Nationally acclaimed designer Corey Damen Jenkins mixes vibrant colors with layered patterns to create architecturally inspired spaces that are, at once, polished, inventive and unexpected. Taking cues from runway fashion, his projects feature luxurious and refined materials. Corey’s goal “is to ensure that my clients’ homes are always classic, livable and without an expiration date,” states the designer.
Corey regularly collaborates with architects on new construction projects and renovations. His creative range encompasses many disciplines, including neo-traditional, modern and transitional design. Corey has directed commercial and residential projects throughout the United States and Canada, and his firm maintains offices in Detroit, Michigan and New York City.
Corey’s bold interiors have graced the front covers of top shelter publications including House Beautiful and Traditional Home. His brand has also been featured in Architectural Digest, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Detroit News, Vanity Fair, and Elle Décor. Televised audiences declared Jenkins the winner of HGTV’s competition series Showhouse Showdown. He has also been the recipient of numerous industry honors including Traditional Home’s New Trad Rising Star of Design Award, Fashion Group International’s Night Of Stars Award For Interior Design and the D&D Building’s Stars On The Rise Award. In 2019, he was invited to design the formal library for the prestigious Kips Bay Decorator Show House. Most recently, Corey has appeared as a guest design expert on The Rachael Ray Show and Open House TV.
Philanthropy is highly important to Corey. He advocates for several charities including the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club, March of Dimes, Housing Works and The Detroit Symphony Orchestra. His involvement with such endeavors stems from his deep love of community, and his life-long passion for all things Detroit. “We’re really here for such a brief moment in time”, he says, “so we have to make it count. Live beautifully.”
Q
First investment piece of furniture you purchased?
A.
My first big dollar-sign splurge was a gorgeous, 1930s Louis XVI bookcase from France. It was towering nearly 8 feet tall in the rear chamber of an antiques center and I swore I could hear it speaking sweet nothings in my ear! Upon further examination, I discovered the entire piece was piped in elaborate brass detailing, featured two heavy glass doors, and it had a “secret panel”. I instantly fell in love with it. Normally, I’d strategize about where I’d place such a huge item first, but that day I bought it on sheer impulse. It was a pricey investment, but you simply don’t let something of that quality slip through your fingers: you just know you’ll find a place for it someway, somehow. It now anchors my executive suite at our firm’s Detroit offices, and I love admiring it every day.
Q
What are you most excited about at this time in your life?
A.
Currently, the thing I’m most excited about in my life is keeping my life. This coronavirus pandemic is no joke, and I’ve lost several dear friends, colleagues and Facebook acquaintances in recent weeks. It’s been a heartbreaking experience and I feel like we’re all mourning multiple losses on many fronts: loss of health, loss of loved ones, loss of employment, loss of our freedoms. The entire human family is stressed out globally. And it’s a lot to absorb because as a species we are hardwired for connectivity and displays of physical affection. So, I just want all of us survivors to stay healthy, get through this moment and hopefully return to some sense of normalcy soon.
Q
What is your most memorable career moment so far?
A.
One of the most memorable career moments for me was seeing my interior design work showcased on the front covers of House Beautiful and Traditional Home. I grew up worshipping those magazines—as a kid I’d read them under the covers when I was supposed to be asleep at night! So, to fast-forward years later and see my client’s homes featured in that way literally brought me tears of joy—both times. It’s like winning the Oscar.
Q
How do you define beauty?
A.
Genuine beauty is effortless. It is perfectly imperfect. Real beauty doesn’t have to try too hard to impress because it’s emanating from within its surplus, rather than from its deficit. Also, true beauty is not forced. For example…karate-chopped pillows. Karate-chopped pillows are not things of beauty!
Q
Best advice you’d give your teenage self?
A.
Hmm. The advice that I’d give my younger self is twofold. 1.) Don’t let the opinions of others govern who and what you need to become. As the eldest of three boys, I grew up constantly worried about impressing others and fitting in. Am I good enough? Am I talented enough? Will they like me? Obsessing over other people’s opinions led to low self-esteem. It also led to many denials: denials of who I am, denials of who I love, denials of my God-given gifts to help others. At the end of the day, your only true competition is yourself; namely, to be a better woman or man than you were yesterday. So worrying about being popular, amassing likes and followers, etc., to impress others is ultimately inconsequential. Don’t waste your time trying to impress other people! Speaking of time, 2.) Live your life to the fullest, because our time here is very brief. And don’t put off till tomorrow the conversations you should be having today!
Q
How would you define your work in three words?
A.
Bold Continental Mix.
Q
Sweet or savory?
A.
Sweet. However, anything bacon-wrapped is pure love.
Q
A book that everyone should read?
A.
The Book of Proverbs. We need more kindness and morality in the world today.
Q
Who is your celebrity crush?
A.
Halle Berry: her fashion sense is just beyond. And I’m still grieving Whitney Houston.
Q
Most embarrassing song on your spotify?
A.
“Pure Imagination” from Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory. I know, I know…cheesy.
