Today we’d like to introduce you to Jade Joyner.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I have been a designer my entire life- with a short stint in the corporate advertising world as a young woman which taught me the art of business. I am a second-generation designer so I grew up in homes filled with goodness and the backdrop to my life was always beautiful. In our home, we used the silver and china. We dressed for dinner.
This is something I’ve carried with me into my client’s home and continue in my own world. Spent my formative years living in Europe. Design came naturally to me as I studied Art History in Vienna, Austria, and opened my design business at 23 in Budapest, Hungary. I enjoyed a successful few years in Budapest designing for expats using local artisans to craft and create pieces to use in my designed interiors.
In 2005 I came back to the States and opened my business in Washington DC where I designed for families on the Hill. Finally, I landed in Athens, GA, and have loved my last 12 years taking sweet Southern style and putting my own edgy spin on the interiors I designed. In 2016, I joined forces with my brilliant husband and we began our full-service design firm Metal + Petal which now has studios in both Charleston and Athens.
In the past almost 8 years, Metal + Petal has created renowned spaces across the South. Celebrated for our ability to translate timeless interiors into a modern context, Metal + Petal has become synonymous with beauty and integrity, creating spaces that heighten the senses and elevate the everyday. I work daily with my talented team on projects in Atlanta, Kiawah, Charleston, and beyond.
I am a hands-on Founder and CCO ensuring each design is bespoke for our clients and thoughtfully approached in a way that aligns with the client’s wants and needs. Our approach ensures each design is not just tailored and velvet but a true reflection of our client’s story. We design commercial and residential interiors that elevate. Currently, I am designing our first signature line of furniture, working on beautiful projects, and curating a team of talent.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
My worst trait as a business owner, I am proud to say, is not a really bad one. I give too much of myself away. And our struggles have primarily revolved around my over-investing in people and projects leaving me feeling burnt out. I think this is pretty common for creatives but not sustainable in the long run. As we lean into year eight, my goal is to pull back and focus on creating more boundaries.
My business before M+P was truly organic and all word of mouth. I had clients before I even opened my doors and once we started Metal + Petal, we became in high demand quickly so growing our company at a steady pace and listening to the business have been our focus. We run with our intuition a lot and adapt and change often. We want to do the right thing and always try to make sure we lead with integrity.
We make mistakes, we are only human, and learning to admit them and own them was challenging at first. I wanted everything to be perfect at all times (although I am far from a perfectionist) but when it comes to my art and my clients, I have high standards for myself so learning to say no if I am booked up, admit when I am wrong, redo things if they aren’t right, and sometimes even at our own expense, has been hard but rewarding.
Working with my husband comes with a lot of beauty. At first, we sometimes butted heads as we are so opposite in so many ways but once we figured out how to stay in our own lanes and listen to each other. He has some veto power and so do I but mainly I trust him and he trusts me.
Social media has been a HUGE challenge for us as it’s a great tool but also puts us in the spotlight. Touching as many projects as we do each year, we have had to learn to know that we chose to put ourselves in the public eye and accept that we opened ourselves up to criticism. It was so much easier when I was a solo designer and kept things small.
We now see that not everyone will always love what you do and that’s ok. We know our heart and soul are in our work and we know we are kind, good people who want to do the job right. And we have also learned we are not for everyone.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
After meeting and falling in love, Graham and I went into business together. We founded Metal + Petal as a multidisciplinary design studio focused on creating interiors rooted in a modern paradigm of traditional design. Metal + Petal, a full-service, high-end interior design firm, marries the best of our talents while offering an all-encompassing list of services that appeal to residential and commercial clients alike.
From conception to installation, we quickly made a name for ourselves thanks to our modern approach to traditional design. Balance is at the heart of Metal + Petal. We seamlessly pair simplicity and decadence, masculine and feminine, Southern style with a European flair, and sophistication and soul in every space.
What do you think about happiness?
Happiness feels fleeting. I have happy moments throughout my days. I am a very positive person with a lot of energy. I focus more on contentment in my own life and joy. I love it when there’s peace and harmony.
In the business realm, seeing a client live their best life in a space I designed is very fulfilling. I find great joy in working with clients and sharing experiences with them that transform their homes which will transform their lives. I find such joy in working with my talented team and seeing them grow.
My greatest source of strength is my husband and my family. I find them inspiring and wake up every day ready to rock because of their generosity of spirit and support of me. I love hosting parties and reading and I love being alone. Yoga helps ground me but my one true love is travel. I am a nomad at heart and find all of my inspiration in exploring.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.metalandpetal.com
- Instagram: @metalandpetal
Image Credits
Katie Bryant
