janelle steinberg: bio

Janelle Steinberg, a southern California native born in Newport Beach, graduated Kappa Omicron Nu with a Bachelor of Arts degree from California State University, Long Beach. Before starting her formal interior design studies at UCLA, her previous endeavors in the fashion industry laid the foundation for her interior design career.

While studying at CSULB, Janelle founded and designed a boutique line of upmarket loungewear. Her experiences as a fashion designer combined with her formal education resulted in extensive textiles knowledge and a keen sense of style through luxury fashion branding and marketing.  Studying universal design elements, color, textiles and the lifestyle aspect of the fashion industry gave Janelle the eye opening experience of discovering her interest and talent for design in more than one capacity.

Directly after completing her undergraduate degree, she went on to study architectural interior design at the University of California, Los Angeles. Janelle gained a classical design education from leading architects and interior designers in the United States and graduated with distinction from UCLA’s rigorous Architecture and Interior Design program. Her start in the interior design field began in a hotbed of luxury residential design in Orange County and Los Angeles, California. Her first position as Project Manager, and later Design Associate, at a full service general contracting interior design firm afforded her opportunities to work directly with clients and sub-contractors to sequence and bring high budget projects to completion. Her combined education and hands-on experience paved the way for her own projects and eventually her own practice.

Janelle feel in love with houses at a young age. Having been born and raised in prosperous Southern California, she had early exposure to fine design and developed an appreciation and affinity for outstanding architecture and interiors. Entering the interior design profession, it was always her goal and intention to specialize in classic residential design.

Janelle values professionalism, concierge-level client service, holistic interior design solutions that coexist harmoniously with the architecture and the excitement of unfolding the design process with her clients. She is an Allied Member of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID).

Janelle Steinberg, 101:

Name: Janelle Lorraine Steinberg

Birthplace: Newport Beach, California

Birthday: 16 September

Favorite Foods: Fresh Fruit, Mashed Potatoes, fresh Rosemary Bread

Favorite Drinks: San Pellegrino, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cafe Americano from Peet’s Coffee, Kean Coffee

Hobbies: Photography, Painting, Jewelry making, Blogging, Reading architecture + design and business books and magazines

Favorite Artist: Jackson Pollock

Favorite Architects: Tadao Ando, Paul Williams and Jack Arnold

Favorite Interior Designers: I don’t really have any hands down favorite interior designers. I admire different aspects of many interior designer’s work, spanning styles from Traditional to Contemporary.

Hero: My father. He is a paramount example of hard work, integrity, and devotion.

Daily Survival Items- My Michele watch (if I forget, I will glance at my bare wrist in frustration all day long), coffee, my agenda, lip balm, and fragrance, (my favorite- although I adore many, is Gucci Rush). I should also throw music in there, too. Music makes me feel more productive and creative.

Fun Fact- started college as pre-med

Ideal International Vacation- Number one on my list is Vienna, Austria.

Summers are spent: In Newport Beach for midweek beach days, Lake Tahoe and Vail, Colorado.

On desk- Rolodex, a hardcover Oxford-American Dictionary, yellow steno pad for phone notes and lists (of which I am famous), and my favorite writing and sketch pens in a brass pencil cup.

When young: I would single handedly rearrange my bedroom furniture as a child. I would also organize everything and create different looks for my dresser top. As a teenager, my parents were cool enough to let me literally collage every square inch of wall space in my room with fashion magazine advertisements and photo shoot spreads- that was right before I painted it sky blue and used discarded stage set paintings of clouds as art.

Pet peeves- one of my top peeves is a book jacket. Books are more integral without the loud colors and screaming fonts. I also cringe at poor Trompe l’Oeil…which, sadly, is very common. Also, I am known as the "anti-trim" designer at my factory. Everyhting I design, be it drapery, pillows or bedding, keeps clean and classic lines. Trim has its proper place and use...but I am not a fan of the fluff and goop. Tapes and cords are where its at.

Collections: I have this thing for silver and mercury glass candlesticks. I also collect Red English Transfer wear. I currently have a grouping of plates on display with a contemporary hammered silver platter- I like the juxtaposition. One of my favorite possessions is a silver charm bracelet started by my aunt when I was barely a teenager, many people have contributed to it over the years. We also have some heirloom Lalique that I treasure because we deeply honor the people who bestowed it upon us (my husbands late grandmother and grandfather).

Dream Antique Acquisition: A pair of Savonarola chairs.

Favorite Room to Design: I really love bedroom suites, libraries as living rooms (or living rooms as libraries!), and foyers. I am pining to do an elegant french-inspired nursery (know anyone?!)

Design Process: I address the “program” (needs, wants, and code requirements) and develop the style direction by listening to my clients and respecting the architecture. Really- its about three things: 1) The client, 2) The architecture, and, 3) Accurately working with the architecture while portraying the client.

Once the foundation of the design is developed- I address the existing or proposed architectural details, built-ins and finishes, then the furniture and lighting plan. Lastly, I layer art and accessories.

During the beginning of a project- I listen to classic American jazz. It energizes me and I think, brainstorm and create more freely when listening to jazz than any other music genre (or, worse, silence!).

Part of my continual process happens in my daily life. I constantly seek out information, news, images, new products, old products I don’t know about yet, art…anything to add to the arsenal of my creative mind and my depth as a designer. A true designer never takes (or wants!) a day off!

Every home must have: Good design. Candle light and collections or items of meaning acting as accessories. I have a disdain for clutter and useless kitschy accessories. I call it “drippy” when there’s too much going on and it’s overdone. Every object should be important and contribute to the overall design direction.

Dream home: This is an unfair and loaded question to ask a designer! I will have to say the following- a historic French Chateau (preferably rewired for electricity), a Manhattan Brownstone with working fireplaces and all the architectural mouldings intact, or a Tudor or Jacobean revival somewhere cold…I suppose my dream homes are very location specific and, naturally, driven by architecture.

Who or what has influenced your style: The ideals of “lifestyle” from the fashion industry and, above all, historic architecture and design- the various styles that were at one time new. I love how nothing is really new anymore; it’s just mixed and recycled through a modern filter.

On a more personal note, I feel in love with houses at a young age. My first trip to Beverly Hills, with all the stately homes lined up one after the other in plain sight,  dazzled me as a young girl. I still have an affinity for architectural character (which I’m almost positive started that fateful day in Beverly Hills as my friend’s cool step mom drove us around town, which she knew like the back of her hand, while blasting Madonna and letting us sing at the top of our 8-year-old lungs). I like to carry architectural integrity, on some level, through to the inside. I think that’s why I gravitate towards classic and historic styles- they speak to me at that root level. Houses literally move me, and tradition should never be lost. Once I got into design, there was never any doubt in my mind I would specialize in classic residential design.

Three essentials for entertaining: Assuming the company is already fantastic- music, lighting, wine.

For inspiration: Nature’s color and texture combinations are perfect in every way, and they never cease to amaze me. For me, a predictable source of inspiration comes from movies- the scenic design and costumes. One of my favorite things to do is to take a drive and view homes. Growing up in southern California, I’ve always had access to outstanding design- which I am very grateful for. Also, the client is a big source of inspiration. As a designer, every option is at my disposal. Every single one (try to wrap your head around that!). The client and their budget helps to reduce the noise and give me a framework. To work with a client that doesn’t care is very uninspiring.