ADJ Interiors introduces ‘Design Advice Happy Hours’

April Jensen moved her 30-year-old interior design firm, ADJ Interiors, to a new location last year, and the neighborhood inspired her to open her doors for a monthly event. “This is such a cute neighborhood,” she says of the firm’s location at 51 N. Gore Ave. in Webster Groves. “There are young families and also established families with amazing homes, and we just really enjoyed participating in neighborhood events related to holidays. It made me realize maybe we could create more personal connections here.”

Jensen’s idea blossomed into the impetus for Design Advice Happy Hours, a free event she plans to host from 5 to 7 p.m. the first Thursday of every month. In addition to answering frequent design questions – such as “Which wallpaper should I choose?” or “What finishes would look best for my kitchen hardware?”– Jensen will offer appetizers and a signature cocktail from local caterers and food purveyors.

“I hope people come in, even if they don’t have a pressing design question, to meet others in the community and try some great food and drinks,” Jensen says. She and her team of three other interior designers will be on hand to offer expert advice on basic design questions while individuals snack and sip. She says people often agonize over choosing the best finishes and paint colors for a space, something she can easily help identify.

“People invest a lot of money in their homes,” Jensen says, “so they don’t want to make costly mistakes. It can be so helpful to get a neutral opinion from someone who has experience and expertise. And this is a way people can do that easily and at no charge.” Jensen hopes some people will consider the benefits of working with her team on a broader scale to envision and enact a complete design plan, but she realizes people may be on a limited budget or have concerns about working with designers.

She notes there are many reasons people avoid hiring interior designers, and some are based on misconceptions. “We aren’t just for people doing entire house remodels or just for people with large, expensive houses,” she notes. “We love doing those extensive projects, but we’re also here for smaller design projects, and the happy hours can give people a taste of that and answer basic questions so they can move forward on things like repainting a room, arranging artwork or changing a faucet.” She also notes that the ADJ team can point people to reputable contractors for services like plumbing, painting, and appliance or countertop repair or replacement.

“Working with an interior designer shouldn’t be intimidating,” Jensen says. “We’re here to be partners with homeowners, to listen and to offer advice and experience and expertise. I hate to see people waste money on something that doesn’t work or stand the test of time, and we can help with both the look and the function of a space.” 

ADJ Interiors, 314-230-9099, adjinteriors.com