A Chat with Jamie of JBT Designs
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Jamie Toporovsky
I’m excited to introduce you all to Jamie an Interior Decorator and Stylist and fellow Jersey gal.
Jamie welcome to the Chalet please tell us about yourself.
Hi I’m Jamie, founder of JBT Designs. After years as an interior decorator, I pivoted into prop styling and art direction for photoshoots. A beautifully designed room and a beautifully photographed room are two very different things and bridging that gap is exactly what I do. Because of my background in the design world, I understand a space, vision, and the years of work that went into it before I ever walk through the door of a styling project.
Below: Designer Lalliberte Interiors, photographer Linda Pordon and styled by Jamie.
Below: Designer Daniella Hoffer Interiors, photographer Jacob Snavely and styled by Jamie.
Below: Designer Leit Designs, photographer Julie Leffell and styled by Jamie.
Below: Designer Melissa Peel Design, photographer Linda Pordon and styled by Jamie.
Below: Architect/designer Jennifer Kilgallen Design, photographer Van Tassell Studio and styled by Jamie.
Below: Designer Erika Shulman Interiors, photographer Julie Leffell and styled by Jamie.
Jamie now that we’ve ogled these amazing spaces you’ve styled tell us what motivates you? That moment on set when a designer sees a space transformed with the right florals, props, scale and color and their reaction is pure excitement and surprise. That never gets old.
Who or what has been the biggest influence on you? My mother Ruth has always been my biggest influence. Growing up, our home was filled with warm, well-curated, deeply personal touches, each piece placed with real pride and love. Whether something came from her travels or a local retail store, everything worked harmoniously together. What I admired most was that her collection was built over time, gathered slowly and intentionally. Obviously when I'm styling a shoot I don't have years to source, but that philosophy has stayed with me. One of my favorite things to do on a shoot is weave in the homeowner's personal items alongside the pieces I bring. It's what gives a space soul and makes the story feel authentic rather than staged.
What's your personal style? Understated with elevated moments. It carries through everything I do, both in how I dress and how I style a space. I'm not driven by brand names. What matters to me is that something looks and feels right. I'm a big believer in mixing high and low. A well-chosen affordable piece alongside something truly special is far more interesting than a room or an outfit that's all one note. Understanding materials is also everything to me, knowing your fabrics, your upholstery, your finishes. That knowledge is what allows you to pull off the mix convincingly and still have the whole thing feel cohesive and intentional. Whether I'm getting dressed or styling a space, the goal is the same: effortless but considered.
Your happy place, where is it? My home, my Pilates reformer class, and walking through coastal towns in Europe. There is something about each of those that completely resets me. The front porch is my other happy place.
What is your home aesthetic and what spaces are you most comfortable in?Honestly, I love it all and that's both my blessing and my curse. I'm drawn to show-stopping rooms where you can feel the hand of a skilled professional, but I'm equally at home with an understated Americana aesthetic with some old world European touches woven in. The truth is I'm a bit all over the place with my personal taste, which gives me a whole new level of appreciation for the designers, decorators, and architects who are able to take a client's vision, distill it, and actually get it done. That clarity and commitment is a real gift.
The kitchen and my front porch are where you'll find me most. The kitchen is truly the heart of my home. It's where I get to really show up for my family and I genuinely love to cook. I'm not much of a baker, although I do have a foolproof lemon cake recipe that we all enjoy! The front porch is my other happy place. Fresh air, shade, an iced coffee, and I'm still home but somehow not staring at everything I need to do inside. There's something about being outside that clears my mind, sparks new ideas, and gives me a fresh perspective without ever having to leave my own front door.
What is something you try to do every day? Every day I try to find at least one learning moment. It doesn't have to be big or work related. Something personal, something about my family, something that just makes me a little better than I was the day before.
What's your guilty pleasure? Dark chocolate, a good Nancy Meyers movie and losing myself in my collection of years worth of home trade magazines on a quiet Saturday. Oh, and Bravo TV, although I'm currently attempting a detox. It's just gotten too angry lately and I miss the fun!
Jamie styled the NJ Home cover working with designer MR Interiors and photographer Mendel Grossbaum.
Jamie I can’t thank you enough for taking the time from your busy schedule to chat with me. You’re a creative and entrepreneur on top of your busy family life as a wife and mom of four. I love the business you’ve created and how you’ve expanded to include styling. I find your work so extremely inspiring!
Follow Jamie: @jbt_styles • and check out her website: JBT Designs and JBT Designs Photoshoot Styling
Til next time be well and I’ll see you over on the Gram!
