If you thought about renovating your home in 2020 or 2021, you weren’t alone. Swaths of people across America upended their living spaces to accommodate what continues to be the “new normal.”
Renovations require both a financial and an emotional investment. So how can you tell whether it’s right for you to take the plunge? Jena Bula of Delphinium Design has some advice: “Before you decide to renovate, ask yourself how long you plan to stay in your current home. If your answer is five-plus years, I say go for it! If it’s fewer, you may want to consider less expensive cosmetic updates. That way, you’re more likely to get a return on your investment when you sell.”
Bula knows what she’s talking about. After founding her interior design business, Delphinium Design, in 2017, she has won numerous best-of-the-best awards for both design and service.
Delphinium Design Process
Her design firm is grounded in processes and systems that promote smooth and seamless client experiences. Potential clients receive the Delphinium Design client guide, which explains her ten-step process, so they can know what to expect at each stage of the design journey.
Bula backs up her detailed processes with an impeccable eye for design. “My personal design aesthetic is influenced by a refined coastal color palette. My home is decorated by mixing materials and textures, and incorporates neutrals with layers of muted colors, specifically blues and greens. I gravitate toward clean lines and love mixing vintage and current pieces to create interest in my space,” says Bula.
However, what sets Bula apart as a designer is not her personal aesthetic, but her versatility and eagerness to please her clients. “As designers, it’s easy to gravitate towards your personal aesthetic. But I recognize that at the end of the day I go back to my home and my clients have to live in the space that I create for them. That’s why it’s crucial that I take the time to get to know my clients and understand how they live and function in their space,” explains Bula.
Bula crafts interiors for her clients that are bright, functional, and refined. She works alongside local businesses, artisans, and tradespeople to create one-of-a-kind spaces sourced from local talent.
Delphinium: Past, Present, and Future
Bula’s love affair with design started at a young age, when her parents renovated an 1800s carriage home. She visited the site daily, watching in fascination as the space transformed. Moving into the house heightened her appreciation for details, particularly “the original exposed brick in the kitchen, the reclaimed beams in the barn that was now part of the home, and the creaks in the old floors, all things I still love today!”
Bula worked for Ralph Lauren for a few years before leaving the corporate world to attend design school. After graduation, she started Delphinium Design, forgoing the security of a stable job and predictable paycheck to take a chance on herself.
“I grew up watching my dad create and grow his own company. His entrepreneurial spirit was always in our home and rubbed off on me at a young age,” remembers Bula.
As Bula looks ahead, she envisions growing her team. She hopes this will enable Delphinium Design to expand its services and client capacity.
“In February 2021,” Jena shares, “I hired an amazing associate designer. The collaboration has allowed me to push myself creatively and produce even better work for our clients. I’m looking forward to bringing other creative minds on board and anxious to see what my firm can become!”
Furthermore, she intends to continue adhering to the values that inspired her business’ name. “The delphinium flower symbolizes infinite possibilities, goodwill towards others, attracting new opportunities, and enjoying the little things that life has to offer,” explains Bula. “All things that I embrace and want my firm to stand for.”
Ready for more inspiring interiors? Read on:
The Art of Interior Design with Natalie Tyler
Lake House Drama from Collaborative Interior Design
Grit & Grace
