Ten Questions With...Jeanine Hays

I love Fridays because they mean three things...Start of the weekend, casual clothes and The Inside Stoop's Ten Questions With...
Each week, we ask a different AWESOME designer, the same Ten Questions (a la James Lipton). Soooo, without further ado, I proudly introduce:

Jeanine Hays

Creative Director & Founder of AphroChic

What instance in your life plays the biggest role in your design aesthetic?At age 6 my mom let me design my bedroom. I remember being so excited choosing pastel pink paint for the walls and Strawberry Shortcake fabric for the curtains. Now that I’m all grown up my taste has evolved. It’s all about modern elegance at home, but there are still those kitschy, girly touches from my Strawberry Shortcake days.

Who is the coolest person you've ever designed a room for? My husband. His only request for our bedroom was no pink and to include a papasan. It’s the most serene room in our apartment with an oatmeal and blue palette and a nice lazy papasan to relax in by the window.

When did you realize you wanted to be a designer? As a teenager when I received my very first IKEA catalogue (I still get giddy when a new catalogue comes out). Whenever it came I would tear out pages, create a binder of my favorite spaces, and then beg my mom for a shopping trip so I could redecorate my room.

What was your first Design Job? Designing a pillow collection for my company, AphroChic. After a few years of writing about design on my blog, I thought I would try my hand at actually creating something. I am a bit pillow obsessed and really wanted to design something that reflected my personal take on modern design that’s soulful and fun.

What is your favorite show on HGTV?
I was a huge fan of Small Space Big Style. As a girl who lives in an apartment under 1000 square feet, I needed the inspiration. I also love Property Virgins. Those first time homebuyers never know what they’re getting into!

What is your favorite Website? I spend a ridiculous amount of time on Anthropologie.com. Almost as much time as I spend in the store. It’s a complete treasure trove of beautiful design. I just can’t get enough!

Who do you think has the biggest influence on the Design world right now? Michelle Obama. She is a style icon. She is making design accessible. Dresses from JCrew, White House open house days, and bringing in a cutting-edge interior designer like Michael S. Smith to design the family home within the White House - she’s making good design fun again.

What is the one piece of Furniture you would Die for? A Saarinen Womb Chair (with ottoman) decked out in a buttery yellow Spinneybeck leather. One day it will be mine.

What is the one thing EVERY living room should have?
A sofa with a chaise lounge. It’s truly an all-purpose piece. Wonderful for when you entertain or when you just want to lounge about.

If you could choose one person (dead or alive) to design one room for, who would that person be and what would that room look like?
I would love to design a room for the First Lady. There’d be some amazing statement pieces like a classic tufted sofa outfitted in AphroChic’s Haze Mimosa pillows, a graphic Madeline Weinrib rug, and a Murano chandelier to add some ambience. The space would be grounded with personal pieces from her travels - textiles from Kenya, a wood carving from South Africa, a painting picked up in Italy. And some Moroccan poufs would provide the perfect seating for her daughters. It would be a perfect reflection of her modern and classic style – the kind of room that would seamlessly blend world cultures and high-end design to create a warm and comfortable space for the family to relax in.

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