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TWENTY-SEVEN-YEAR old interior designer James McNamara set up his practice JMC Studios in 2021 working on both residential and commercial projects. Ruth O’Connor speaks to the young designer about the lessons he’s learned so far in business and his designs on the future.
What inspired you to start your own business?
Most of my family members work for themselves so having my own business seemed natural to me. You have to gain experience before embarking on that journey. I got a real taste for it when I did work placement with Ruth Walsh from Westhaven Interior Design while I was studying art at Westport College before going on to do my degree in Sligo. Ruth inspired me more than she will ever know. Getting a front row seat to the world of design was integral to my own career pursuit.
I worked for a number of years in a furniture store as a photography studio stylist, sometimes creating five to ten sets per day in a fast paced environment. I also worked for a kitchen company for two of those years designing four or five kitchens per week. It was a blink in time with regards to my career but it taught me so much.
What have you learned so far in business?
Everyday brings a new lesson. On a personal level I can be very trusting – almost to a fault. Earlier in my career I would often take someone’s word as gospel. Knowledge comes with age and experience and I have now learned not to do this. Unless it is written down, signed and highlighted it doesn’t mean anything to me.
Form relationships with other people within your industry. Being from what feels like the furthest point west in Ireland I have to travel quite a distance to be at events and I didn’t prioritise this until late last year. When you work for yourself it is hard to share the experience. Having built connections with incredible people in this industry I can now message any of them to ask for advice which is invaluable.
What has been the most challenging time so far?
My first year in business was quite challenging. I had no money and any money I made was not enough to cover my time or expenses. If I hadn’t had such a strong vision for my business and my future I don’t think I would have continued.
Year two was amazing… until I couldn’t keep up with the workload. Saying ‘yes’ to everyone for fear of turning down work turned me into a busy fool. I had enough projects on but yet I was barely scraping by. I had to take a massive step back and go back to the drawing board.
I worked in a design studio for a few months to help me figure out where I was going wrong and realised that I was not charging enough or accounting for the amount of time I was spending on projects. It was a pivotal moment in my career.
What sets you apart from other designers?
Every designer brings something unique to the table. I am the product of my surroundings. I grew up in Achill Island – surely one of the most picturesque locations in Ireland. Being surrounded by organic shapes and textures my whole life plays a huge role in my design aesthetic.
What do you say to people who think employing an interior designer is an extravagance they can’t afford?
I would say that it’s an investment. You are going to be buying the furniture anyway so why not spend a bit extra to ensure it not only fits but looks amazing? Not only will an interior designer help you to create a beautiful home but they will also help you to avoid expensive mistakes.
Where do you look for inspiration?
Anything can inspire me. I was driving a couple of weeks ago and passed by a road sign and realised that it looked familiar. Subliminally, I had incorporated its wavy lines into one of my designs. So, I take inspiration from literally everything – whether or not I am aware of it in the moment.
Where do most of your clients go for inspiration?
I always ask my clients to create a Pinterest board. I find this fascinating. They usually add a collage of different ideas and rooms however there is always some cohesion – it could be a specific wood that makes an appearance throughout or colours that repeat themselves. These are the details I then incorporate – not the rooms they have ‘pinned’ but the cohesive details throughout those rooms.
Describe your workspace.
Chaotic. I’m not going to sugarcoat it. I tend to work on a few different things at once so I have a lot of stuff everywhere. I redecorated my studio earlier this year as my material library was rapidly expanding and I have a full wall of tile, worktop, glass and wood samples. I have a very large desk that I spend most of my time at and the floor space is normally covered in materials that I am compiling into schemes for projects. A new JMC HQ is definitely in the pipeline – a larger space that clients visit.
Describe a typical working day.
The reason this job is so exciting is because every day is different. The first task of the day is emailing and messaging clients and trades people – good communication is vital. I carve out more time later in the morning to answer any other emails or messages. The rest of the morning is spent working on ongoing projects, updating budgets, researching and chasing tradespeople. I always go for a walk at around 11am. This is non-negotiable for me as it clears my head and I use this time to brainstorm ideas, some up with plans and think clearly about what I need to do. The rest of the day is then spent drawing, putting together presentations, working on design documentation and producing social media content to help develop my following and client base.
Are you or your customers interested in trends?
Not really, most of my clients have their own distinct taste and style and it’s my job to help bring that out. It takes time to bring a project from concept to completion, whatever was trendy when the project first commenced probably won’t be trendy when the project is completed. In a way you are almost trying to peer into the future to see what will stand the test of time.
What’s next for you and your business in 2025?
I want a space that I can bring clients to that allows them to experience what we can create. A space to showcase our projects, host events and display our amazing materials collection. I have a vivid image of this space and am just waiting for the perfect space to become available.
We are working on some beautiful projects around the country at the moment and I am excited to see them come to fruition. I would love to work on TV too so hopefully that opportunity will arise some day soon.
To discuss a project with James you can reach him via the contact form on his website jmcstudios.ie or you can send him a message via @jmcstudiosltd on Instagram.
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