10/10/2026
Hi friends! 👋
I share a lot of my design work on here, but I realized I don't share much about the person behind the designs. So I thought I'd take a minute (or 2) to introduce myself a little more and share how this business of mine came to be!
My design career started when I graduated with my BFA in Interior Design from the Illinois Institute of Art in 2008. I've been working in the kitchen and bath design industry ever since. Almost 20 years now...which is CRAZY to say out loud!
Over the years, I've had the opportunity to work for some pretty amazing design firms in the Chicago and Atlanta, Georgia areas before eventually making my way back to my hometown of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. Once back home, I continued my career with a couple of reputable local kitchen and bath companies before taking the leap into business ownership.
But let's rewind a little further! I'm a Mt. Pleasant Panther through and through and was a cheerleader all throughout school. 📣 I married my high school sweetheart, and we now have two kids in 4th and 8th grade. We're right in the thick of sports, band, dance, and all the other school activities that keep us running! It's been so special watching our kids grow up in the same community we did and getting to relive some of those memories through their eyes.
Many of you have also been following along as we slowly renovate and put our own personal touches on our historic 1917 home. I've had SO much fun with that project! It's definitely a labor of love, and there's always something on my list to tackle next. 🏡
So how did my design business come to be?
Owning my own design business was always a dream of mine. With a whole lot of encouragement from my husband (and our family taking the leap to one income for a while), I finally decided to go for it. I started writing my business plan toward the end of 2019.
And then...2020 happened. 😅
Like so many things, my plans were put on hold for a bit. But I used that time to prepare, plan, and work toward making this dream a reality. And because I can't sit still, I also earned my Certified Kitchen and Bath Designer designation through the National Kitchen & Bath Association, further advancing my professional credentials and expertise.
In April 2021, I officially moved into my showroom in downtown Burlington, Iowa, and I've been going strong ever since!
Looking back at how much this business has grown in just over five years is honestly incredible to me. I've built such a wonderful clientele, continued to elevate the level of service and design experience I offer, and created something that I'm incredibly proud to bring to our rural Southeast Iowa community and beyond.
I've surpassed goals I once thought were pretty ambitious, and this business has grown into something even bigger than I originally envisioned!
And none of that would have happened without my amazing clients. The trust you put in me to design, coordinate, and help bring your dream spaces to life means more than you know. I truly love what I do, and getting to know the people and families behind each project makes it even better.
Here's another little fun fact about me! 🎨
I've also been an artist for as long as I can remember, working primarily in charcoal and watercolor. Some of you may know my artwork through .
For years, creating custom artwork kept me busy on evenings and weekends. But as my kitchen and bath business continued to grow and our kids' schedules became busier, I realized there just weren't enough hours in the day to do it all!
And as much as I love creating art, I don't want to miss these years with our kids. They're growing up way too fast already!
So, a little over a year ago, I decided to put my custom artwork orders on pause. Maybe someday I'll pick that back up again! In the meantime, you can still find some of my artwork for sale at The Art Center of Burlington.
And finally, I just want to say THANK YOU!
Whether you've been a client, referred a friend, a contractor that continues to send business my way, followed my pages, or simply taken the time to like or comment on one of my projects, I appreciate you more than you know!
I'm so proud of what I've built, especially being able to offer a personalized, high-level kitchen and bath design experience right here in Southeast Iowa. You shouldn't have to live in a big city to have access to beautiful design and exceptional service!
And the exciting part? I'm nowhere near done dreaming! I have some BIG goals for the future of this business, and I can't wait to share more as those plans come together.
So stay tuned! And please keep sharing my work and spreading the word. If you know someone who's planning a kitchen or bath remodel, I'd love the opportunity to show them what a great design experience can look like!
Thanks for being here and following along on this journey with me! And in the spirit of Homecoming last week, enjoy this flashback to HOCO 2005! 😊
— Jerilyn
www.jhkitchenbath.com
