Designer Spotlight: A Q+A with Jodi Berger

For Jodi Berger, great design is all about balance - creating spaces that feel elevated and intentional while still feeling personal and lived-in. Through her work at JLA Designs, she's built a reputation for creating refined contemporary homes that balance thoughtful architecture, elevated yet livable design, and clients' unique lifestyle needs - whether in a full-scale new build or a bold "jewel box" moment tucked within the home. In this edition of our Designer Spotlight series, Kelly sits down with Jodi to discuss creative risk-taking, the behind-the-scenes realities of managing complex projects, and the transformative role lighting plays in shaping the atmosphere of a space.

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Kelly: After training under three different interior designers, you eventually launched your own firm. What helped you realize you were ready to step out on your own, and what did that transition look like? How has your role evolved as the firm has grown?

Jodi: After working under several designers, I spent a few years at an online luxury home retailer which gave me a completely different perspective on the business side of design, from pricing and sourcing to vendor relationships. It was an incredible experience, but I really started to miss the creative side. So, I decided to go out on my own. I started with e-design, working virtually, and built from there, naturally growing into in-person projects across New York and New Jersey while I was based in NYC. The turning point came when I took on a new build project in DC - I found myself traveling back and forth constantly, and at a certain point it just clicked that this was where the bulk of my work was heading. I made the move permanently, and the business has really grown from there.

Kelly: You've mentioned enjoying the opportunity to treat smaller spaces, like bars or powder rooms, as "jewel boxes." What makes those spaces so fun to design, and how does lighting help elevate them?

Jodi: I always encourage clients to have at least one space where they can take a creative risk. Smaller rooms are perfect for that because they're contained and don't overwhelm the rest of the home. Often a client will come to us with a more neutral overall vision, but there will be one image they love that feels a bit bolder. These spaces are where we can bring that idea to life. Lighting plays a huge role here - it sets the mood and defines the space. We layer lighting with overhead, sconces, and decorative fixtures to create depth and flexibility. 

Left: Jodi's Chicago Street project, featuring our Monolith Wall Sconce | Right: Jodi's Congressional project, featuring our Division Wall Sconce. Photography by Robert Radifera & Charlotte Safavi.

Kelly: Interior design can look glamorous from the outside, but working closely with designers day-in and day-out has given us firsthand understanding of just how much happens behind the scenes. What's one part of the process that clients may rarely see, but that has a major impact on a project's trajectory?

Jodi: So much of what impacts a project happens behind the scenes! There's a huge amount of coordination that clients don't always see. A single room can involve dozens of vendors, timelines, and decisions that all need to come together at the right time. But honestly, the biggest factor is trust. You're only as good as your client allows you to be. When a client trusts the process and trusts us to guide the decisions, that's when the project really comes together in the way it's meant to.

Kelly: You have an architectural background and are known for your rendering work. How does being able to visualize a space early on in the process influence decisions around things like scale, materials, and lighting?

Jodi: The last thing we ever want is for a client to walk in and feel surprised. Renderings give them confidence in what we're creating. They're important for us as designers, too - it's where we're really studying scale, materials, and how everything works together, including lighting. How a fixture sits in the space, how it impacts the mood - all of that gets worked through before anything is finalized. It keeps everyone aligned from the start.

Kelly: Blueprint fixtures appear across several of your projects, from sculptural sconces to larger statement pieces. What typically draws you to a fixture, and how do you decide where it will have the most impact in a space?

Jodi: We usually start with a sense of scale for the space and what we want the lighting to do, and then we just keep looking until we find the right piece. When it's right, you know! Lighting is such a big moment in any room, and in spaces like dining rooms or powder rooms it really becomes the focal point. It's the jewelry of the space, which is why we're always drawn to lighting companies like Blueprint whose designs bring so much character to a room.

Kelly: Where do you tend to find inspiration when you feel creatively stuck? Are there places, designers, experiences, etc. that help reset your perspective?

Jodi: Travel is always the biggest reset for me. Just getting out of your routine and seeing new environments always shifts my perspective. But honestly, inspiration is everywhere - restaurants, hotels, even everyday moments. I also pull a lot from Pinterest. It's incredibly intuitive and always seems to surface ideas that align with how I design.

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