Exploring Life & Business with Jennifer Harris of Studio JC

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Harris.

Hi Jennifer, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
While growing up in Raleigh, I realized my curiosity for interior design when arbitrarily selecting a high school elective at Sanderson High School. This curiosity quickly led to a passion and pursuit of a career in interior design after learning from my mom “You know you can go to college and have a career in interior design, right?”. This led to researching the top interior design colleges at the time, bringing me to apply and then attend High Point University in 2011. After multiple internships, including a few with High Point Furniture Market exhibitors, I obtained a B.S. in Interior Design from High Point University in 2015. I started my career in a support role for other designers and, throughout the years, gained the knowledge and confidence to lead my design projects. Upon graduation, an internship transformed into a full-time position with Design Lines Signature in Raleigh where I worked side-by-side with my current business partner, Christie Stewart, for over seven years. Because the owner of Design Lines Signature is planning her retirement, Christie and I decided to start our own interior design business in October of 2022 and named it Studio JC.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been smooth?
College struggles included stressful times, constant studying, and all nighters stemming from perfectionist qualities that run in the family! One main struggle of my professional career has been dealing with the impatience of gaining confidence that can only really be obtained through the lessons of new experiences, design challenges, and working with different types of clients. Owning a business, Studio JC, has brought on many new challenges. Christie’s husband and my fiancé both own their own businesses, certainly helping us navigate some of these struggles. Most valuable lesson learned so far is that the impending anxiety of not knowing how to do something, quickly resolves when you jump in and just learn by doing!

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Founded by Jen Harris and Christie Stewart, Studio JC is a full-service interior design firm servicing Raleigh, the Triangle Area, and beyond. With 18+ years of combined experience and working together for over 7 years, we have built an effective partnership, leading us to the formation of Studio JC. Specializing in a detail-oriented and collaborative process, Studio JC services projects of various sizes or design styles. Studio JC is here to make a difference in how our client’s life is experienced, whether it is a small room refresh or a whole house renovation. Studio JC can assist in every aspect of the design process through connections to local showrooms, tradespeople, and trade-only vendors. From space planning to final touches, Studio JC’s main goal is to help our clients create meaningful spaces.

We all have different ways of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
The definition of success has changed throughout my life, and I am sure it will always evolve. Through college, success was “the best grades, to be liked by my peers and teachers, and to be able to make my family proud for what I was accomplishing.” The definition of success now has changed to be more about me. It is more about waking up every day and enjoying what I am doing and who I am working with or for, rather than worrying about people’s view of me and only living for the weekends—being proud when I make it through a difficult season in my life or get through a design or business challenge successfully and learning along the way. Starting a business has had its ups and downs, but I know the rewards and successes will outweigh any of its struggles and challenges.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.studio-jc.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/studio.jc.interiors/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/studio.jc.interiors

Image Credits
Photography: Kate Kribs Locations of Photography: A Hoke Ltd. & NC Art Museum *Any of our previous work photography is owned by Design Lines Signature and this portfolio can be found on their website: https://designlinesltd.com/portfolio/ Under each project you can see contributing designers.