Hello friendly faces! It’s that time of the week! We’re back with a new Chicago North Shore Moms spotlight brought to you in part by Mary Gifford of Gifford Law.
Meghan Jay has embraced the true spirit of entrepreneurship. The Evanston mom of two is now on her fourth career and this one’s pretty bright! As the founder and principal of Meghan Jay Design, Meghan brings a fresh perspective to interior design by blending vibrant colors and vintage pieces with new! From her love for antiquing adventures to her unique approach to creating livable spaces, Meghan shares her journey of pursuing her passion amidst her diverse career experiences, Evanston favs, including a few great home goods shops and vintage finds, and more about Meghan Jay Design, of course. Welcome, Meghan!
Hi Meghan! Please introduce yourself. Where are you from originally? What city do you live in now? What brought you here?
Hi, I’m Meghan. I’m originally from the Connecticut shoreline. I moved to Chicago with my husband, who’s from Vancouver BC, in 2017. The decision to be in the midwest was truly a geographic compromise, as our families are on opposite coasts. We moved up to Evanston in 2022 and love it!
I have a 5-yr-old son. He’s in the Spanish two way immersion program at our local elementary school. And a 3-yr-old daughter who attends the only Spanish immersion preschool in Evanston.
What are one or two fun facts to know about you?
To say I love shopping, and especially vintage shipping, is an understatement. Anywhere we travel, I pick up cool, one of a kind pieces. My husband and kids are (thankfully) very used to going on antiquing adventures with me.
What are your favorite North Shore places, spaces and eats to frequent?
I love the Dempster St. stretch in SE Evanston – Pink + Tan and Secret Treasures are my favorite stores, and Pour has the best coffee. I also love taking the kids to Booked on Main Street. For vintage shopping, I also love Heritage Trail and Turn the Tables.
What gets you through a tough day?
I love taking walks along the lake and around the neighborhood. It’s so inspiring to view all of the unique historical architecture Evanston has to offer. It really gets me excited to get back to work and find creative options for my clients. I must admit I also love taking power naps on the weekend! 🙂
You are an interior designer. Tell us more about your background and what your career path has been.
Interior design is my fourth career. I previously worked in fashion, social work, and nonprofit development prior to exploring this career change in 2020.
Tell us about your interior design practice, Meghan Jay Design. What services do you offer?
Meghan Jay Design is a residential interior design studio based in Evanston. We’re skilled at layering modern style with vintage flair, we bring a personal, sometimes unexpected (yet always welcome) touch to every project – from full furnishings to whole-home restorations. We offer a few different approaches to design to accomodate your needs:
- Design day sessions for smaller scale transformations.
- One on one consultations for odds and ends.
- Whole home design for the all-around experience from design development and drawings to the finishing touches.
You mentioned interior design is your fourth career. What was the impetus behind entering into this field?
I’ve been interested in interior design since I was a little girl but my university and post-grad studies led me to pursue other career opportunities. During the pandemic, I completed a virtual certification and launched my business. There’s no going back! I’m so excited to be working in design.
Who and/or what are your design inspirations?
Traveling! I find so much inspiration when I’m shopping and museum hopping in other countries. I also have a weakness for sentimental objects. Basically, anything that’s lived a long, story-filled life.
What does your office specialize in?
I like to think we’re known for eye-catching color palettes, pattern and texture play, and we have a knack for mixing old and new pieces, Making a home livable and comfortable for a family is very important to us.
What is your process with clients who come to you for design services?
We excel in understanding your needs, empathizing with your journey as a homeowner, and gently educating you towards making a home that firmly reflects you and your way of life. This personal and attentive approach is our through-line – no matter the expansive or petite project at hand.
You recently launched a brand new website, what’s on the horizon for your business?
We’re currently working on beautiful North Shore projects and look forward to photographing them this summer. I’m also designing my Victorian home and hope to share that journey, along with my design tips and shopping finds, via my soon-to-launch blog.
Meghan, how can we reach you to get started?
I encourage you to follow me on Instagram! And please visit my website, https://meghanjaydesign.com/ and submit an inquiry if you’re interested in working together!
About our Meet of Mom Sponsor
A very heartfelt thank you to CNSMoms’ Meet a Mom sponsor, Lake Forest mom of three and owner of Gifford Law, a solo Estate Planning Firm (wills and trusts). Mary, we appreciate your support of local moms in our North Shore communities! Learn more about Mary by visiting her Meet a Mom spotlight here! Contact Mary directly here: [email protected].
