Why Design Matters More Than Ever with Jaclyn Isaac

In this episode, we're recording live from KBIS — the Kitchen Bath Industry Show — for a conversation that goes far beyond trends and tile selections. I sat down with the incredibly talented Jaclyn Isaac, founder and creative director of Dani Douglas Design, to talk about something much deeper: why the spaces we live in matter now more than ever.

We dive into how our homes have become our safe haven in an increasingly loud and chaotic world, how to design spaces that truly reflect who you are, and why the most important question a designer can ask isn't about style — it's about feeling. Jaclyn also shares her unique process for uncovering what clients really need, how she balances modern technology with warmth and soul, and why vintage and antique pieces are making a powerful comeback in the age of AI.

This one is full of heart, honesty, and real insights whether you're a design lover, a homeowner, or a fellow creative.

📥 Connect with Manuella @manuellamoreirainteriors and Jaclyn @donidouglas_design on Instagram.

Transcript

Hello, everybody. Welcome back to Design Unscripted. This is a very special episode today. We're recording this episode live at KBIS, which is the Kitchen Bath Industry Show. We're excited to be here. I love coming to these shows. I always feel inspired meeting vendors, industry partners, and designers. It's amazing.

I had the opportunity to partner with Podcast Studio to record an episode of Design Unscripted. I have a very important conversation today — why design matters more than ever. And to help me with that conversation, I'm bringing in a very special guest, Jaclyn Isaac. She's a founder and creative director of Dani Douglas Design.

Jaclyn Isaac leads a high end interior design studio, known for its signature mix of vintage depth and modern restraint. A High Point Market design influencer and tastemaker, she's built a reputation for creating spaces that feel collected, intentional and deeply livable. Never too precious or predictable. Dani Douglas Design is a strategic design partner for high end residential, multifamily, and commercial projects up and down the East Coast.

Notable work includes SOLAIA condos in Hudson County, Apollo Crossings in Melbourne, Florida, and private residences from Boston to Boca. The studio's work has been featured in Aspire, Dwell, Architectural Digest Pro, Old House Journal, DesignNJ, Bergen Magazine, and more with a strong and engaged social media presence across leading design platforms. Beyond client work, the studio is frequently tapped as a creative and strategic marketing partner for design driven brands.

Jaclyn was named a Crystorama tastemaker, partnering on creative direction, storytelling and design-facing initiatives. Jaclyn, this is a very impressive bio. Thank you so much for being here and welcome to Design Unscripted.

Jaclyn: Thank you. This is so cool.

Manuella: This is a very cool experience and I couldn't think of a better person to join me here.
So you've been to KBIS many years.

Jaclyn: Yes.

Manuella: What are you most excited to see here this time?

Jaclyn: I think specifically with kitchen and bath, innovation can be difficult. It's hard to move an appliance so far forward into the future when you have some basic functional requirements in homes and things like that.
So it's always interesting to see what everybody's coming up with this year. I love the surface exhibit. Sapien Stone, I believe it's back this year. We love the Dackor booth — it's incredible. Neolith, a shout out to them, and Kohler. I think everybody comes here to see what they're doing this year.

Manuella: They always go over the top for their displays. That's amazing. The show becomes more of an experience.

Jaclyn: For sure. It's very impressive. Super fun.

Manuella: Now what's been inspiring you lately personally and professionally?

Jaclyn: I think travel. I travel a lot for work. We have clients up and down the East Coast right now — heavily in Florida, actually. I'm a girl that likes high end hotels. A lot of it is just around convenience. I work very hard. I'm running on 3 or 4 hours of sleep most of the time when I'm traveling. I need the convenience of that. So I take a lot of my experiences at really nice hotels back into my work. We're also working on a house in Vermont, so I've been looking up ski chalets.

Manuella: Can I be your assistant?

Jaclyn: Sure, I need all the help I can get.

Manuella: I also love traveling and find so much inspiration in it. I'm very picky about hotels. I guess that's why we do what we do — our spaces really impact how we live. And speaking of that, there's a lot of chaos happening in the world today. Politically, there's a lot of uncertainty. When we think of our homes, they become our safe space. So design has become way more important. When you think of the phrase "why design matters more than ever," what does that mean to you right now?

