Colorful Children's Artwork Gives This Nashville Home Major Charm

It's safe to say that Jessica Davis, the principal designer behind Nashville-based design firm JL Design, is a fan of colorful interiors. While she prefaces that she'll never let her personal style dictate her client's living space, she says, "If I feel like a client can handle a lot of color, I'll throw a lot at them. If I feel like a client can handle a little color, then I throw a bit more than a little at them." Her recent client in Nashville allowed her opportunities to incorporate art and color in ways that many of today's designers shy away from, resulting in a creative interior that pushes the boundaries of modern interior design.

In a design world that's full of neutral vignettes, bright reds and yellows rarely find their place in a home, but Jessica was determined to make bold, vibrant art pieces work. This piece, sourced from a local estate sale, found its home against a neutral wall, maximizing its beauty and impact on the space. While she appreciates both neutral and colorful spaces, she makes it clear that neutral spaces must have some elements of color saying, "Spaces with neutral, monochromatic, warm tones lacking color are not my vibe at all."

"I aim to incorporate existing pieces from all of my clients. I encourage family heirlooms and pieces that they have an emotional attachment to," notes Jessica. It seems she and her client were a match made in heaven, as many of their heirlooms and existing pieces meshed perfectly with her colorful design inspiration for the home. In the kitchen is a unique table with an even more unique origin. "This was a solid farmhouse table that the client's children first drew on 'against the rules' many years prior. My client decided that rather than fight the kids, they would actually be allowed and encouraged to use the table as a backdrop for their art," she explains.

The design of the breakfast nook surrounding the art table had to live up to the table itself, and Jessica and her client had the perfect vision for the space. Lining the walls is more of the children's artwork, a design choice that she and her client are jointly passionate about. "I often encourage people to use their children’s art as a great way to not only add unique original art with meaning but to help your children feel confident and encouraged in their creativity," she says. To further encourage the children, she incorporated storage into the custom-built bench and filled it with art supplies.