“Sam” Jernigan
Interior Designer
My 2+ decades of expertise
will provide
“decorating insurance”
for your next project…
(e.g. peace of mind
& NO co$tly mistakes!)
residential . commercial . retail
Serving Nevada County, Placer County, Sacramento County & surrounding areas…e-design (remote) services available too
Not a commissioned salesperson like most decorators and designers. Instead I work for YOU, not “the store.”
Consultation services by the hour, on-site OR remote (virtual).
No “sales pitch” as I do NO retailing, period.
So you’re also free to shop wherever you like!
Get JUST the fresh & stylish ideas, technical guidance, and advice you need…
Greetings
& WELCOME…
As my main website — Renaissance Design Consultations — is very detailed, this lean overview has been created to streamline your introduction to my creative & solution-driven interior design services.
So throughout this page you’ll see links which will route you to additional information housed there (note: these will open in a new browser window).
Greetings & welcome…
As my main website — Renaissance Design Consultations — is very detailed, this lean overview has been created to streamline your introduction to my creative & solution-driven interior design services.
So throughout this page you’ll see links which will route you to additional information housed there (these will open in a new browser window).
Designer “Sam” Jernigan of Renaissance Design Consultations with client, Nancy Lindberg, working on the plans for her custom home.
“One of the best parts for me of working with both you and Roy (her contractor) was that you broke the project down into small parts. I found too many “things” on my plate at one time overwhelming for a newbie to the building process. Having those small increments (i.e. “homework”) made for an orderly process rather than an overwhelming list right off the bat.”
Client Nancy Lindberg quoted in article for
(Nancy and her husband subsequently decided to sell their land and relocated to Montana to acquire a business there.)
Home
Having founded my business in Sonoma County…
after serving clients in Sonoma, Marin & Napa counties (following 5+ years of working sequentially as two retail stores’ full-time designer), I then followed my ♥ to the Sierra foothills and have been providing design solutions to clients here regionally in Nevada, Placer, Sacramento counties & surrounding areas since 2004 (including the cities of Grass Valley, Nevada City, Penn Valley, Truckee, Colfax, Auburn, Rocklin, Roseville, Lincoln, Granite Bay, Folsom, Fair Oaks, and Sacramento, et al.).
Having founded my business in Sonoma County…
after serving clients in Sonoma, Marin & Napa counties (following 5+ years of working sequentially as two retail stores’ full-time designer), I then followed my ♥ to the Sierra foothills and have been providing design solutions to clients here regionally in Nevada, Placer, Sacramento counties & surrounding areas since 2004.
And now
E-DESIGN SERVICES
are available on a remote (virtual) basis as well. So, Good News…your LOCATION doesn’t matter!
And the fact I do NO retailing means you’ll never be “maneuvered” into a purchase OR only presented with a limited number of design materials and options — like commissioned decorators & designers so often do.
Instead…my focus is solely on you & your home’s best interests, and providing solutions tailored to YOUR tastes, lifestyle & budget, period.
And you’re also FREE TO SHOP wherever you like!
(Purchasing assistance IS also available if desired…including access to trade di$counts!)
And the fact I do NO retailing means you’ll never be “maneuvered” into a purchase OR only presented with a limited number of design materials and options — like commissioned decorators & designers so often do.
Instead…my focus is solely on you & your home’s best interests, and providing solutions tailored to YOUR tastes, lifestyle & budget, period.
AND you’re also free to shop wherever you like!
(Purchasing assistance IS also available if desired…including access to trade di$counts!)
…among others.
You can READ these articles which include comments of mine along with others I’ve written as well as those covering timely topics including 2021 Colors of the Year, the annual Cost vs. Value Report commissioned by the National Assoc. of Realtors, et al.
…visit the Library
Photos from my own residence
…have been used in some of these national media articles from time to time including this one of my formal dining room on:
for an article on using rich, dark colors which was featured on their site’s homepage (screenshot).
