Justina Blakeney

Justina Blakeney
Born1979 (age 45–46)
Berkeley, California
Alma materUCLA
Occupation(s)Designer, writer
SpouseJason Rosencrantz
Children1
Websitewww.justinablakeney.com

Justina Blakeney[1] is an American designer, artist, interior designer, writer, and speaker known for her "boho" aesthetic. She founded the houseware and home decoration brand Jungalow.[2] Her first book, The New Bohemians: Cool and Collected Homes, was a New York Times bestseller.[3]

Early life and education

Blakeney grew up in Berkeley, California. Her mother is of Eastern European Jewish descent and her father is of African-American, Native American, Irish, and French descent.[4] Blakeney was raised Jewish, and her father was a convert to Judaism. Her mother's family were Jewish immigrants to New Jersey at the turn of the century. Her family celebrated the Jewish holidays, including Hanukkah and Passover, and did not celebrate Christmas like some other secular Jewish families they knew.[5] Blakeney states that this multi-ethnic background and California upbringing influenced her bohemian aesthetic.[6]

She graduated from UCLA in 2001 with a B.A. in World Arts and Cultures.[7] In her junior year of university, she went to Italy to study fashion and communication. She moved back to Italy after graduation, and enrolled in the fashion school Polimoda.[8]

Career

Blakeney named her design and lifestyle blog "Jungalow," a combination of jungle and bungalow.[6] Using the blog and social media as platforms, Blakeney created a collection of shaggy rugs for Loloi, a wallpaper collection with boutique firm Hygge & West, the Justina Blakeney Home collection with Anthropologie, a bedding line at Target, and a home fabrics collection with Calico Corners stores.[9][10][11][12][4] She has a line at Living Spaces, and a collection of bedding, storage, lighting, and small gifts for Pottery Barn Kids.[13][14]

Her designs for fashion retailer Moda Operandi, including portraits of fashion icons such as Grace Jones, were featured in Vogue magazine.[3]

Books

Her first book, The New Bohemians: Cool and Collected Homes, was released in 2015.[3] The New Bohemians: Come Home to Good Vibes was released in October 2017. These are coffee table books with design photos featuring residences, and include resources such as houseplant guides and project instructions.[15]

Speaking engagements

  • Alt Summit[16]
  • Makers Summit[17]
  • AIGA Design Conference: Business + Entrepreneurship[18]
  • Design Bloggers Conference[19]
  • WITHIT[20]
  • Pinterests' Knit Con
  • Creative Mornings[21]

Personal life

Blakeney lives with her husband and daughter in a 1926 bungalow located in the Frogtown neighborhood of Los Angeles.[22][3] Their home was featured in interior decorating magazine House Beautiful.[23]

References

  1. ^ "JUSTINA BLAKENEY". JUSTINA BLAKENEY. Retrieved 2021-10-15.
  2. ^ "Jungalow® Shop by Justina Blakeney and Co. Decorate Wild!". Jungalow. Retrieved 2021-10-15.
  3. ^ a b c d Recinos, Eva (2016-05-04). "Designer Justina Blakeney Says Welcome to the "Jungalow"". L.A. Weekly. Retrieved 2018-06-21.
  4. ^ a b "Let a 'New Bohemians' spirit be your modern muse". SFChronicle.com. Retrieved 2018-06-21.
  5. ^ "The New Bohemians' Creative Mama, Justina Blakeney". RaisingMothers.com. 4 February 2016. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
  6. ^ a b "Bohemian design with Justina Blakeney | Home Front". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2018-06-21.
  7. ^ "UCLA Arts: School of the Arts and Architecture". UCLA Arts: School of the Arts and Architecture. Retrieved 2018-06-21.
  8. ^ "My professional journey". Justina Blakeney. 2013-07-12. Retrieved 2021-09-29.
  9. ^ "Justina Blakeney promotes latest Loloi collection". furnituretoday.com. 2018-04-23. Retrieved 2018-08-29.
  10. ^ "Justina Blakeney creates home fabric collection | Home Accents Today". www.homeaccentstoday.com. 18 September 2017. Retrieved 2018-06-21.
  11. ^ "The Hottest Designers to Follow in 2016". Coastal Living. Retrieved 2018-06-21.
  12. ^ "Our Fave Boho Blogger Is Now Selling Gorgeous Bedding at Target". Retrieved 2018-06-21.
  13. ^ "Yes – Justina Blakeney Is Launching A Kids Collection!". Lonny. Retrieved 2018-06-21.
  14. ^ Paul, Arielle (30 December 2017). "My Favorite Room: Justina Blakeney brings the world into her kitchen". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2018-06-21.
  15. ^ Ritz, Jessica (14 April 2015). "Justina Blakeney of the Jungalow releases book, talks design". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2018-06-21.
  16. ^ "Speaker Info". altitudesummit.com. Retrieved 2021-10-11.
  17. ^ "The Makers Collective – Makers Summit FAQs". The Makers Collective. Retrieved 2021-10-11.
  18. ^ "AIGA Design Conference Program". Issuu. 2 March 2019. Retrieved 2021-10-11.
  19. ^ "Justina Blakeney to Speak at Design Bloggers Conference". Design Influencers Conference. 2016-01-07. Retrieved 2021-10-11.
  20. ^ "WithIt Education Breakfast Features Justina Blakeney: Building a Brand with Spunk and Authenticity". Furniture Today. 2018-03-20. Retrieved 2021-10-11.
  21. ^ "Justina Blakeney | Designer, Artist and Author | CreativeMornings/LA". CreativeMornings. 14 February 2019. Retrieved 2021-10-11.
  22. ^ Higgins, Michelle (23 January 2018). "Designing a Feel-Good Home". The New York Times. Retrieved 2018-06-21.
  23. ^ "Justina Blakeney Masters Color and Pattern in Her Los Angeles Cottage". housebeautiful.com. 2016-07-07. Retrieved 2018-08-29.