I can't believe that we're already looking at this year in review; time, truly, is fleeting. I am very proud to announce that 2024 has marked another prosperous year for Celeste Jackson Interiors.

It has been a full year with both local and virtual design clients, organically growing my social channels, and sharing my fountain of knowledge on living through design via my bi-weekly blogs and newsletters.

I am very grateful to work with such a great design team and thankful to have the opportunity to have successfully completed multiple projects this year.

Top Highlights of 2024

One of my top CJI glimmers this year is being awarded the LuxLife Award, in which I was honored to be named the Interior Designer of the year (Chicagoland, 2024). I was awarded with a beautiful, personalized, glass trophy–hard work really does pay off! 

Another highlight from this year was bringing my team in to stage and photograph not one, not two, not three, but four completed projects.

Although we work on and complete many projects throughout the year, coming back to professionally stage and capture projects in their completed state is not as easy as some may think, so I always consider this a business goal accomplished. 

While working to establish more of a social media presence, I am proud to say that my Pinterest page has fluctuated between one to two millions views for the majority of this year. It has been very rewarding not only to gain more reach and followers but also to connect with so many of you. 

That being said, this year has also set a record high for our virtual projects, which have proven to be a game changer in the rate of project completion. I would also like to add that I’ve had such fun this year working with the grown-up children of some of my longtime clients.

Overcoming Challenges 

As it rings true with everyone, every job comes with its set of struggles, and this year followed suit. One challenge I had to meticulously navigate this year was mediating and creating cohesiveness amongst my contractors during a home renovation I was overseeing for a client living out of state. 

Renovations are stressful regardless of how you spin it, and with so many moving parts and different hands, it's easy for turbulence to occur in still waters. However, I was able to ensure that we all worked through any and all issues together. 

I have always believed that the best way to tackle any business setback is to regulate your response in a calm, kind, and reasonable manner, and this is the example I strive to set for my team as well.

On a more personal note, one of my most serious struggles was finding balance with work life while working through the heartbreak of losing my beautiful and amazing mother this year. She was and always will be one of my biggest inspirations, and I feel very lucky to be able to call her mine. 

As so many who have lost a parent or someone dear can understand, maneuvering through the grief and the new normal can be very challenging and comes with a fluctuation of smiles and tears.

Vision for 2025

My business goals for the new year are to continue building our online sales and virtual projects while simultaneously focusing on larger local client projects. I would also like to continue steady online social growth and, with that, find more ways to actively engage with all of you. 

A personal plan that I have for this upcoming year is to go on my first Viking Cruise from Prague to Paris with my husband. We will be celebrating our 30th wedding anniversary and are very much looking forward to creating more memories together.

Looking Ahead

While 2024 has definitely been a full-circle and rewarding year, I am excited for what 2025 has in store. Celeste Jackson Interiors will be hitting the ground running with January projects already in the works and our 2025 books now open. 

Looking to refresh your home in the new year? Read How to Beautify and Brighten Your Space Before Spring.

As always, I am here and ready to help unearth your unique design style and to make your house look and feel like a home. I can support your design goals with local and/or virtual client collaborations and I have now expanded my virtual interior design packages to include seven tailored consignments to further meet your needs. 

Let's create a tailored expression of who you truly are together!

Warmly,
Celeste