When still in Sonoma County I also freelanced for one of…
the top staging firms in San Francisco
and have a longtime specialty I call “mini staging” (e.g. using a homeowner’s own furnishings/accessories vs. renting furniture, etc.).
“Sam is amazing! She has such a talent for helping sellers stage their home to shine and sell! Her ideas help homes look great online as well as in person.
We have been very pleased with her work, and our clients have also been very pleased with what she is able to do with their home. Sam uses items the owner currently has, and makes budget-friendly suggestions which totally transform their spaces. We are lucky to have such a talented, experienced stager and designer in our area!”
Vanessa Taylor, Realtor (Team Taylor)
I’ve “mini-staged” over half a dozen of her listings to date.
This quote of hers appears on 
While this & my main site are primarily geared to homeowners, I also welcome projects for:
- Commercial
- Retail
- Also visual display (e.g. retail windows & store interiors – have 3 yrs. full-time experience as a Visual Display Artist for a S. California clothing chain)
And I’ve also been quoted in the national media for articles
on staging
including:
READ these and other articles in the Library…
R E V I E W S
The Two Room Inn, Nevada City
“Sam Jernigan was a huge help to me when I bought my little Victorian house in Nevada City. I was turning it into a vacation rental home, and having no experience decorating in the Victorian style, I hired Sam, who came highly recommended, to help me.
With her knowledgeable advice, wonderful design ideas and expertise in the use of color, and I was able to create exactly the look I wanted inside. And she was fun to work with!”
READ Marney’s second review recounting our work together on her own whole-house renovation on HOUZZ.
…for instance she guided us through choosing our exterior home colors by having us choose our stonework and roofing first. She doesn’t just recommend an option or color; she explains her ideas within a context of what works best, and why.
Sam is creative, and “thinks outside the box” when confronted with an interesting design challenge. She knocked out a CAD rendering of the space in record time, and worked with us on refining our choices. We never would have come up with those solutions on our own.
Sam is helping with all aspects of design as we build our home. She is a consummate professional—flexible, punctual and completely transparent about fees.
Finally, Sam is so personable and non-intimidating. She interacts with cheerfulness and kindness…quickly responds to phone calls or emails, and makes us feel like she really is so happy to help us. We expect to be working with Sam through this year, and I will be happy to review her again once our project is finished. I do recommend her without hesitation.”
READ her unabridged testimonial…
(see her additional reviews below and here’s a feature article of mine which includes a photo of her completed home.)
And here’s an entire page of client feedback…
“When we moved from the city to a more rural setting I was at a bit of a loss as to what to do with our new home. All my modern furniture seemed out of place! Sam helped me establish a look that suited our new setting without compromising my preference for contemporary design.
She helped me make some bold choices like painting the bathroom black and using reclaimed lumber for window trim. The results are stunning.
Sam was really creative and collaborative as we worked our way through multiple rooms. And the results are fantastic! We always get compliments.”
Here’s the feature article on her renovated home.
And Jeannine’s newly black (!) bathroom was also included in this feature article on Realtor.com (which includes my own formal dining room too, see photo in prior section).
Here’s a list of typical client’s issues I’ve been addressing for over two decades:
What’s YOUR dilemma?
* Trouble FIGURING OUT what to do with one or more rooms?
* Ready to undertake some purchasing but are concerned about making costly MISTAKES?
* Planning OR in the midst of a remodel or new build…and have hit a key snag?
* OR you sort of know what you want but have trouble ENVISIONING in your mind’s eye…so you’re feeling STUCK?
* Feeling OVERWHELMED inside the design, remodeling, or build process and wanting someone seasoned to just bring your vision to life for you (e.g. project management)?
* OR are you looking for something “different” vs. the ho-hum generic “big box” offerings?
Want help with:
- DIY – ideas or how-to’s for projects including upcycling? (I’m an avid DIY’er too)
- Adding a home office, granny unit (ADU)?
- A tiny house or innovative shipping container project?