Jaclyn: I think the advent of AI, the constant doomscrolling on social media — the world just feels very loud and it can be a lot. When we're talking about our homes, it's not just an escape from all that. It's a warm hug at the end of the day. For me, I'm very much a form and function girl. I refuse to give up form or function. So a lot of places in my home are just unfinished, because I'm looking for that perfect thing. But we're creating spaces that we're not just retreating into — we're creating spaces where we are raising our children, arguing, and helping our aging parents. There's just a lot with home right now, but I think it becomes less of an escape and more of a warm embrace.

Manuella: Your portfolio is stunning. I will be sharing the link to your website and Instagram in the show notes. What I love about your design is that it has a lot of soul in it. My approach to design is not just aesthetics — it's really about how a space feels, because that creates longevity. Have you noticed that your clients are coming to you with more emotional needs, not just aesthetics?

Jaclyn: I think it depends on what chapter of life you're in. My clients are varied — right now we have clients with young children, clients on their second homes who are empty nesters, and clients who are literally creating a secondary residence for their cars, their baseball memorabilia, and their love of John Wick. I'm not joking. As long as the home feels aligned, whether that's aesthetic or emotional, it really depends on what they need in the moment we're called to deliver something for them.

Manuella: And how do you get to find that? What's your process to really understand what their emotional needs are?

Jaclyn: My portfolio is very varied because my clients' needs are varied. We ask the right questions — how do you aspire to live in a space, and what are your desires for changing some of your habits. But we do two things that I think are important. One is kind of like a vibe tray — a slew of materials I've designed at kickoff that is meant to invoke a visceral reaction. Sometimes clients will say they don't think they like wallpaper, and then you show them something from Arte that has a lot of texture and is fabric on the wall, and they're like, "Where would we put this? This is really cool." It's fun to get two people in a room together to react to materials in person, because a lot of times one person really hates something and one person loves something. It's an opportunity to figure out what really makes them tick. Maybe they thought they wanted neutrals, but when they see a really fun wallpaper, they get really excited about it. You can't do that just by talking about it — you really need to throw something in their face so they can feel it.

The other thing — our interiors are very much about how somebody feels in their space. One of the questions we always ask is, "How do you want this space to feel when you walk into the home? Do you want it to feel curated and collected? Contemporary and minimalist?" Because everybody understands feeling. They don't necessarily understand imagery.

Manuella: That is the very first question I ask anyone I start to work with — how do you want the space to feel? I love that that's your approach too. We do something similar — going through different finishes. Sometimes, if they have a favorite local place, we'll actually walk through the space and I'll have them talk to me about what it is about this place that creates a feeling in them. That's also why I love travel so much — when you're traveling, you're no longer on autopilot, so you observe so much more. I often ask my clients about their travels too, because that's when they're no longer on autopilot doing the everyday things. They stop and observe their surroundings — the special hotel, the restaurant with a great dinner. All of these things collectively help curate a space that feels so much more special.

Jaclyn: One of the things we ask is, "What is your favorite restaurant? What has been a favorite hotel?" It invokes things like, "When we were there together, it was really romantic," or "They had a great lobby bar." It's a fun story. Also, hot tip: if your client tells you they have a favorite nearby restaurant, you can get that as a gift card as a special gift. There's strategy sometimes behind my questions. That is brilliant, especially if you're renovating their kitchen. You know they're going to be eating out a lot. Send them to their favorite place and they will forget about the renovation — or something that's on backorder. Hopefully.

Manuella: Now I always try to engage the five senses when designing a space. Do you think about that, and if so, which sense do you think people underestimate when designing a space?

Jaclyn: I love this question. I'm not a neuroscientist — I think that's the term that's really trendy in design right now. I don't necessarily think I focus on the senses, but I realized we are creating around touch and sound. The feel of a material — whether velvet, wool, or polished silk. Sound for sure. You walk into a space deadened with a lot of upholstery and it just feels cozier. I think touch and sound are probably primary for me. But the one everybody underestimates is smell. When you walk into a hotel and smell something that's clean but a little floral and exotic, it brings you to a particular place. Or if you walk into a hotel room that's a little musty, you have this visceral reaction you cannot control. It totally transforms the way you're about to experience that space. So smell is actually probably the most underestimated sense — and it stays with you.

Manuella: 100%. Why do hotels sell candles, right? And their signature scents. I know a lot of designers who develop their own signature scents and send them out to their clients.

Jaclyn: I have a favorite candle — Trudon. I think it's the Moroccan Mint. It is the most incredible smell I've ever experienced. It was a candle that Swoon Home in High Point used to burn in their old location. They still do in their new one, now collected by Swoon. That candle brings me back to discovering antiques and vintage pieces and wandering around an old warehouse. So we purchased 20 of them to have in our studio — and every time somebody comes in, they're like, "We love everything here, but we need to buy that candle. Where's that smell coming from?" It's become a real connection.

