point in time has been a serendipitous journey toward the passion I have for interior design and the growth of my own business of JM Interior Design Studio here in Darwin. I’ve been so nervous sharing this interview with you all, but here it is and I’m kind of excited to share how I got here and the behind the designer story of me:
Speaking with Jan-Marie Jaillei it’s impossible not to get swept up in her passion for interior design and its many facets! Jan-Marie’s wealth of experience has been gained from living, travelling, and exploring all over the globe, from her early life in Queensland before moving to Darwin at the age of 7 then to Hong Kong, to New York and further afield.
Jan-Marie has been experienced a variety of things that some could only dream of, including trekking all the way to Everest Base Camp in the Himalayas! These experiences have helped her hone her interior design skills into a fine art. It was an amazing experience to catchup with her recently and find out more about this myriad of experiences!
Australians of a certain age remember a song that topped the charts in 1975: “Santa Never Made it into Darwin”. Jan-Marie lived the devastating disaster the was the basis for that hit song as a young child: “I was nine when Cyclone Tracey hit on Christmas Day. I have a vivid memory of waking up to Armageddon. No house, no belongings, only the clothes on our backs. Living in PJs for days and becoming somewhat of a refugee, relying on handouts and the charity of others to see us through to our relatives in Queensland. Our family returned to Darwin after the cyclone to help with the rebuild of the city. For me this experience will be one of my life’s most defining, knowing that even when I have nothing I can and will survive so I began to dream big with the faith that I had nothing to lose.”
Jan-Marie remained in Darwin with her family until just after her 20th birthday when the “opportunity of a lifetime” for a young woman from Darwin presented itself in the shape of a contract with a Hong Kong modelling agency. Modelling gave her the chance to travel the globe and visit some of the biggest cultural hubs on Earth. “I had the time of my life but knew it wasn’t a forever career for me”.
After the lure of excitement and adventure that comes from the modelling world wore down, Jan-Marie decided to move to a different career, still based in Hong Kong. “I moved into the hotel industry in sales and marketing and worked for a USA fortune 500 travel company based in Hong Kong as Director of Asia-Pacific”.
It was here in the world of hotels and commercial interiors that Jan-Marie’s love for interior design started, “I travelled over 250 days a year. Hotels and hotel rooms became my home and where my passion for interiors began. Consistently, room after room, distinguishing what made a hotel room superior to another, whether it was the lighting in the room, a pillow or the design and orientation of the furniture in a room and how I could improve it.”
Some of Jan-Marie’s favourite design projects:
Today, Jan-Marie is a proud Mum to three amazing young adults: Sienna, Francesca and Gabriel, who were all born in London where she lived for 15 years.
After spending much of her adult life out of Australia, in 2014 Jan-Marie decided to make the move back to her roots in Darwin. “I enjoy the laid-back lifestyle of Darwin and have found great joy in building my interior design business here”.
When Jan-Marie isn’t immersed in the business of design, or travelling for inspiration, she’s firmly planted at home with her creature comforts, cooking and entertaining for friends and family, playing tennis, practicing yoga, meditation and taking her dog on daily walks. Every morning my go to Kopi Stop for a oatmeal coffee with lashings of cinnamon!
Jan-Marie is a great lover of animals, big and small. “…growing up I was always surrounded by dogs, cats, and birds. My only pet now is my crazy Ace of Hearts, a black and white Tenterfield Terrier who has a trademark large black heart on the side of his tummy and more energy than an energizer bunny”. Jan-Marie says that the way to her heart is “always the little things”, like a smile from a stranger, or a bunch of “just because” flowers. Kind and thoughtful words also go far with me”.
It’s safe to say that Jan-Marie has lived quite a colourful life so far. Her many and varied experiences lend themselves greatly to her interior design acumen, with an eclectic style taking inspiration from many different cultures and stylistic decisions.
As for her favourite design style: “Tropical British Colonial is a style that resonates warmly with me – A decorative style that defines a life well-travelled. From living in Asia, Middle East and the UK, it is a style that I am most at home with. I love the fusion of Asian and African antiques sitting on Persian carpets and hanging silks to travelling trunks as coffee tables, hordes of well-read books, palm trees, rattan furniture and big glass bell lanterns everywhere, I could go on…”.
During her time living in Hong Kong, Jan-Marie loved spending time at the Macau antique furniture markets, which sparked her love of iconic occasional chairs with her first furniture purchase being a distressed elmwood Ming Dynasty Imperial armchair, an early 19th century chair that came from the Imperial palace in the Forbidden city in Beijing.
As for Jan-Marie’s favourite thing in her own home, her small collection of abstract art that she collected during her time living in The Middle East tops the list. “Rashid Al Orafi, an Arabian artist, spent his life painting and after his passing a museum has been created in the Kingdom of Bahrain to house his works. I feel very fortunate to have met him, and to be in possession of some of his most loved work; it’s such an honour! My favourite piece of Al Orafi’s work in my collection is an explosion of abstract primary colour and it is the emotive hero of any room I have hung it in.”
Jan-Marie’s passion for interior design and working in the field is strong and has been cultivated throughout her life so far. “I absolutely love the everchanging diversity of the projects. No two are the same, which gives me fresh enthusiasm when researching, sourcing, and dreaming up new concepts. I am a cerebral person so I can spend hours reading, dreaming, and coming up with elaborate ideas for the scheme, then enjoy the challenge of scaling it down to fit the budget and working practicalities without compromising the overall vision for the project. I love working with clients to realise their ideal living or working environments, helping them to manage their financial investment for their projects and taking control of the concept to completion. I enjoy working with my trades and team of contractors to bring my concept to life and I get to see firsthand the impact my designs have on people, whether it is a working or living environment, and that is so satisfying to witness”.
How did a career in interior design became her destiny? Jan-Marie reflects “I believe interior design chose me through a series of serendipitous life events. I arrived at interior design in my early 30s and have never had any doubt that it’s exactly where I’m meant to be. I’m grateful that I had found my gift or calling as you might say! My interests in photography, fashion and interior design were always a passion … everything I had done up to that career changing moment has contributed and prepared me for the success and challenges I am faced with today not only as a designer but as an employer and business owner. After all, 90% of interior design is about the business of design and the creative process is only a very small part of the overall role”.
The best piece of design advice that someone else gave to Jan-Marie? “Don’t compare yourself to others, instead compare yourself with the best version of yourself”. Something that not only applies to interior design, but life in general and something that we should all remind ourselves of from time to time!
