As an acclaimed photographer specializing in interiors, newborns, and families, Jacqueline Clair has developed a keen eye for beautiful homes. Her work has been published in House Beautiful, Cottages and Gardens, Luxe Magazine, and more. So when it came time to decorate her own apartment, she knew just who to turn to. Knowing the rental was only a temporary home, designer Jennifer Hunter was commissioned to create custom touches through paint, removable faux grasscloth wallpaper, beautiful curtains, Ikea shelving, etc. to give the rental a more personal feel while investing in “forever” furniture and accessories that Jackie could take with her to her next home. Jennifer revived and reimagined many of Jackie’s existing pieces with beautiful new upholsteries and chintzes while implementing her dream of an English garden inspired bedroom… all while maximizing every inch of the tiny floor plan.

While Jackie has since moved to a new apartment on the Upper East Side, we are delighted to take a trip down memory lane today and prove that a cozy, custom home is attainable, even when renting.

Interior Design by Jennifer Hunter, Styling by Frances Bailey, Photography by Jacqueline Clair.

Welcome, Jacqueline!

Q:  What was the inspiration behind the decor? And how do you describe your style?

A:  For this apartment, I was very inspired by English designers like Louise Roe and Carlos Garcia. I wanted to create a kind of lived-in, slightly moody, English library vibe with chintz, brown furniture, and vintage pieces, while still staying true to my own more eclectic and bright, colorful style.

Q:  Any wallpapers, fabrics, paint colors, etc. you can share?

A:  After trying many different green paints, we settled on Lichen from Farrow and Ball as the perfect shade to set the stage in the living room. In the bedroom, I chose my beloved Farrow and Ball Pink Ground (a color I’ve used several times in apartments past!). It’s the perfect muted, beige-y light pink. We used fabrics from classic English designers like Penny Morrison, Veere Grenney, and Soane Britain, as well as bedding from the London-based Sarah K. Designs and accessories from Pooky Lighting, Ben Pentreath, and Host Home, among others. The living room draperies are Schumacher’s Cabanon Stripe in Rouge, a pattern I fell so in love with I had to also use it on a little vintage bench we reupholstered. The bedroom nightstand lampshades are from KRB in New York, made from vintage silk saris, and the scalloped rattan lampshades are custom from Cruel Mountain. The large painting in the bedroom is by my favorite artist Christina Baker, and was discovered at the Hampton Designer Showhouse many years ago. I now have several of her pieces and am lucky to call her a friend!

In the bathroom I was thrilled to finally have the opportunity to hang a wallpaper I’ve been wanting to use for years, a New York City print from Caitlin McGauley. In a slightly more rental-friendly move, we did a removable faux grasscloth wallpaper from Society Social in the hallway, which added gorgeous texture. We topped that tiny hallway off with a really beautiful gold semi-flush mount from Anthropologie.

Q:  Do you have any favorite treasures or special stories to share?

A:  To add character and a sense of the space being collected over time, we incorporated vintage pieces – an etagere and circa-1940s English reproduction side table I found at a thrift store on Long Island, a gilt mirror from an antique store in the Hamptons, a tole lamp with beautiful detailing, and various vintage accessories I’ve collected from different sources. We also reupholstered two little benches that my mom found years ago at yard sales. The dresser in the bedroom is from a vintage bedroom set my Mom found at a thrift store when I was younger. Having these pieces in the space, which have lived many lives both before entering into my family and since, was a huge part of what made the space feel like home.

Another great vintage find were the two dining chairs – an absolute steal at Housing Works for only five dollars each, and 50% off that! I was slightly unsure but I texted them to Jen and she immediately said get them! Their swirled arms are reminiscent of the chairs in the Rose Reading room at the NYPL. Jen helped me to get those restored and reupholstered in a gorgeous brown Veere Grenney for Schumacher fabric that I absolutely love. A simple sisal rug grounds the space and adds natural texture, while a custom chintz chair in Lee Jofa Althea is the star of the main living space and adds a splash of pink (my favorite color!).

The thing I wanted most in this apartment was a set of built-in bookshelves. This being a rental, that wasn’t going to be feasible, so we used Ikea Billy shelves to create the look of built-ins on a budget. My carpenter trimmed one of the bookcases down and removed a bit of baseboard on each side to help give it that built-in look. It wasn’t perfect, but I absolutely loved how the project turned out and the wall of shelves served as a perfect showcase for my many books and accessories.

Q:  Please tell me the process of how you and Jennifer worked together.

A:  Jen was an amazing partner in designing this space. She sourced some fabulous pieces for me, such as the Ballard Designs dining table (which fit the space so perfectly), while also helping me in the creation of the custom items that made the space feel special – the draperies, the Lee Jofa armchair – and the reviving/reimagining of existing pieces, such as the reupholstered Society Social Stevie swivel chair (a favorite that has traveled with me through many apartments). Jen was instrumental in designing the floor plan and layout of the space, which is always a challenge! I went through various iterations on my own before Jen drew up the perfect floor plan and helped me find the best spots for my existing pieces. She brought in a treasure trove of floral fabric samples that got me so excited to implement an English garden vision for the bedroom, and guided me towards using Colefax & Fowler’s iconic Bowood for the headboard, which was something I had considered but didn’t think could work. With her expertise I realized it was the perfect way to revive the Serena and Lily headboard which I had bought at great expense but wasn’t crazy about. With her help, it turned out to be one of my absolute favorite pieces in the space! I could never have made this apartment what it was without Jen and her amazing team.

Q:  Can you tell us about your current home? How is it different from this apartment? Maybe we can see it too someday? 🙂

A:  The great thing about this apartment is that when I moved to my current place, I was able to reuse almost everything (except for those “built-ins,” sadly – they had to go!). Even the custom draperies were able to be re-installed in my current apartment. I’m still on the Upper East Side, but in a different area of the neighborhood, and I love it so much! Even though it was sad to have to leave such a beautifully decorated space, I’m now closer to Central Park and in an area that has a bit more happening, so the change has been great. Decorating this new apartment and being able to find new spots for all of my favorite items from the previous place was a fun adventure, and I’d love to share it with The Glam Pad someday!

Thank you, Jackie, for this lovely trip down memory lane! What a beautiful and inspiring home you and Jennifer created.  We cannot wait to see your new home and discover how you have incorporated elements from this apartment.

To learn more, please visit Jacqueline Clair for photography (@jacquelineclairfamilies), Jennifer Hunter Design for interior design (@jenniferbeekhunter), and Frances Bailey for styling (@francesfinds).