Named by House Beautiful magazine as a “design talent to watch” and a “timeless designer” by The Scout Guide, J.P. Horton caught our eye with his classic style, passion for Wedgwood, and his exquisite fabrics, wallpaper, and grasscloth collection. He also happens to have cut his teeth working with some of the top design legends in the country – including Charlotte Moss and Michael S. Smith – before founding his namesake design studio, J.P. Horton Interior Design, in 2017.
Raised in Charlottesville, Virginia, J.P. Horton grew up with an appreciation and passion for Southern design & architecture. He completed his Art Foundation studies at Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD) and finished his education at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Interior Design. As an interior designer, it is J.P.’s goal to not just make a home beautiful but as functional as possible, paying attention to every detail that goes into completing each project.
We are delighted to feature J.P. at The Glam Pad today for a Style Profile Q&A. Welcome, J.P.!
Photography by Julia Lynn, Trevor Tondro, J.P. Horton, and Gordon Gregory
Q: When and how did you first become interested in interior design?
A: I was always interested in homes and constantly rearranging my childhood bedroom growing up and, to give a millennial answer, when the computer game The Sims came out I became obsessed with creating houses and interiors for my Sims way more so than actually playing the game. As I grew older and entered high school I became very interested in filmmaking and actually stared in an independent film my sophomore year. I was very fortunate to attend a public high school that had magnificent art programs, and I began taking filmmaking classes and making movies while in Drama class to the point of getting a scholarship to SCAD for filmmaking. After starting college, however, I quickly realized the film industry in itself was not meant for me and that I really kept gravitating towards the set design. I am a very visual person and still to this day can envision how a home or interior will look completed and photograph. I love how multiple different areas of the art industries collaborated and combined to create a film (the set designer, screenwriter, costume designer, cinematographer, actor etc) which in turn is also how a house is put together with the different craftspeople and talents working to produce a space. From furniture makers, drapery workrooms, lighting manufacturers, rug weavers, textile designers and so forth. So reflecting back it makes sense to me how one avenue led to the next.
Q: Tell us a bit about your career path. Did you take a traditional path to becoming an interior designer?
A: I did take a traditional path to becoming an interior designer. I majored in interior design and graduated with a BFA from VCUarts and got a job out of college at a prestigious old design firm in Virginia called Stedman House, where I trained under a senior designer and gleamed off of him and saw how the industry worked first hand. From there I went solo for 5 years in Charleston, SC and really established my firm and point of view, but when Covid hit I did some self-reflecting and realized working alone in my guest bedroom was a little depressing and took an incredible job offer to be a senior design for Michael S. Smith out in LA. I worked for him for about a year and learned an incredible amount (do’s and dont’s) working on projects I would have never had the opportunity to do otherwise (like homes and a hotel for George Lucas, Tyler Perry, and the like.) After leaving his firm, I had a small blip working for Christine Markatos before realizing I belonged on the East Coast, back home in Virginia. I have been back in my hometown of Charlottesville, VA since – where I relaunched my namesake firm and textile line while also working some with my mentor, Charlotte Moss. I am always looking to learn more, while expanding my offerings, as this industry encompasses a lot.
Q: How do you define your style?
A: I lean more traditional and love to layer my interiors so that they look and feel collected over time. Each project is tailored to each client’s individual style of course, and I do enjoy mixing modern elements with more traditional ones but I certainly would never call myself a minimalist. I think one should get the most use out of a space as possible and if living in small apartments my whole adult life has taught me anything it is how to be effective at space planning!
Q: Who are your top five interior designers (past/present)?
A: Bunny Williams for her incredible sense of space planning, style, color, and business savvy. The fact that most of her staff has remained at her office and she has named Elizabeth a partner speaks volumes about her character as a boss and leader. Miles Redd has such an incredibly informed approach to design and his use of color. Marham Roberts for his attention to detail and ability to blend styles seamlessly. Charlotte Moss for her use of color and focus on the details as well but also her business sense; always thinking of the next chapter for her career and always expanding her offerings. Roger Banks Pye’s work still rings true today and was a talent lost much too soon, designing interiors that are timeless but effortlessly creative.
Q: Where do you enjoy sourcing antiques and art?
A: Local antique malls and junk shops. I am very lucky to have a plethora of them in Virginia and can find much better prices for items than online.
Q: You are known for your artistic perspective, what do you most often look to for artistic inspiration?
A: I often look to nature for color inspiration, but I also get a lot of inspiration from shopping for antiques. The shape of a vintage piece of furniture, the colors and pattern from a piece of China, even artwork can inform space planning and use of color for a room if you break it down into its components.
Q: What are five everyday luxuries you could not live without?
A: Nice towels, they never last but are worth the investment. Good central air – after living in LA where AC isn’t standard I appreciate it much more. Living and working in the same town as my family. Education – I am always watching documentaries or reading design books and taking Create Academy courses that further my understanding of design. Fast food & coffee, its a guilty pleasure and usually gets me through a busy day!
Q: What is one fail-safe design element that every room should have?
A: Lighting. I think that is a common answer for a reason. Lighting should be varied throughout a room, from the ceiling, to the walls, to the side tables, keeping in mind how the room is being used throughout the day. A big no no in my book is to have only overhead lighting and almost no lamps. Who wants to watch TV or read a book with a spotlight over their head?
Q: What is your favorite design or coffee table book?
A: Picking one is almost impossible. I love “Billy Baldwin Decorates” as it really is almost a textbook on how to design a home. I have a copy at home and my office.
Q: What are you working on next that we can look forward to?
A: I have a few local projects starting this year, if all goes to plan, as well as another in Charleston. A new textile collection should be released by Spring, with my sales representation also expanding to New England this year. (We currently are in the Southeast, midwest, and West Coast.) I have also begun working on my first book proposal which will encompass works from numerous contemporaries and living legends alike. Stay tuned!
Thank you, J.P., for joining us today! We loved learning more about your career, and we want one of everything in your fabrics and wallpaper collection!
To learn more, please visit J.P. Horton Interior Design and follow @jphorton on Instagram for ongoing inspiration.
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