Creating Palettes and Composing Rooms Through a Slow Style Lens with Jewel Marlowe

In this episode, I welcome back designer Jewel Marlowe, whose work is bold, layered, and always intentional. We dig into how she builds palettes using color, pattern, and materials—and why contrast matters just as much as cohesion. Jewel breaks down how she mixes unexpected elements (like leopard print and florals) and why visual weight and scale play such a big role in how a room feels. She shares examples from her own evolving home and current client projects, all while staying rooted in meaning and play. If you’re drawn to the idea of decorating over time with confidence and creativity, this one’s for you.

Watch this entire episode on YouTube HERE

KEY TAKEAWAYS

In our latest conversation, Jewel Marlow shares the design principles she leans on—principles you can apply whether you're reupholstering a vintage chair or rethinking an entire room.

Start with a Hero Piece

One of the first things Jewel does when designing a space is choose a “hero” piece. This might be a wallpaper, a bold textile, or a piece of art that sets the tone emotionally and visually. From there, other decisions start to fall into place.

In one bedroom, it was a rich orange Scalamandré fabric with zebras. Everything else—the blush pink walls, black accents, and layered patterns—was chosen in response to that one bold fabric. This kind of anchoring helps keep a space feeling intentional, not random.

Try this: Pick one element you really love—don’t overthink it—and let it lead the rest of your choices.

Scale and Pattern: Keep It Simple

Jewel’s approach to pattern mixing isn’t complicated, even though the results can look layered and advanced. Her go-to formula is simple: vary the scale and the type of patterns, especially when they’re close to each other.

In one room, she used a leopard-print rug alongside large-scale floral stools. The patterns couldn’t be more different, but because their scale and shape contrasted, the combination felt dynamic rather than overwhelming.

Bottom line: Patterns work together best when they’re not trying to do the same thing. Mix a small print with a big one, and let one be geometric while the other is organic.

Don’t Match—Echo

This came up again and again in our conversation. Instead of trying to match every element exactly, Jewel plays with different versions of the same color throughout a space. A burnt orange mohair headboard might show up again in a tassel on a lamp, in a painting across the room, or in a patterned fabric nearby.

The result is a space that feels layered and personal, like it came together over time, rather than being ordered all at once from a showroom.

Key idea: Repetition builds harmony. Matching can feel forced; echoing feels natural.

Visual Weight Is As Important As Color

It’s easy to focus on color or pattern, but Jewel spoke about how important visual weight is when designing a room. That means asking: Does this object feel light or heavy? Does it ground the space or create movement?

She used skirted ottomans to break up a room that already had a lot of visible legs. She added Lucite stools in a kitchen to balance out the visual heaviness of a waterfall marble island. These small moves shift how a space feels on a sensory level.

Design tip: Step back and squint at your space. Are there too many “heavy” items? Too many legs or solid shapes? Soften where you can.

Ceilings Can Be Quiet or Bold—but Always Considered

Jewel is known for her dramatic ceilings, but she doesn’t apply them blindly. She always considers the context—what the client wants long-term, and what the room needs to feel complete.

In some spaces, she uses wallpaper to add texture or pattern above the eye line. In others, she color-drenches the ceiling to create an immersive feeling (especially in moodier spaces like a music room or bedroom). But occasionally, she’ll leave a ceiling white—because not every room needs to shout.

Takeaway: Ceilings are part of the room. Use them thoughtfully, even if that means leaving them alone.

High, Low, Old, New: It’s All About Balance

One of my favorite things about Jewel’s style is that it isn’t precious. She still uses pieces from early in her career—a Target rug turned into upholstery, an IKEA dresser transformed with wallpaper and vintage hardware, and thrifted art from a trip with a friend.

These elements sit comfortably next to custom upholstery, showhouse furniture, and vintage designer finds. What ties it all together is care, not cost.

Slow style in action: Start with what you have. If you love it, keep it. If it needs updating, experiment. You don’t need to wait for a big budget to create a home that feels layered and personal.

Let the Room Tell a Story

At the heart of Jewel’s approach is storytelling. Whether it’s art inspired by the pond behind her house or a sculptural table made from a tree stump cut from a client’s yard, there’s always a connection. It’s never just about filling space.

This is what makes her rooms feel lived in and loved, not staged. Every piece feels chosen, not just for how it looks, but for what it means or how it plays with everything else in the space.

Remember: Your home doesn’t have to impress anyone. But it should feel like you.

The Power of Decorating Slowly

Talking with Jewel reminds us all why slow style matters.

When we decorate slowly, we leave room for growth. We allow ourselves to change our minds. We live with things long enough to know what we actually love—what makes us feel at home, what makes us smile when we walk into a room, and what’s worth investing in. We don’t rush to finish or check a box. We make space for creativity, for memory, for meaning.

Jewel’s spaces are full of bold choices, yes—but those choices are grounded. They’re not made to impress. They’re made to express. That’s the difference.

You don’t have to be a designer to do this. You just have to pay attention. Let one piece guide the rest. Play with scale. Repeat colors instead of matching them. Choose one detail to get just right. And when something doesn’t work anymore, give yourself permission to change it.

Homes aren’t meant to be frozen in time. They’re meant to evolve with us.

So if you’re feeling stuck or hesitant, take that as a sign to slow down…not to stop. Pay attention to what you already have. Start small. Layer thoughtfully. Let your space unfold in its own time.

That’s how you build a home that feels like you.

Until Next Time!

-Zandra

Links Mentioned In Episode

Jewel’s Website