Jennifer Wagner Schmidt, Founder, JWS Interiors
Jennifer Wagner Schmidt is an award-winning interior decorator whose work has been featured in numerous popular magazines and blogs such as Home & Design, Domino, Good Housekeeping, The Washington Post, Apartment Therapy, and dozens more. Harper’s Bazaar named Jennifer an inspiring woman for its annual “Fabulous At Every Age” contest and Home & Design named her one of the “Hot Talent” up-and-coming designers in the Washington, D.C. area. Her design philosophy is to keep decor chic, timeless, and luxurious with a touch of glamour. You’ll notice that Jennifer is every bit as chic as her spaces.
Growing up in Virginia, Jennifer had a wonderful childhood with incredibly supportive parents who taught her early on that she could accomplish whatever she set out to achieve. This has instilled in her a very strong sense of self, confidence, and positivity. She went on to receive her BA in Communications, with a concentration in Public Relations, from George Mason University. However, Jennifer always had a passion for design and after working in hi-tech PR for years, she decided to pursue her true calling and enter the world of interiors. She took several classes at design school and worked at the DC Design Center. Her reputation for creating stunningly beautiful and chic interiors grew so much that she decided to form her own design company and, thus, JWS Interiors opened its doors in 2006.
Focusing on high-end residential design, JWS Interiors is based in the metro Washington, DC area with a large number of clients in New York City as well. Jennifer gets her inspiration from runway fashion, abstract art, Hollywood glamour, luxury travel, and more. Relying on the tenets of opulence and quality combined with a modern style honed over the years working with politicos, entrepreneurs, and business owners, she can translate great design into sophisticated interiors that reflect her clients’ lifestyles.
As an entrepreneur and mother of two daughters, Jennifer understands the importance of designing practical yet beautiful spaces. Jennifer prides herself on getting to know her clients and listening to their wants and needs for a project. Clients often remark on how they appreciate her honesty in letting them know where to spend their money and where to save it. She excels at being able to translate great design into sophisticated interiors reflecting her clients' lifestyles.
What stands out about Jennifer is that she is utterly fearless and determined in the pursuit of her dreams. She’s taken so many risks and while she is the first to tell you that they have not always worked out she will also tell you that she has no regrets. She believes that we all only have so much time here and she plans to take advantage of every moment. She knows that if she doesn’t at least try she’ll never know if she can do it. However, she will also tell you that courageousness needs to go hand in hand with hard work and hustle to achieve your dreams. She worked until midnight with two babies to make her business successful. She knew she had the passion, and confidence and was willing to put in all of the effort required to make it work.
Jennifer is the epitome of what it looks like to release your fears and dive into work that inspires you and feeds your passion. She looks forward and not back. Most importantly, she makes it imperative to give back to herself and her family. She knows that while hard work propelled her business forward giving herself time to pause and recharge keeps her the most creative and therefore allows her to consistently deliver beautiful work for her clients. For Jennifer, pausing might mean going for some ice cream with her daughters, getting a facial or even taking a bath with a glass of wine. Jennifer and her success is what happens when you add hard work, passion, courage, confidence, grace, and glamour. She inspires us to keep moving forward toward our dreams and to have no regrets for at least trying.
What is your secret to living a high-vibrancy life?
Faith in God and having the best family and friends a woman could ask for. My circle is as good as it gets.
Who is a woo-woo working woman that you admire and why?
Any genuine woman, hard-working (taking care of their family; paid or unpaid (volunteer) job), and lifts others. I like to be around women who are positive and doing things in life. Personally, I will nap when I’m dead!
How do you balance work, wellness, and spirituality?
I think everything in life has to be balanced—as a working mother you have to be able to take care of your children, yourself, and be good at your job. This is not always an easy task! I am a Christian and my spirituality has always kept me afloat during all of the peaks and valleys in life. It’s important to take time for yourself to decompress – that can be as simple as a bath and a glass of wine or enjoying a good book. One thing I love doing with my kids which always recharges me is one-on-one dates with each of them—it’s a great way to re-center and the time together makes everyone happy!
Was there any one significant event that moved you onto the path of becoming the woman you are today?