Manuella: I do think you should develop a Jaclyn Isaac scented candle. I would like to preorder. For me, I think one of the most underestimated senses is actually sound. We don't design a space checking off every sense, but we do think about the acoustics — how color in the kitchen impacts the food you're serving, for instance. Sound is sometimes overlooked. You go into a space that hasn't been professionally designed and it feels very raw and cold — that creates such a feeling. But scent would be my second one. I've collected so many candles over the years. When I travel, I usually pick up a candle from the hotel because it just brings you back to that space.

So my next question — when life feels chaotic, what do you personally want your home to give you?

Jaclyn: Ease and convenience. As we get busier, sometimes life is just really difficult and hard, especially when you're a people pleaser. Sometimes you just get tired of putting on that face and putting on the show for everybody else. You want to relax and chill out. The more convenient I have made my home, the more I want to stay there.

Manuella: I agree with that.

---

AD:
AJ Madison Pro is the industry's trusted appliance source for professionals who need fast, reliable access to top brands backed by nationwide shipping and a powerful logistics network. Deliveries are precise and dependable. With over 150 premium brands including Sub-Zero, Wolf and Cove, Miele, Viking, Thermador, Garganey and more, AJ Madison Pro is your single source for appliance specification. Qualified builders and architects can save up to 15% on luxury brands through exclusive trade programs with registration handled for you.

AJ Madison Pro. Smarter appliance sourcing starts at ajmadison.com/pro.

---

Manuella: While we're all craving grounding and emotion, we're also living in the most digitally accelerated time ever — and it keeps changing so quickly. Do you think that our homes are becoming our escape from that?

Jaclyn: I think they have to be. There's just so much everywhere, all the time. I see memes on Instagram of somebody up until 2 or 3:00 in the morning trying to figure out what major thing happened in AI today. Now we have to rethink our entire business systems and wonder if our kids will even have jobs in 15 years. It's so overwhelming how fast the world is changing. The past 8 to 12 months especially have felt very intense with AI getting integrated into so many things. I follow way too many Instagram accounts — we're all so in each other's business that it's not normal for us to know everything about everybody all the time. It's a lot to process. It's hard to process our own stuff when we're processing the entire world at a rapid rate. We have to look at our home, not so much as an escape, but as — what do we need as our own selves in this space that should be considered safe for us? And it's different for everybody.

Manuella: I agree. It can definitely get overwhelming. I'm always trying to stay on top of everything because if you're not, you're falling even further behind — it is changing so fast.

Jaclyn: I agree with that.

Manuella: Now, there are tech products in the home that actually help us in our everyday lives. How do you personally balance modern tech with warmth in a space?

Jaclyn: You hide it. I hate to say that, but so many tech companies try to make things sleeker and more modern, and the fact of the matter is I don't want to see a screen. I want to see veined marble. I want to see a cool plaster finish. I want to see an incredible piece of furniture. I want to see the warmth of a rug. I don't want to see an outlet or tech. Technology behind a lot of these companies — they're trying to add so many more features, they're forgetting that nobody actually really wants to look at it. Just keep it on our phones, but make it disappear. The tech that disappears — Free Power is actually a company. I think they're here. I was introduced to them a couple years ago. They do wireless charging underneath countertops and within furniture. On the other end of that, I want a kill switch and I don't want any Wi-Fi near my brain — I don't want it in my house. But if I have to have it, it's cool that it can be hidden. That's a really innovative product. I'm constantly trying to hide high tech.

Manuella: I agree. There's nothing worse than really investing so much in a space — textures, layering, different materials, a beautiful rug, an incredible piece of furniture — and then having it ruined with a big outlet right in the middle of the wall.

Jaclyn: You can wallpaper around the outlets — we've done small outlets in marble. It's still ugly, but you see it a lot less. And when you take professional photographs of your projects, we're editing those things out. We're cutting out the wires, replacing the TVs with beautiful artwork, cutting out the outlets. Nobody wants to see it.

Manuella: That is a fact. So where do you see people going wrong with smart home features?

