Callanwolde is proud to have so many talented ASID Georgia Chapter interior designers working on this year’s Christmas at Callanwolde annual fundraiser, and we want to share their expertise and love of their field through this blog. Every day we will highlight one of the wonderful designers to get a feel for their style, personalities and inspirations.

Jennifer McKune

Company: Fifth Avenue Solutions
Designing: Porte Cochere Interior

ABOUT

A native of Atlanta, Jennifer McKune established Fifth Avenue Solutions to help a diverse set of clients truly “design their world”.

Q&A

What do you love most about your job?
Everyone has an idea or a dream about they look and feel of the space they want to live, work, and play in. These spaces represent who they are, where they’ve been, and where they are going. What I love most about my career is the joy found in discovering those dreams and making them a reality. The moment when everything comes together in space, or you’ve even just found the perfect color, is such fun I can’t imagine doing anything else.

What are your favorite websites for inspiration?
My number one inspiration site is Houzz. Here I can browse the design creations and inspirations of others, as well as create my own inspiration boards to showcase our work and track client dreams. Houzz is also a great tool for my clients to share their ideas with me. As we work on their project, clients can create collaborative ideabooks and whenever they add a new photo, I can instantly see the update and account for it in their design. I also find inspiration from AllTop’s interior design news page, and local and international art, design, and photography blogs.

Any architectural aspects of Callanwolde do you find inspiring?
I find the ceilings at Callanwolde inspiring. Often noted as the fifth wall in a room, these are frequently ignored in modern homes. If you take a moment to pause and look up at Callanwolde you’ll find masonry arches, medallions, lace carvings, coves and crowns, and more. Each ceiling was treated as another opportunity for beauty, grandeur, and even functionality as some hide organ pipes! The newest addition on the sun porch is another example of one more way we can create beautiful impact in a room above eye level.

Tell us more about your company and how you started?
Fifth Avenue Solutions is full-service design and organization company that focuses on personalizing the design experience. Whether building something new, or reshaping and repurposing what’s existing, we specialize in custom design concepts that truly help our clients design their world. As an individual, I have always been passionate about design; color, composition, and the emotions they evoke. Creating Fifth Avenue Solutions allowed me to leverage that passion to create new experiences and realize design dreams for others. As a designer, I often get asked what my “style” is. And my answer is always, “It’s not about me.” I am passionate about helping others create a space that they can feel proud of while still meeting the demands of everyday life.

Do you have a favorite holiday food?
Peanut Blossom Cookies would have to be my favorite, hands down. For some reason we never make these any other time of year, but the peanut butter-chocolate kiss combination is definitely delightful!

What’s your favorite paint color right now? What pairs well with it?
My favorite color right now is Benjamin Moore’s HC-172 Revere Pewter. This is a classic gray that lends itself well to most interiors from traditional to contemporary. With subtle undertones, the color can be paired with just about any other. I love to jazz it up with a bright red or orange, or create serene scenes using teals, blues, and greens. It also works well as a layering color in a monochromatic room filled with white, taupe, and black.