Jennifer Wright (left) and her daughter & business partner, Lexi
We were lucky enough to chat with Jennifer Wright, Co-Owner & Head Interior Designer - Alexandra Lauren Design, about all things Montanan design & her favorite Kootenai touches
When did you start your interior design company?
My dream was to be an interior designer since I was a young girl. After getting my degree in Anthropology and having my first baby, Lexi, in 1981, I decided to do what I had always wanted and opened my own interior design firm. I opened Jennifer Lenz Wright Interiors and enrolled in a masters of interior design program. Over the years it has evolved with my talented daughter, Lexi, also becoming an interior designer and working together, we now have Alexandra Lauren Design.
What are your favorite interior design features of the Kootenai Estates and why?
The interior cedar logs. The original craftsman partially shave off the cedar bark leaving part of the cambium layer intact giving the walls a rich, interesting texture. The wood chinking between the logs and the rustic stone fireplaces draw me in too. Best of all are the views through the windows of the gorgeous, glassy Swan Lake and mossy stone patios!
“The power of beauty can be found in so many unexpected places.”
What is your go-to furnishing in a typical Montanan home?
In design I love to bring the outdoors in, especially in Montana where our landscape is so spectacular! It is important for a Montanan home to flow seamlessly from the indoors to the great outdoors. I love using natural elements in design; as well as time specific selections that help maintain the story of the history. I utilize a comfortable combination of rustic and refined woods, stone and metal with durable fabrics and leathers in rich tones and textures.
What is your favorite project you have worked on?
I have so many favorites but I would say connecting with history inspires me the most. A rustic trappers cabin moved and rebuilt for a family that wanted no electricity or running water, furnished down to the teaspoon with kerosene lamps and antiques from the period.
Other exciting jobs are working with clients who want all the modern conveniences with the feeling of a time when craftsman carved moldings by hand and kitchens had warmth and charm. The prohibition wine cellar at the Kootenai is a current project I am very excited about. We are using historic brick, beautifully textured hand hewn beams and amazing stone work. And lastly, gardening is a passion of mine, so designing exterior living spaces is a joy!
If you could design anything, what would it be?
A rambling villa surrounded by lush vineyards in a tiny Tuscan town.
Who or what provides you with inspiration for your interior ideas?
Nature is my biggest inspiration soaking in the mountains and discovering crystal clear lakes and expansive vistas. I am inspired by my travels ranging from dung huts in the Masai Mara, to castles in Scotland, and the white symbol of love, the Taj Mahal. Furniture and antique markets, art museums and the creativity of humans always delights me and I go away with new ideas!