2014 Design Awards
Judges | Details | Exteriors | Interiors | Homes
Rising Star | Reader’s Choice
Jane Spencer: DHDA 2014’s Rising Star
THE EXPERTS’ INSIGHTS
“Designers will never regret thinking out of the box. It’s better to be poor for a while but to have an awesome portfolio, rather than taking jobs that will make them ordinary.” — Nicole Curtis
“Jane Spencer’s work stands out because it achieves a nice balance. It’s creative, classic, fresh, and on-trend without being trendy — it’s still grounded in traditional design. I look forward to seeing more from her in the future.” — Khristi Zimmeth
When HGTV and DIY Network star Nicole Curtis reviewed this year’s Detroit Home Design Awards Rising Star entries, she immediately was drawn to a kitchen created by interior designer Jane Spencer.
“I love what I saw in one of Jane’s kitchens and her use of nontraditional accents,” says Curtis, who hosts Rehab Addict and graduated from Lake Orion High School. Detroit Home invited Curtis to review the Rising Star entries after meeting her on the site of one of her Detroit rehab projects.
Also weighing in on the Rising Star competition was Better Homes & Gardens’ Detroit-area editorial scout and Detroit Home contributor Khristi Zimmeth. She, too, thought Spencer’s spaces showcase a creative blend of accessories and textures. Spencer’s works were so impressive that Curtis and Zimmeth, along with other Detroit Home staff, agreed Spencer is, hands-down, this year’s Rising Star. “I love clean lines and unique looks,” Curtis says. “Too often, it’s easy for designers to get swayed by their clients to copy another person’s work. I believe it is our job as designers to educate our clients on the value of having unique and eclectic designs that truly reflect the individuality of the home and the people living in it.” Spencer’s work reflects a great deal of individuality, she adds.
Spencer founded Bloomfield Hills-based Jane Spencer Designs in 2010. Previously she worked at the Birmingham design firm Rariden Schumacher Mio & Co. There she enjoyed hands-on experience and received training as a project manager while overseeing orders, meetings, and installations. A 2002 graduate of Michigan State University’s Fider-Accredited Interior Design Program, Spencer’s image of the living room (shown above) that she submitted for review reveals her talent for blending soothing colors like soft creams, mochas, grays, and tans. One of her favorite kitchen projects (shown above) features an oversized island with substantial countertops and plenty of seating, making it great for gatherings. “Lanterns, chandeliers, and shimmery tiles lend a glamorous touch,” she notes, while “sassy,” leopard-print stools, a French range, and detailed millwork by Sterling Millwork in Farmington Hills serve up exquisiteness.
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