Relax…
Regardless, I’ve got you covered for any and ALL design questions – interior and/or exterior. In addition to the hundreds of homeowners I’ve assisted over the years, I’ve also personally renovated two residences as well as served as designer plus general contractor for the construction of my own custom home. This sizable undertaking (beginning with a large parcel of raw land) utilized my comprehensive 2D/3D space planning — an invaluable rendering resource so you too can “SEE” (and test drive) various ideas BEFORE you pull the trigger for that next key purchase or remodel/addition/new construction.
LEARN more about test-driving ideas for building, remodeling, or for ANY room or project via my 2D/3D space planning service.
Via the magic of graphics, another specialty of mine is rendering desired changes ON YOUR OWN PHOTOS — interior or exterior — another invaluable tool for eliminating the guesswork of your next project…
Here’s a list of typical client’s issues I’ve been addressing for over two decades:
What’s YOUR dilemma?
* Trouble FIGURING OUT what to do with one or more rooms?
* Ready to undertake some purchasing but are concerned about making costly MISTAKES?
* Planning OR in the midst of a remodel or new build…and have hit a key snag?
* OR you sort of know what you want but have trouble ENVISIONING in your mind’s eye…so you’re feeling STUCK?
* Feeling OVERWHELMED inside the design, remodeling, or build process and wanting someone seasoned to just bring your vision to life for you (e.g. project management)?
* OR are you looking for something “different” vs. the ho-hum generic “big box” offerings?
Want help with:
- DIY – ideas or how-to’s for projects including upcycling? (I’m an avid DIY’er too)
- Adding a home office, granny unit (ADU)?
- A tiny house or innovative shipping container project?
Relax…
Regardless, I’ve got you covered for any and ALL design questions – interior and/or exterior. In addition to the hundreds of homeowners I’ve assisted over the years, I’ve also personally renovated two residences as well as served as designer plus general contractor for the construction of my own custom home. This sizable undertaking (beginning with a large parcel of raw land) utilized my comprehensive 2D/3D space planning — an invaluable rendering resource so you too can “SEE” (and test drive) various ideas BEFORE you pull the trigger for that next key purchase or remodel/addition/new construction.
L more about test-driving ideas for building, remodeling, or for ANY room or project via my 2D/3D space planning service.
Via the magic of graphics, another specialty of mine is rendering desired changes ON YOUR OWN PHOTOS — interior or exterior — another invaluable tool for eliminating the guesswork of your next project…
Prices start at
$150/hr.
Fees are charged by the hour
…with a 1-hour minimum inside the service area. Actual fee will be quoted based on driving time to YOUR location.
Nevada County: $150/hr.
Placer County: $175/hr.
Sacramento County: $185/hr.
ALL on-site consults incur a $10 trip charge.
Other regions: will quote — additional time available as desired, billed in 15-minute increments
LEARN more about how a consult works.
E-design (remote) services – $150 – $185/hr.
- Will quote based on YOUR needs: NO one-size-fits-all pricing – will instead tailor to the scope of YOUR project(s)
- Inspiration boards
- Shopping assistance if desired, including a host of specialty and to-the-trade retailers I’ve curated (+ I pass along trade discounts when available!)
- Altering of photos of YOUR own home so you can envision planned changes (especially ideal for test-driving new exterior paint colors and/or planned structural changes like the addition of French doors, new balcony railings, or other architectural changes)
- 2D/3D space planning so you can test-drive your ideas on paper FIRST…before you buy Or build
- Plus, if requested, I’ll provide you with detailed guidance for implementing your recommended design plan in working with you via email, phone, Skype/Zoom/video chat & routing of online resources including creation of private shopping pages
LEARN more about e-design remote/virtual services.
& . . .
Your “safety net” (follow-up)
Post-consult “decorating insurance” – adding 30-minutes to an initial 1-hour or longer consult will provide you with access to additional support as your decorating project progresses (as above, hourly rate based on location).