Jaclyn: A lot of clients think of tech as just the TV and their security system, and they don't think of it early on. I oftentimes don't get to talk to the tech or AV guy until the very end when we're deciding on TV locations, when really we should be talking about where we're placing outlets and electrical so we can coordinate those locations with furniture placements, lighting placements, and where things are actually going to be. So we don't have a random outlet somewhere — or we can decide how many switches we actually need in a room, versus someone coming in and tearing apart a wall to find a place for something that doesn't fit because of framing.

With renovations, any time I've worked with a client who has acquired a home with a lot of previous tech, they're ripping out what the previous homeowner did. They'll be like, "I don't know — there's a speaker in here. I don't know why they put a speaker in here." Everybody's preferences for technology are different. It needs to be a conversation that happens way earlier on in construction.

Manuella: Absolutely. We do have a lot of homeowners who listen to the podcast — that's a great tip. We should be brought into these projects very early on. If it's brand new construction, before you break ground, because there are many key decisions that have to be made before anything physically happens in the space. I was brought on to a project recently a little later than I wished. And I cannot believe sometimes — you see a thermostat right in the middle of a wall that could be a great display for artwork. It's such an eyesore.

Jaclyn: It hurts so bad. Getting nauseous thinking about the times where we've been like, "This would be a great spot for a piece of art," and then the tech goes there and you're like, "Oh, I had 32 inches and now I have 18." Or you have a great reading chair, you want a lamp, and there's no outlet available there. It's really important to address all of these things. I also dislike when we're not brought in early enough and they go all out with LED lights that are unnecessary and totally change the feel and look of the space.

Manuella: In California it happens so much. Let's first discuss so many other things before we lead into that. Focusing on the business side — do you use AI in your business, and if so, how?

Jaclyn: All the time. We use ChatGPT, obviously. We just started using the Gemini program with Google Gemini, which I find actually generates images a lot better than ChatGPT. But if anyone's using ChatGPT often with rendering out images, it's so frustrating because for whatever reason it changes one random thing — you can say "change this chair" and it ends up changing the architecture. It puts a puppy in the ceiling. It's funny. We have become so accustomed to these new tools and we're expecting better of them, which is such a human thing. We use it for renders a lot. But there's just so much out there now. I haven't given myself enough time to really explore. The more we can use it, the better.

Manuella: I agree. There is a lot out there. I try to be selective and choose key programs so I don't get too distracted, because I start to learn one program and then a new one comes out and it becomes overwhelming — you're not a master at any of them and it becomes chaotic. But I love using AI in the business. It helps me be more productive, which allows me to be more present with clients. It allows more of that human side. Some people ask, "Do you think AI is going to replace designers?" And I think absolutely not. AI is actually helping us with the human side more, which is what our clients need.

Jaclyn: As AI keeps advancing, what role do you think designers will play? Listen, AI is not creating its own stuff. It's creating based off of our stuff — it's inspired by us, creating with our creativity. That's a double-edged sword we could talk about for hours. But at the end of the day, we are the arbiters of style and we are the ones who will judge these pieces. I've had clients who do a ChatGPT render of their laundry room, and I'm like, "Okay, that's cool, but what are we going to do with this?" At the end of the day, we're still humans. We need to create in a physical world. Inspo is great. But we are the ones who know how things need to be built, how they actually get applied within the space, and who our clients really are. A pretty picture is just a pretty picture. There's no context — no culture, no background history of the client, no sense of how you design and how you feel. It's just a pretty picture.

Manuella: Exactly. I think clients should actually trust their designers a lot more. I've had clients challenge me on something, and I end up correcting them because ChatGPT was wrong. It's even more important for designers to continue to educate themselves on new product and new trends so you stay at the top of your game and maintain your credibility. ChatGPT is just pulling information from everywhere on the internet. You need to be able to stand strong in what you believe. You're the one who's there face to face with your client — you can respond a lot better than a computer can. The human side of design will never go away. Well, until they become actual robots. Hopefully that's another three years away.

Jaclyn: Maybe a year.

Manuella: Exactly. We'll talk next year about that. So with all of this technology and trends in social media, it almost feels like people have way more access to inspiration than ever, but also a lot more confusion. How do you help clients who come to you overwhelmed with information — whether it's a photo from Instagram, Pinterest, or something AI generated?

Jaclyn: We just have to narrow them down and focus them. I have clients who are like, "I like options!" That's great, but you don't need seven different sofas in front of you. You just need two of the best. And that's why you've hired me. I'm here to show you what's going to work — pricing wise and style wise. Trust the experts.

