Jennifer Romm Kayye pursued a liberal arts education at Davidson College where she obtained a B.S. in Political Science as well as studied at the lʼUniversite de Montpellier III, Paul Valery in Montpellier, France. Reared in southern California, Jennifer fell into design by accident. Her father was a manufacturerʼs rep for various furniture companies for more than thirty years and her early childhood included “hearing lectures about upholstery, furniture construction and finishes while surrounded by stacks of Architectural Digest magazines.”

Although her passion in her college years was the study of politics, Jennifer always had a fondness for art, architecture and interior design. During her college years she attended furniture markets every October and April in High Point, North Carolina with her father and got a first hand education from the furniture manufacturers themselves. While studying in France she made her way to Rome to study architecture with the students at Montpellierʼs Universite II Ecole Superieure dʼArchitecture as well as travelled extensively throughout Europe visiting art museums and gaining an appreciation for the history of western architecture in European capitals as well as the small villages time left behind. After settling in Chapel Hill, North Carolina in 1998 with her husband and young daughter she renovated a house on historic Franklin Street which was featured in Audio Video Interiors. Helping friends redecorate their homes became a hobby and she soon realized her ties to the furniture industry were a valuable resource. When her husband, Gary Kayye, launched Chapel Hill Home Theater Design, one of the nationʼs first firms specializing in the architectural design of electronics, Jennifer offered interior design services to clients as well.

Jenniferʼs design philosophy is simple: she believes every home should be a refuge where its owners live well regardless of how much money they have. Taste, like beauty, is often in the eye of the beholder, but good design is timeless. Like a womanʼs ubiquitous little black dress, a room designed well should stand the test of time. Jennifer says that, ironically, a well designed room need never be “finished.” Just as a lady might wear that vintage black dress for decades, she updates her hair, makeup and accessories to maintain an appearance a la mode. She suggests a room is much the same. When you purchase furniture thoughtfully or choose to build a room around your favorite piece of art or antique rug while being mindful of your architecture and respecting the proportions of a space, you can easily update your home as colors and fashions evolve. She enjoys the challenge to recycle an ownerʼs beloved possessions and incorporate them into a fresh design scheme. Jennifer is comfortable working with varied design styles and materials but maintains the home must reflect the personality and suit the lifestyle of her clients. She says, “I donʼt live in the homes I decorate. Ultimately, they must be loved by their owners. Only then do I feel like we have succeeded.”

Jennifer Kayye resides in Chapel Hill with her husband, two children and menagerie of spoiled rotten pets. She enjoys Tar Heel sporting events with her family, traveling, reading, and she supports the charity her husband co-founded, the Swim For Smiles Foundation.