Tara Jones
Owner, Principal Designer
My passion for design began at a young age when life's circumstances taught me a profound lesson – the power of our surroundings that shape our well-being. As a child, my mother's struggles led us to lose our home, and we found ourselves displaced for quite some time. In that moment, I became acutely aware of the impact our environment has on our sense of sanctuary, privacy, and overall quality of life.
My journey began in the vibrant heart of Los Angeles, where I worked with a luxury design & build firm, and became intimately involved with construction and specifying finishes for new builds. This experience expanded my clientele, and I now enjoy collaborating with developers and investors alike, whether it be a single, multi-family, or low-income housing endeavor.
Then, I stepped into the world of Hospitality design, working with the renowned Hillstone Restaurant Group. I dabbled in intricate custom design work for multiple store renovations nationwide. Collaborating closely with their Operations team, I gained insights into their needs to design functional kitchens and dining areas. This sparked my love for creating exceptional dining experiences for many to enjoy while traveling and getting to know the city and its culture.
Today, as Designer Space (founded in 2015) embarks on its new chapter in San Diego, our mantra is "Soulful Design. Inspiring Transformation." Together, we'll dive into your lifestyle, asking thoughtful questions to create spaces that nurture your well-being, cultivate joy, and empower you to live your most authentic, fulfilling life.
Jill Rousset
Design Assistant
Hi there! I'm Jill, a true San Diegan at heart. Born and raised in this sun-kissed city, I have no plans to leave the seaside anytime soon. After attending college in Los Angeles and a brief stint in San Francisco, I found my way back home to San Diego.
Organization is my middle name, and my passion for creating beautiful aesthetics borders on addiction. I speak fluent sarcasm and appreciate the finer things like good food, travel, sunshine and rainy days. Oh, and fresh flowers are a MUST around the house!
Although I spent over a decade in Human Resources, I naturally gravitated towards the design industry. On the logistical side, I keep projects running smoothly by staying organized and keeping clients well-informed throughout the process, all while ensuring the creative vision comes to life flawlessly.
Clients
“Tara was a delight to work with. She had great ideas for our home, both the completely remodeled areas and upgrading old ones. She bore our budget in mind and sent us options to consider. She was always thoughtful, professional, responsive and communicative. Our home not only looks beautiful, but functions great and is eminently livable. We are thrilled with what she did. Tara also has great contacts for auxiliary services such as an art hanger, closet maker etc. She doesn’t impose her style but wants to hear what you envision for your home. We love her and recommend her super highly!” - Lorraine Lipson
“Tara is an answer to prayer for someone like me - overwhelmed with deciding colors and spaces to arrange decorative items. She calmly asked me about what I personally liked and my life style. I had several special and unusual items I wanted to display. For items I needed to purchase she looked on line for me and gave me suggestions to choose from. Then she came back to the house to do the installation. Now the rooms flow from one to the other giving a united look. Tara was always patient, calm, productive and professional. I highly recommend her.” - Sue Andersen
“Tara has a great eye for design and an ear for listening to clients' needs. Like any designer she has her own POV and will lend her expert opinion, but she doesn't push anything on you. She really understood the different styles we were looking for in different rooms and provided a fantastic range of suggestions in terms of furniture, fabrics, lighting fixtures, etc. You're in good hands!” - Jen Schwartz
“We LOVE it and we keep being surprised every time we turn around. Thank you so much for all of your great ideas, I love what you did in Matthew’s room and in Alec’s room and the hallway.. It just looks great!” - Corrine Schulman