When To Mix and When To Match: Tailored And Soulful Design with Jade Joyner
In this episode, I sit down with interior designer Jade Joyner, co-founder of the firm Metal + Petal, to talk about how she approaches design with intention, balance, and a strong point of view. Jade is the opposite of a formulaic designer—she’s not interested in trends, matching sets, or playing it safe. Instead, she leans into mixing materials, layering stories, and building spaces that reflect the people who live in them.
We go deep into two of her residential projects, walking through how she makes decisions around shape, material, and layout—and how she balances aesthetics with real-life function (like designing for a family with five kids). We also get into what she calls "connective tissue"—the subtle moves that make rooms flow together without feeling matchy or over-designed.
This conversation is a behind-the-scenes look at the kind of thought, care, and creative problem-solving that goes into designing spaces that feel both grounded and alive. If you've ever wondered how to pull off a mix—or how to avoid the dreaded “blanket look”—Jade has some smart, candid advice you won’t want to miss.
Watch this entire episode on YouTube HERE
KEY TAKEAWAYS
One of my favorite things about hosting the Slow Style Home podcast is getting to talk with designers who don’t just decorate—they think. They observe. They edit. They design with intention. That’s exactly the kind of conversation I had with Jade Joyner, co-founder of Metal + Petal.
Jade isn’t interested in creating a “perfect” room. She’s interested in creating spaces with soul—homes that feel personal, functional, and full of layered detail. Below are some of the most memorable ideas we explored together, with real examples from her work.
The Mix Isn’t a Trend. It’s the Point.
Jade made it clear: she’s not here to make rooms that match. Whether it’s residential or commercial, her focus is on the mix—old and new, polished and raw, sculptural and quiet. That’s where the energy lives.
In one family room project, she paired custom walnut built-ins with hand-hammered brass sconces, a spiky contemporary sculpture, vintage pottery, and a painting by a local artist. Each material brought something different—glass, terracotta, metal, velvet—and nothing felt off-limits as long as it added to the story.
If a space feels flat or lifeless, look at what’s missing in terms of contrast—whether that’s texture, shape, origin, or material.
Balance Over Symmetry
Instead of focusing on symmetry, Jade talked a lot about balance—the kind that keeps a room from feeling too rigid, too soft, or too styled. She’s always looking to walk that line.
In another project, she created a seating area with a chocolate velvet sofa, marble-topped coffee tables with organic shapes, and a carved tree-stump side table. The materials couldn’t have been more different, but together they struck the right tone: cozy, elevated, but never fussy.
Balance comes from tension and rhythm, not just matching pairs.
Design for the Way People Actually Live
One thing I appreciated about Jade is how practical she is. “I’m a practical designer,” she said—and she backs it up with smart choices. In the same family room, she used indoor-outdoor fabrics, a performance-treated linen sofa, and heavy pieces that young kids couldn’t easily move. Even the velvet was chosen for its durability.
She also talked about designing a game table into the room—because that’s how the family spends time together. Not every beautiful room needs to revolve around a TV or be off-limits for play.
The best spaces are the ones that support everyday use without sacrificing personality or warmth.
Every Room Tells a Story
Jade starts every project by building a narrative. She wants to know who the people are, what the space should feel like, and how it fits into a larger rhythm of life.
Her barbershop project is a perfect example. Inspired by English pubs and gentlemen’s clubs, it combined a vintage 1940s bar with black paneled walls, landscape murals, and sculptural lighting. The result wasn’t a theme—it was a layered identity that nodded to the past without getting stuck in it.
Being inspired by history doesn’t mean recreating it. Use the references as a foundation, not a script.
Let the Rooms Flow
Jade used a term I loved: connective tissue. She talked about it while walking me through a home where she repeated a deep moss green in completely different ways—upholstery in one room, wallpaper in another, cabinetry in a third.
Even the floors helped tell a cohesive story. The kitchen had a checkerboard wood floor—hand-stained, not tiled—that echoed the warmth of the adjacent rooms without copying them. It helped the entire space feel consistent, even though every room was distinct.
Rooms don’t need to match, but they should relate. Color, tone, and material can tie things together quietly and effectively.
Don't Skip the Play
“Everything being so serious is no fun at all.”
Jade makes sure that every space includes a little levity—something sculptural, something strange, something just a bit unexpected.
In one home, it was a soft ball-shaped pillow that doubled as a toy. In the barbershop, it was a moody face-shaped stool tucked next to a velvet chair. These elements add texture and character and remind you that rooms are meant to be lived in—not just admired.
Spaces feel better when they leave room for humor, surprise, or just a little weirdness.
Jade Joyner is designing for the long haul, not for the scroll. Her spaces are layered, story-driven, and meant to evolve. She’s not afraid to mix things that don’t traditionally go together—as long as there’s a reason behind it. She makes you think twice about what balance really means and how to keep a home from feeling generic.
This episode reminded me that style isn’t about checking boxes—it’s about building spaces with depth, direction, and a strong point of view. And that’s exactly what Jade brings to every room she touches.
While good design takes thought, it doesn’t have to take itself too seriously. A space can be beautiful, functional, and still leave room for humor, imperfection, and the unexpected
Until Next Time
-Zandra
Links Mentioned In Episode