I can’t say that there is one significant event, but rather simply having the support of family and friends. There is no greater influence for me than these special people in my life. I was able to take the risk and start JWS Interiors with zero dollars, zero clients, and no website because of my faith in myself and the support from those I love.
Personal mantra?
Live each day to the fullest.
You started initially with a career in PR but decided to pursue your passion for interior design which resulted in opening your successful firm. What made you decide to pivot and how did that transition look like for you?
I knew I wanted to have children and after having our first child, I wanted to do something I loved that would allow me to have a flexible schedule to be home with them while making money. Let me be clear--it was not easy, not in the least. But was it worth it—1000 percent! I started slow and steady and was able to ramp up my business as my children got older, more self-sufficient, and started school.
How would you advise other women out there who have similar intuitive pings to pursue or create a career that is better aligned with their passions and values?
If you have a passion, are willing to put blood, sweat, and tears into it, and get educated in your industry then I think it is worth it. If you don’t try, how will you ever know if it can be done? And if it doesn’t work out, at least you tried and I’m 100 percent sure you will have learned something from it.
What’s the toughest part about pursuing your passion? What’s the most rewarding?
The toughest part for me initially was not taking things personally because it was my business, especially if I didn’t get ‘that’ client. You put so much effort into something that it’s hard to step back sometimes and let things flow. I’ve learned now to do this and it has been instrumental.
The most rewarding thing is that I started with nothing and created something I am very proud of. And most of all, I have shown my daughters that they can pursue any passion with confidence. A woman making her own money is always a good thing!
What are the skills or attributes you believe have supported you in having a successful career? Were they innate or skills you had to work to develop?
Passion, a good work ethic, fabulous people skills (for my industry at least), rolling with the punches. For me these were innate which has helped me. I’m still learning to be more organized which is also a necessity!
We are all suddenly spending most of our time at home. Any suggestions for making our spaces more inviting and supportive of our new work-from-home lives?
Paint a space with a color that makes you happy. This is the least expensive and most dramatic way to change a space. Add in live greenery—a plant or tree can make all the difference. Clear the clutter—clutter causes stress!
Have you picked up any useful organization and/or productivity hacks for managing many simultaneous clients and projects?
I like deadlines. They can keep me on track and my clients happy. I find when everyone is on the same page, things are much, much easier.
What would your advice be to a woman working a full-time job but passionate about interior design? Are there any nontraditional ways to learn about and gain entry into the profession and industry?
My advice would be to ask questions of those in the industry/interview people. Do an internship if you have to get a good feel of what design entails. I can assure you it is NOT all pretty photos on Instagram. There is a lot of behind-the-scenes work involved that isn’t always shown on social media.
I went the non-traditional way myself. I quit my job and took a few interior design classes at my local college. I will say that with design, not everything can be learned. You either have an eye for design or you don’t. I knew from a young age I liked design and as an adult, people always told me I was good at putting things together.
Do you follow any specific doctrines on diet and fitness?
I eat healthy but am not strict. I need to exercise more!
I love your style. Your personal aesthetic is just as beautiful as your spaces. Do you have advice for how a woman can shop and dress for the woman she aspires to be?
Buy what you love (so long as you can afford it!). This goes for fashion and interior design. If you love what you own, you can’t go wrong. I have a favorite dress that I get loads of compliments on and it was a whopping $20!
Do you have any routines or rituals that help you stay focused and grounded?
I pray. I spend time with those people I adore most. My guilty pleasure for years has been a bubble bath with wine to relax and decompress from the day.
What is the greatest gift you can give yourself?
LOVE. If you love yourself, you can fully love others.
What would the title of your autobiography be?
No Regrets. How Taking Risks Shaped My Life
How do you reset after a challenging day?
Catch up with my daughters on their day and focus on them; a glass of wine with a design magazine
Favorite motivational Instagram account, podcasts, and/or books?
@jayshetty
@createthelove
@melrobbins
Favorite places to shop online for affordable home design finds?
Lulu and Georgia
CB2
Target
RugsUsa
Advice to the Woo🖤Wooo Working Women out there figuring out how to live their best high-vibrancy life?
I’ve always said you only live once, so take the risk; have faith; and enjoy each day. On bad days, remember that there are always good days. And on good days, be thankful.
