Having grown up in the rust belt cities of America, Becky Jarold has an honest appreciation for classic design and the beauty found in older homes and buildings in the region. Throughout her 20-year career, Jarold, who launched Pittsburgh-based firm B. Jarold & Co. in 1991, has found herself especially influenced by her grandfather, an ornamental-iron artist.

“He taught me the value of reusing materials as design elements,” Jarold says. “I always encourage clients to think creatively and consider reclaimed materials and the work of local artists.”

Question: What is your favorite thing about what you do?

Answer: I enjoy working with clients and hearing their stories about the spaces they wish to redecorate or redesign. Often, a hidden element or texture or color will present itself and resonate with the client, which leads to a successful design.

Q: What is your best advice for a homeowner who's looking to change his/her home's decor? What are the most important things to think about? What are the most common mistakes people make?

A: At the heart of my work is my belief that design uplifts and inspires those who live within the space. I often ask homeowners to sit in a space and think about the elements within that space that are the most important. Can they name what within the space makes them feel most at home?

A good designer will help clients to create spaces that they will be able to joyfully inhabit because the ingredients and elements of that design come from their own stories and desires. A good designer will bring a client's wishes harmoniously together.

The most common mistake homeowners make is to tackle a job without the guidance of a professional or to fail to listen to their own thoughts and feelings throughout the process.

Q: Describe the job you're most proud of. What made it so special for you and the client?

A: I am most proud of a project that I did for a client who hired me to redesign their entire home in a span of six months. When their son, who had been away the entire time at school, arrived home, he was so impressed he blurted out (a bit inappropriately but humorously), “Wow, I want to hump this house!” His passion for my work was so rewarding.

Q: What design trends are you excited about right now? Which ones are on their way out?

A: As a designer, I always take note of the latest colors and furnishings trends, but the most important cues come from the clients themselves and what they would like to see. That informs my process.

Rachel Weaver is a contributing writer for Trib Total Media.

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