Artist Spotlight: Justina Blakeney

One of the most authentic and talented designers I look up to is the bohemian queen herself Justina Blakeney.  Justina is one of those designers where you know right away that it’s her work of art when you see it.  She is full of free-spirit, bold colors, a mix of prints and patterns, and the perfect combination of textures. I feel like I have a strong connection with her eclectic and bohemian style, and like me she loves incorporating vintage items into her designs.

Justina is an artist, designer, and best-selling author out of Los Angeles, California.  Her work is bright, bohemian, and full of plants.  I look up to her since she is also a mother, and she wears many hats within her business.

Justina has a award-winning design blog named Jungalow, a Justina Blakeney Home label with a wide range of lifestyle and home products, and is the author of The New Bohemians and The New Bohemians Handbook. 

“I believe the good design increases quality of life”

“I believe in vintage, organic, and handmade”

“I believe that creativity and good vibes can save the world”

-The New Bohemians Handbook

A design by Justina Blakeney. Photo by David Tsay for House Beautiful Magazine

I love to place plants next to photos in my own home.

I love her ideas of creating a strong connection between the interior and the outdoors.  Justina wrote in her New Bohemians Handbook that nothing breathes life into a space like plants can, and I fully agree. Plants bring such a positive energy into a space that may seem stale or dull. She also adds that you can treat plants as window treatments, a piece of sculpture, as a room divider, and they are automatic air purifiers. She inspired me to fill my own space with different varieties of plants, and they have become my perfect solution to filling a blank floor or table space.

Justina’s living room styled by herself.

Justina’s kitchen featuring Cafe Appliances.

Justina carries her brand throughout all of the products she has designed. She has worked with Selemat, Anthropologie, Loloi Rugs, Schoolhouse Electric, Valdese Weavers, Target luggage, and has even now introduced her own design for Band-Aid brand! Like I said before, when you look at all these different types of products you immediately know it was her design. Her products include textiles and decor from different cultures, a bright mix of colors and patterns, and of course plants. She has learned how to successfully represent her bold brand throughout everything she does, and that is something that is so important for designers to learn. She is such a motivation for me to continue brainstorming my own brand and how I will stand out against the rest.

Justina with Target Luggage

Jungalow with Band-Aid Brand

Justina with Anthropologie

Justina with Selemat Designs

I mentioned in my last post that I love when I see designers use social media to not only share their most creative moments, but also to reflect their real self and to show their process. Justina Blakeney does just that with her Instagram pages. Her photos and captions seem to always add warmth and a laugh to my day. She doesn’t try to post the perfect pose or the perfect scene. She radiates by just being her beautiful and down-to-earth self. I love that she includes how she balances family life and her career, and it seems that one greatly influences the other and vise versa. One of my favorite things she posts is her concept boards for her designs, like the one pictured below. This is something that I am always doing as a designer and it really helps show the client visually what the project is going to look and feel like in the final stages.

A concept board for Justina’s laundry room renovation.

Part of Justina’s finished laundry room design.

Justina Blakeney inspires me in so many ways with her unique designs and colorful personality. She is a constant reminder that as a designer I need to find my own brand and stick with it. Pay attention to the trends but don’t try too hard to fit in. If you think it is beautiful then let it shine and share its story. She teaches me to design a space that is going to bring my clients to their fullest potential, and to help diminish the line between the indoors and outdoors. It is our job to keep this earth alive and beautiful, and plant life is so essential to our health and wellness. Justina’s handbook will always be in arms reach for inspiration and references, and I am so grateful for what she has brought to the design world.

All photos have been found on www.justinablakeney.com and Justina’s Instagram @justinablakeney