We had the good fortune of connecting with Jamie Loren and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jamie, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Starting my interior design business was unplanned. In 2017, my husband and I bought a home I wasn’t crazy about but loved the neighborhood. Without the budget for a remodel, I began tackling DIY renovations, including removing a structural wall. At the time, I worked in business development at Princess Cruises, but after being laid off in 2020, my sister-in-law encouraged me to share my projects on Instagram.

An old colleague saw my posts and asked for help with her bathroom remodel. I initially hesitated to get heavily involved, but she insisted. She believed I could do great things for a lot of people. That project led to word-of-mouth referrals all across Southern California, particularly within the Jewish community. While she tragically passed away from ovarian cancer in 2023, her impact remains the foundation of my business, which grew from those early connections.

With the recent devastation of wild fires in LA and the immense loss, I am reminded that the root of my journey comes from the ability to make someone’s house a home and this is a privilege I don’t take for granted.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
My start into interior design was not career-oriented. It never occurred to me to pursue it professionally. I graduated Pepperdine University with a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism while studying pre-medicine. However, looking as far back as my teenage years, creating a beautiful room was always an underlying passion that I just assumed everyone possessed. Needless to say, it’s an obsession, in addition to my love of people and seeing them happy. It’s not about me, it’s about my them. If they aren’t excited about what is happening to their space with me, then I haven’t done my job. I care, and I care deeply. My clients all become my family, in a way. Was getting here easy? yes, and no. I realize now that our lives are a series of events that build us up for the big stuff. I had my kids young, so now as I approach 40, they are 17 and 11, I realize that the timing worked out perfectly that this accidental business is taking off at this point in my life. Ive worked for the Simpsons which exposed me to the inner circles of Los Angeles, I was a video editor for Disney which gave me the know-how to navigate social media marketing well, and I landed a job in business development (another happy accident) at Princess Cruises. I was crushed when COVID hit and I was laid off, but again, it was an event that was necessary to get here. It’s cliche to say, but everything truly happens for a reason. When you don’t get the job, the flood in the house, even an ailing parent, all of these experiences are there for us to build on, to learn from, to gain strength for more to come. So my advice to is to lean into the stress and the hard moments. Don’t run. Pay attention to it and even if it takes 10+ years you will look back and say “oh! thats why that happened to me”. Sometimes things happen to us because we will need to support someone else going through it later. Have faith. Don’t be lazy and find your passion by trying all the things.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
One of my favorite spots in Los Angeles is Malibu. Our kids love Paradise Cove, we’re partial to Geoffrey’s. Venice is fun for a day and hanging at the High Rooftop Lounge at the Hotel Erwin is the perfect way to enjoy the views. I would make it a point to visit Los Angeles Theater for some stand-up or Wicked – depending on the timing and the friend. I live in Valencia, California, born and raised so I have a few favorite restaurants; The Social (amazing gluten-free menu), The Old Town Junction and the Olive Terrace are some of the best in town! Shopping at The Grove and The Cheesecake Factory in Marina Del Rey is a great way to spend a Sunday too. Honestly Los Angeles and the surrounding areas have so many gems, these are just some of the places I find myself revisiting often.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Lisa Soltes (old colleague turned client turned friend) was my biggest advocate from the beginning. I would not be where I am at today without her. And though she gave me the initial confidence to begin this journey, it is my family’s unwavering support that has carried me through the presence of adversity and self-doubt.

Website: https://www.jamielorenhome.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamielorenhome/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-loren-344a8b37/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamielorenhome

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/jamie-loren-home-design-valencia?osq=jamie+loren+home&override_cta=Get+pricing

Image Credits
Third Wall Photography

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.