Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Jen Dallas of Santa Monica

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Jen Dallas. Check out our conversation below.

Hi Jen, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: When was the last time you felt true joy?
My son is starting his final year of high school. He is looking at colleges and now more focused on what he wants his major to be. Over the weekend I read the draft of his personal essay. As I read his carefully curated words I watched this small human who I have loved and supported for the past seventeen years rapidly turn into a young adult. The descriptions he shared were personal and authentic showing the depth and character of the person he has become. I felt proud and overjoyed to fully take in these words that communicated so clearly his self-awareness and what a good human he is. My son looked over at me, watching the tearstained true joy on my face.. I was beyond proud. It was pure joy.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My namesake design firm is in Santa Monica, California. We have been in business for seventeen years. I started my firm when my son was born in an effort to have more control over my own schedule. I have never looked back. We do house renovations, new construction for residential properties as well as a few commercial “jewels” along the way. As a child I was always interested in artistry. I loved to draw and paint and create. As I grew up I found psychology and therapy fascinating. As I learned more and more about design and architecture my goal was to be an interior designer. Now years later, in a way I never expected, I have brought all of those skills, abilities, talents and gifts to my profession. I am an artist, therapist and given the opportunity, I assist people to live their best life. Environments are powerful players in how we feel about ourselves and about life. It’s not about expensive things. It is about finding out what is most important to each individual and what will contribute to help their world thrive. At the beginning of each project I ask alot of questions. I want to know about them personally as well and their current living enviornment. It helps me establish a vision not only for the beauty we will create with together but how the residence will be laid out, function and ultimately what gives them the most joy. I do dream building throughout the creative process with clients. This allows my clients time to explore those with me. I find it helps to best define priorities. I am a very holistic designer. For example, if we are working on a renovation of an older home, I look for ways to implement what we are doing to complement the existing architecture. I pride myself that what we add stays true to the original house. Whether it is choosing the right moulding, a vintage light fixture or the correct width of the wood floor. I value creating homes that are beautiful, welcoming and reflects the people who live there.

Okay, so here’s a deep one: What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
I laughed when I read this question. My earliest memory of feeling powerful was when I was 7 years old. We lived outside Chicago. We had a big backyard, However when we moved in we noticed there was a small section that was fenced in making it separate from the rest of the yard. You couldn’t access this area without going back into the house and out the back door. Looking back it was probably an area that the previous owners used for their dog. My sister and I were always going back and forth between the large portion of the backyard into this smaller fenced in area where our sandbox was set up. One day my Father brought home a two-sided ladder. It was no ordinary ladder. It had two ladders that met at a small platform in the middle. My father placed it over the fence., It fit perfectly. It was as if it was made for it. My first feeling of being powerful was climbing up one side of the ladder and standing on the platform between. I could go up or I could go down but I had full access to either side without going back into the house. Standing on that platform feeling tall- I felt strong and powerful. I could do anything I wanted or imagined to do. It makes me laugh to think about it.

Do you remember a time someone truly listened to you?
A good listener is a rare find. Most people will listen to you until they hear something that reminds them of something they are dealing with in their own life. That’s when you lose them. They are too busy working out their own problems or identifying something that happened to them. There have been times in my life where I really needed someone to listen and I didn’t receive it. I do credit those moments as teaching moments. It taught me how to navigate life better on my own without having to verbally process it all. It also taught me how important it is to be present and give someone else your complete attention. I have worked hard to cultivate this gift, I believe some people are good at it and some people are not. But it’s a skill that we can all learn. I have three friends that I can think of right now that are incredible listeners. Whether I am sharing a joke or a heartfelt disappointment. Whatever they are doing in that moment they will drop it to listen to me. Not only with their ears but their entire body stops and stays present for me. True listening is not just taking in the information and responding back. True listening is holding space for someone where there is no need to respond back at all. You can give the person space to share and help them sort out whatever they are going through. Its a physical response. It happens in your entire body not just your ears.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
My closest friends would say that my family matters to me. My time and connection to them are most important to me. I have always had an inner sense of time moving quickly. A year now feels like a blink but honestly even when I was a child time felt like that to me. I value spending time and making memories with the people I love. I value home. To create a place of rest and relaxation for my family and friends whether it be a comfortable home, a fresh cooked meal, holiday festivities and celebrations to a safe place to hang. I always wanted my son and his friends to use our home as the crash pad and the place they all love to be. The home with lots of snacks and laughs. My friends would say I love traveling especially traveling with my son and sharing memories with him. I love animals. My friends all know my obsessions with dogs and farm animals not to mention my longing for an African Grey Parrot. They would say I like getting my hands dirty(literaly) and learning to garden in the last couple years has become a passion of mine. I want to have some land with some animals one day. I love food. I love preparing food and learning about food. I am always on some sort of new food kick learning how to make something from scratch or to discover something to prepare for the very first time. I love architecture and creating homes for people that celebrate who they are and who they want to become. I believe in the power of designing a home and how much that can impact lives.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I consider myself lucky as I am doing what I was born to do. That’s not to say we aren’t born to do multiple things. As I am growing older I am discovering that as I serve my passions there are more to be discovered. Each time I accomplish those goals I satisfy the same feeling that I was born to be doing what I am doing. I think we can limit ourselves to believe one thing will satisfy or one thing is “it” whether it be a career or passion. I believe it is multiple things. My passion has always been to be an interior designer and as I followed that dream in morphed into new dreams like my own textile line, ceramic tile collections, wallpaper collection, lighting collection and now a rug collection. I think the most important thing is to follow your heart and passion. If you do that it won’t let you down and it will lead you the way you are supposed to go.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jendallas.com
• Instagram: @jendallas

Image Credits
Lesley Bohm (my portrait)
Steven Rimlinger (wall sconce)
Jen Dallas Studio (wallpaper on table)
Jen Dallas Studio (fabric hanging)
Jen Dallas Studio (pillow with fringe)
Manolo Langis (kitchen with green leather stools)
Manolo Langis (wood spiral staircase)
Manolo Langis (ocean view kitchen dining room)
Attento Rugs (“Coin Rug” JD Rug Collection)
Attento Rugs (“On Point” JD Rug Collection)