Jennifer Hunter

Meet Jennifer Hunter, the interior designer behind her namesake design firm, known for creating spaces that feel both timeless and distinctly personal. Raised around construction sites and architectural plans, her love of design started early and has evolved into a philosophy rooted in proportion, layering, and a collected point of view. Today, she brings a fresh perspective to traditional interiors, designing homes that feel thoughtful, lived-in, and effortlessly refined.

Tell us a bit about yourself. What first drew you to interior design?

Hi! I am Jennifer Hunter! I am a mom of two little girls, an interior designer and founder of Jennifer Hunter Design, content creator, and co-founder of HUNTfor, a taste-centric AI conversational solution that helps creators scale their taste, drive incremental revenue, and save time. I often say I fell in love with interior design by osmosis. I grew up immersed in the language of buildings, drawings, and construction sites, so design was part of everyday life.

My grandfather was a prominent builder in Washington, D.C., and some of my earliest memories are of spending Sunday mornings riding along with him as he made his job site rounds. While most kids might have been at the park or watching cartoons, I was walking through framed-out houses, breathing in the scent of fresh lumber, and listening to conversations about structure, proportion, and craft.

I lived for those Sundays. There was something electric about seeing an idea take physical form and watching walls rise. It invigorated me and lit something up inside that I couldn’t yet name. Even as a little girl, I knew I wanted to study architecture and design. What began as admiration for the bones of a building eventually evolved into a fascination. That early exposure really influenced my educational and career path.

How would you describe your design philosophy in a few words?

Traditional through a fresh lens.

Your spaces feel incredibly layered and collected. Where do you typically begin when designing a home?

I always begin with the bones of the space and let the architecture dictate everything that follows. Before thinking about furniture or finishes, I look at proportion, scale, natural light, and how rooms connect to one another. Those foundational elements tell you how a space wants to live.

From there, I focus on the "hardscaping," such as moldings, doors, hardware, floors, and wall treatments as these elements create the foundation. From there it is about building on that foundation, adding contrast, texture, and pieces that feel collected over time rather than decorated all at once.

Who are the women that inspire you?

Besides my incredible mother and grandmother, I find so much inspiration in my friends. These women are building truly exciting things across a range of fields. Watching them take risks, trust their instincts, and push into new territory challenges me to do the same. It pushes me to dig deeper, go further, and question what’s expected. I am challenged to create spaces that feel more thoughtful, layered, and less predictable. That energy is contagious, and it constantly encourages me to evolve and to push boundaries in my own work.

What has been a defining moment in your career so far?

Having my own home published in House Beautiful!

Where do you find inspiration for your projects?

Old British magazines from the early 90s!

How does your background in design inform your own personal everyday dressing? Do you apply the same formula?

My design background absolutely informs how I get dressed. I approach getting dressed the same way I approach a space, thinking about composition, balance, proportion, and a clear point of view.

I wouldn’t say I follow a strict formula, but there are definitely parallels. I think about layering, editing, or adding one unexpected element if it feels too safe. It’s very similar to designing a room where you’re constantly refining until it feels just right. And yes, I laugh because I absolutely “theme dress” for client meetings. It’s almost subconscious at this point.

At the end of the day, both design and personal style are about storytelling. What you wear sets a tone before you even speak. So in that sense, yes, I’m applying the same mindset, but just translating it from rooms to getting dressed each morning.

If you were a color, what color would you be and why?

I love this question so much! If I had to choose, I’d be chartreuse! While it is trending now, it is a color that is unexpected. It is kind of this color that is both bold and sophisticated and I love how it has this way of waking everything up around it!