Wednesday, December 19, 2012

The Design Diaries: Joni Webb of Cote de Texas

Happy Wednesday!  I am back today with the 2nd installment of "The Design Diaries."
 Today I have the lovely Joni Webb of the popular interior design blog, Cote de Texas.  Joni is a fellow Houstonian that designs gorgeous antique-filled interiors with a decidedly French flair.  Her work has been featured in such popular publications as HGTV, The Examiner, Houston House & Home, Better Homes & Gardens, and much more.  Needless to say, her work is delicious:





Interview with Joni:

What are 5 words to describe your style?

Casual, comfortable, contrast, patina, texture 

How would you define your aesthetic?

My aesthetic is pretty simple- slipcovers, seagrass, linens, velvets, and taffetas, antiques, zebra prints, baskets, urns, dark and light woods, a touch of gilt, books, checks & stripes, mirrors, blue & white porcelains, and creamware & ironstone.


What does a typical day look like for you?

I work at home.  I usually do research for the blog for most of the day on in to the night.  I don't take on that many design jobs anymore because the blog keeps me so busy.  I stay up 
all night, so I sleep in late.  I usually don't make any plans until after lunch!


How did you decide you wanted to be an interior designer?

I don't think I decided that - I knew since I was about 7 or 8.   Of course I started out in the field after college and discovered I was too shy to be a designer and worked for my father for years and years as a secretary!!!  Finally, in my early 40s, a friend hired me to do her daughter's room and from that my business grew and grew.  I still do design work for her.  We are working on her bedroom right now.


What is your favorite part of your job?

Installations, picking out fabrics, designing the floorplan, and buying the accessories.

What is the best piece of advice you have gotten regarding your career?

Be confident.  I am sorely lacking in confidence and am very insecure.  It helps when I get positive feedback about my work.


Do you have any advice for aspiring designers?

Try to find clients who like your personal style or aesthetic.  Working for clients who don't can be tiring and uninspiring.  I used to take any jobs- but when I couldn't design the way I wanted to, I resented them and the work.  It's just not fun putting together a room that you personally don't like or wouldn't want to live in.  With my blog so many people can see my aesthetic- if they like it, fine.  If not, call someone else.  It's so much better that way!

What are 3 items currently on your "bucket list"?

I would love to get a beach house, for sure.  Maybe even move to the beach!  And I would love to start over in a new house that reflects who I am today, rather than who I was when I moved here 20 years ago!  And - be a grandmother.

What is the most rewarding part of your job and the least glamorous?

The most rewarding part is after an installation and the client walks in and goes crazy. I love that part! Crazy- with happiness.  I've had a client go crazy with anger- twice actually! OMG the stories.  But usually that's the best part.  The worst? Ordering and billing. Horrible! 
How do you balance your home life with your work life?

Well it's just my husband and I now that my daughter is in college and my husband just let's me be.   He doesn't demand anything of me. Not dinner, not a made up bed- nothing!   I am so lucky that he  respects me and gives me the independence that I crave.  He's not in to my work at all, or my blog- so I'm pretty much on my own. But after a good installation, I may show him the pictures and he says, "Nice!" So between him and my housekeeper, everything is balanced in my life. 

A big thank you to Joni for taking the time to answer the interview questions!  Her answers both inspired me and made me laugh.  I imagine she has quite a few good stories of her experiences in design!  Her advice for aspiring designers really resonated with me.  Finding a way to enjoy the process and please your client is what it's all about!  
See more of Joni's gorgeous work here.

{all images via Joni}
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106 comments:

  1. That GINGHAM! Oh my goodness. Now I am thinking I need to change my couch pillows to that. So so cute! Thanks for sharing this inspiration! And I'm obsesed with that library!

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  2. You could feel the enthusiasm when she says her favorite part of her job is when the client walks in and goes crazy! Totally relate to that emotion. We all want to do good work that brings that kind of response. Enjoyed learning about Joni and these beautiful pictures of her work.

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  3. All of us Houston girls are amazing, aren't we, Sam ??

    Merry Christmas, darling...

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  5. cute! I love Joni's blog. It is such a great resource.

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  6. Her style grows on me more and more every day. Maybe it's maturity but her spaces always look so inviting and comfortable but still polished.

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  7. omg that living room is everything!! thanks for sharing! xo

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  8. It is so hard to think that Joni Webb is shy. Her blog is so well written and she is so generous with her sources and talent, she comes across as an intelligent, generous , gracious person. Thanks for interviewing her. She writes my favorite blog.
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      You put it beautifully! I could not agree more.
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  9. Love Joni's blog and her style! And I love this series, so fun. :)

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  10. Stop! These rooms are so freaking gorgeous! I"m going to have to go and check out her blog now!

    Thanks for sharing!

    xx,
    Maya

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  11. great post! Joni is one of my favorite designers--beautiful aesthetic and so much fun!

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  12. What a cool post. I love her house - it's stylish while still being timeless.
    Isn’t That Charming.

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  13. Love this feature! I have always been a fan of hers!

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  14. So fun to learn more about her. I like her advice.

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  15. So cozy and clean - love her style. Thanks for sharing!

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  16. oh, i dream of built-in shelving...one day... just lovely, sam :) XO brynn

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  18. Thank you so much for this!!!! And thank you for all your kind comments- they mean so much to me!!!!!!!!

    Joni

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    1. Thanks a lot very much for the high quality and results-oriented help. I won’t think twice to endorse your blog post to anybody who wants and needs support about this area.

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  19. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this website very often. I’m extremely impressed with your writing skills as well as with the layout on your blog.
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  20. I loved reading this interview with Joni. She has long been one of my very favorite design bloggers. Not only is she talented and smart, but she is one of the nicest bloggers out there and very genuine. She also has a great sense of humor. I truly adore her and her style. Having Joni in the blog world has been a real blessing, and I have learned so much from her commentary on design and thoroughly enjoy the accompanying pictures. Hence I eagerly look forward to each new post on Cote de Texas. Reading that Joni is shy and lacking in confidence makes me appreciate her efforts even more, though I can't imagine why she would be lacking in self confidence since she is so talented. One only needs to look at the pictures of her home and her clients' homes to know that she is a talented lady. I am in love with her living room, kitchen, foyer, dining room, bedrooms, and now, her library. Gorgeous. Anyone would be lucky to have Joni design for them, and I particularly admire the fact that she is pragmatic about how one should select a designer. If only all designers could be that honest with potential clients!

    Thank you for this interview. I can't think of a designer who is more desrving of being spotlighted than Joni Webb! I enjoyed it very much.

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  21. wonderful interview. love that gal. donna

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  22. Love Joni's style!
    All you Texas girls are so amazing and stylish!
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