Jenny Blanc
Published on: 2010-06-06
Jenny Blanc, BIID, runs her interior design practice, Jenny Blanc, alongside a glamorous showroom in west London. In the mid 1980s she and her husband Raymond Blanc received plaudits for the creation of Le Manoir Aux Quat’ Saisons in the heart of the Oxfordshire countryside. Some 12 years ago, Jenny set up her design business working for prestigious clients in the Hampton Court area. A special project for a client’s home in the Caribbean led to Jenny working on a string of luxury apartments and established homes in the Tropics. She works closely with her design partner, Sue Thomas-Richardson whose interior design career started in her homeland Barbados. The company now offers their international clients the best of both worlds – offices in London and Barbados, and a very personal design service crafted to meet their clients’ every need. Recognising the specialist interior design service they provide, Jenny plans to open a lifestyle showroom in Barbados in 2009. Jenny Blanc's work has been recognised with three awards from the International Property Awards including the coveted World’s Best Interior Design 2007.
If you would hire an interior designer, what is the first question you would ask them?
I would want to know what the designer believed their strengths to be – inspirational design is a necessity but following through every last detail is equally important for the true success of a project.
Which aspect of your work do you find most challenging?
Creating a beautiful design concept on a very tight budget is not easy. Clients see a look they want and then chisel away to make it come into budget. I’ll make every effort to keep working away to achieve their aspirations, but it is important for a desi
What do you do when you have a creative block?
My team would tell you that I do something extremely practical. The showroom is a very personal passion of mine, so I re-arrange the furniture and accessories to inject a fresh look. It re-energises my ideas, and customers love to see new ways to display
The first thing you notice when you enter a room?
Comfort is a really important aspect to all my design work, and you can see it as well as feel it when you enter a room. There are many ways to engender a sense of comfort – from the configuration of the furniture in a room, the choice of the furniture it
Which is your favorite room in your house and why?
I live in a Grade II listed cottage that was once attached to Hampton Court Palace. I love it for its intimacy and charm, with my most favourite room being the dining room. It has a lovely view onto the garden, and it’s filled with all my favourite things
If you could have the project of your dreams, what would it be?
I adored masterminding the creation of Le Manoir Aux Quat’ Saisons – seeing it through to every last detail. I’ve grown to love everything about the Caribbean through the work we do, so a boutique style hotel in Barbados would be my ultimate project.
What do you consider to be the most significant design innovation of the past 100 years?
The immense progress in the design and development of textiles both for furniture, wallcoverings and soft furnishings. As a designer, one is spoilt for choice.
If you could have chosen any other profession what would it be?
A barrister. I like to keep my brain active solving problems, and I love a challenge.
What was it that most influenced your decision to become a designer?
A love of beautiful things. From a very early age my grandmother was a huge influence on me. She filled her home with exquisite objects, many of which I inherited and now have in my own home.
Which celebrity’s home would you love to design and why?
I got to know Andrew Lloyd Webber when we were creating Le Manoir – he was one of our investors who put his faith is us. I think he is an amazingly creative artist, someone I respect and admire. It would be very satisfying to work creatively with such a f