I’ve recently shot a few projects for Dutch flooring company, Hakwood, both in Chicago and in London. Here are some of my favorites from a shoot in Chicago’s Lincoln Park:

I finally got sick of my plain (minimalist??) living room wall and fireplace mantle, which is now anything but plain. It’s still a work-in-progress (I want a couple more pieces for the left side, but I’m holding out until those perfect pieces come to me). Added bonus—my kitten realizes that there’s not an inch of space up there for her and hasn’t even tried to jump up, so I can still light candles without fear of them being knocked over (phew). I’m also really happy to showcase two of my favorite pieces, which happen to have been made by my 10-year-old son—the 3D yarn sculpture and the pink and gold oil painting.

…but can you really blame me? ;-)

Self-portrait in my home

Roscoe Village, Chicago

I’m excited to share the photos from my recent House Tour for ‘Cup of Jo,’ which I shot on location in Chicago’s South Side Hyde Park neighborhood. Here’s the link (and tell me you’re not totally obsessed with this home!): https://cupofjo.com/2017/10/amanda-jane-jones-house-tour/

Ahhhhhhhh did I ever love this weekend’s architectural festival, Open House Chicago. Over 200 buildings and spaces open to the public for one weekend only. My friend and I narrowed it down to 49 buildings but only made it to 5! From the ornate to the whimsical, Chicago’s amazing architecture definitely didn’t let us down—talk about too much to see, too little time…

Top: Elk Lodge
Bottom: old Tokyo Hotel 

Plants and wallpaper are both having a major moment right now. Take a look at this Copenhagen lofted apartment I recently shot, which is totally nailing both trends.

What type of tree fits in your hand?
A palm tree.

How do you properly identify a dogwood tree?
By the bark.

What is green, has leaves, and a trunk?
A houseplant going on vacation.

Cool! My work is featured on Houzz Germany’s site today! The article, “Working in the living room: Tips for a cozy home office” is all about ideas for keeping your living room livable while still functioning as a home office. The image I shot was photographed on location in Copenhagen, Denmark (my absolute favorite city for interior design and for, well, EVERYTHING). It’s amazing what a wall-mounted desk can achieve, actually enhancing the space and turning the corner into a fun focal point. Click here for the story…just remember to translate it to English if German isn’t your tongue!

Two of my absolute favorites–my kitten and my bed!

Please meet Penelope, the 3.5 month old kitten who walks all over my duvet every day AND my heart.

For my first blog post (woo-hoo!), I’m sharing some personal photos from earlier this week in London. My birthday was this past Monday and my boyfriend and I decided to rent a lovely old Victorian flat in South London through Airbnb (that’s him, my favorite unwitting model). A day spent soaking up the charm and artistry of a vintage home was the perfect birthday treat (…along with some chocolate cheesecake and wine, of course).

As a professional interior photographer, it came as no surprise to me that the home was even lovelier than in the listing’s photos on Airbnb. It had actually taken some convincing to get my boyfriend to agree to rent this flat because he was wary of the images on the site, which left him questioning if the home was old and charming or just plain old. I’m so glad I convinced him otherwise, because we were met with hygge x10 in this old beauty. 

Moral of this post? If you’re an Airbnb host, do yourself a favor and invest in some professional images of your property. Not every guest will be as willing as I was to take a leap of faith, and beautiful photos will sell your home better than any review or written description ever could!

(Hey! Is your vacation rental in the Chicago, London, or LA area? Get in touch!)