Ideal for small projects, this built-in “safety net” permits you to get your questions answered via phone, email, or video chat once you begin shopping for planned purchases, testing paint colors, etc.
Prices start at
$450
Re-imagine & Re-use…
N E W “Refresh my room(s)” pkg. – 3-hours
Given my staging background think of this as a re-staging of one or more rooms in your house.
Time can be used to select new paint colors and/or furnishings, materials, window treatments, etc. AND, if desired, includes rearranging furniture, rugs, accessories – including potentially rejiggering items from other rooms (with some help by you or a family member for heavy or awkward items).
A visual reboot of your space(s) with minimal investment – rate based on location…any leftover time can also be utilized for follow-up questions and/or shopping assistance, etc. (including later on).
Gift Certificates
available too…
Prices start at
$1500
Projects
While smaller projects of less than 10 hours are available too, larger projects such as new home construction, remodels/additions, or more comprehensive assistance for one or more rooms are facilitated by supplying you ongoing design support beyond your initial consult.
These additional services utilize a Project Agreement and include:
Shopping assistance – in-person and/or online, including private Ideabooks I can curate for you on Houzz among other digital tools of mine.
2D/3D space planning so you can SEE & test-drive your ideas on paper BEFORE you buy or build – ideal for those who have trouble envisioning planned changes or purchases, or just want to consider various options on paper first.
Continuing consultation services via phone, email, video chat so you have the ongoing support you need every step of the way…
Alright...ready to get STARTED?
…OR
call NOW
It’s no accident that I relocated to this 1850s Gold Rush-era neck of the woods
…because I adore vintage. So small wonder my own custom-designed/built residence has Old World (mostly French Country) influences throughout its interior as well as exterior — including custom tiles I designed for two rooms: one featuring photos of Paris and the other has a collection of vintage French food ads on tumbled marble tiles as accents in the kitchen backsplash.
So while I regularly work with clients who have contemporary, Mid-Century, Asian, Scandinavian Modern, or other types of clean & lean style preferences including boho or eclectic, I especially relish the opportunity to work on projects which are vintage-inspired or historical in nature including Shabby Chic, Country Farmhouse, Craftsman, Rustic, and Industrial among others, including Victorian.
And have you heard of this new one called “Cottagecore”?
(BTW, here’s an article I was recently interviewed for which includes this style for Realtor.com — see these and other decorating-related articles in the Library on my main website.)
And it’s been such a joy to work on a number of period projects over the years including a circa 1905 VIP guesthouse for a premium winery in Sonoma County, a historical B&B, along with having clients whose residences were featured on a prominent Heritage Homes tour, etc.
To me, classical design rich with yesteryear sentiment is not only timeless (e.g. “trend proof”)…but also creates such a warm & inviting feeling of welcome…
(And you can visit The Chateau online for more inspiration…they also host weddings, events, and guests! But if you can’t arrange to jet there in person just yet, check out their très jolie collection of goodies available for purchase!)
Copyright 2021-2023 Renaissance Design Consultations, all rights reserved. Website designed in-house.
YOU too?
Then I share with you my ongoing obsession (there are EIGHT magnifique seasons to savor!):
Escape to the Chateau
…and wait until you see the moat, “orangerie” & half a dozen other outbuildings set amidst 12 idyllic acres which are home to this 19th century masterpiece! The series provides a captivating armchair trip to the rural French countryside in watching this gorgeous architectural gem being lovingly & imaginatively revitalized top-to-bottom by the adorable and re$ourceful British couple, Dick & Angel, who’ve made it into their home (& business)…after it laid abandoned for 40 long years. Tout à fait charmant!
“At the end of the day, as long as YOU like it, that’s all that matters…”
I couldn’t agree more!
Because now more than ever, there’s no place like home. Thanks for stopping by & I’m looking forward to working with you…
Cheers,
“Sam” Jernigan
Interior Designer, IFDA
Copyright 2021-2022 Renaissance Design Consultations, all rights reserved. Website designed in-house.