Manuella: Exactly. I love your confidence. I also try to dive deep into the storytelling portion of the home — what a space feels like. Going back to where our conversation started — how do you want a space to feel? Do you incorporate any of this storytelling into it? Do you talk to your clients about traveling to help uncover their design style?

Jaclyn: For sure. Paying attention to the way they live is really important. Everybody comes into a space thinking a new kitchen or a new closet system is going to change their habits. At the end of the day, we are who we are — and as we get older, we get worse in terms of our habits. So it's really about aligning to what they need and how they live. Of course we ask those questions. Some designers will open a client's closet and look at what they're wearing in terms of colors. I don't do that — I just try to connect with them on an energy level.

Manuella: Energy definitely goes a long way. I try to walk through my clients' day to day sometimes. I'll actually spend a full day with them.

Jaclyn: That's amazing. Even if they invite you to a dinner they're hosting for friends — I'm not there just to have dinner. I'm also observing. Was the kitchen convenient enough? Is there enough serving space in the dining area? Does the space feel comfortable? How's the lighting? What an ultimate invitation — they trust you and like you enough to bring you in front of family and friends.

Manuella: Now, what are some questions you ask your clients to get past surface level preferences?

Jaclyn: Favorite places. Do they prefer florals over greenery? Do they drink? If so, do they prefer wine? What are some of their favorite cocktails? When they were at one of their favorite places, why was it a favorite? If they had an entire afternoon to themselves on a Saturday with the kids gone, what are they doing? It's really just getting into who they are as a human being as closely as possible.

Manuella: That's a great way to find clarity and intention — which is the new luxury in design today. So important. I definitely suggest tapping into the emotion and feeling of the spaces.

This has been a very fun conversation. We'll have to do another episode to talk about our favorite finds at KBIS. Now, if you could leave our listeners with one idea about why design matters right now, what would that be?

Jaclyn: I think we're living in an age where everything feels overwhelming, and everything's kind of merging together. You're starting to see a lot of AI slop everywhere. I have clients who send me a lot of Pinterest images of things they think they might like. Take a moment to think about what you like — chase it down and hunt down your personal preferences. Who are you as a human? What makes you excited? Is it color? Is it being in a warm spot under a palm tree? Because a lot of that translates into the home. Obviously hiring designers is what you should be doing, but it makes the experience so much more personal. I find that people are niching down into their communities and what type of clients they want to work with. At the end of the day, it's all about who we are as human beings. And I feel like AI is starting to tear that apart a little bit. So retaining our humanity and understanding who we are and what we need as individuals — that's so important.

Manuella: I agree. Pinterest images are beautiful, and they definitely help with the design process to understand a client's style, but not as much as the one on one we have with our clients. They might look at a picture and think, "I like modern," but you look at it and it's not really modern. Visuals help, but the face to face, the one on one, and these deeper questions will definitely help hone down their style a lot more.

Now, how do you want your own work to impact people long term?

Jaclyn: I hope that eventually our clients are looking at their spaces when they're aging well. There's a classic element to a lot of the stuff we design. But I just want people to feel recognized in their space and aligned. Our clients — the chapter in their life right now may not be where they are in five years. But in that time period, I would love for them to look at their space and be like, "This is me. Right now. This makes me comfortable. This makes me feel safe. This makes me feel excited. I'm so happy to come to this space because Jaclyn listened to what I wanted." I never want clients to walk in and be like, "That was a Dani Douglas design project." Our Instagram is all over the place because it's inspired by the people we're designing for. That's what I love about it. That's the journey that's so fun for us — and that's what I want clients to feel for the next 20 years.

Manuella: I have clients, when we're first getting to know each other, who will say, "What's your style?" And I say, it doesn't matter what my style is. You can look at my portfolio and see that I understand scale, color, and texture. But my portfolio is varied because I design for my clients, not for me. I still want the space to be beautiful, of course, but there are so many other layers to it. I have clients who are older, clients who are just starting a family. I have clients at all different phases of life. It's never about my style — it's always about theirs. That's what we do as designers. We tell their story.

Jaclyn: Exactly.

Manuella: Last question — what are you most excited about the future of design?

Jaclyn: I feel like there's this overwhelming sense of gloom and doom when it comes to AI. But what's been really fun is that vintage and antique is making its comeback, because people are starved for authenticity and patina — something that is handmade. I'm such a lover of vintage and antiques. It's part of the business, but also something I'm personally very passionate about. The idea that in order to hold on to humanity, we have to look to our past — and we are doing that in furniture. The harkening back to family heirlooms, vintage pieces, vintage fabrics, really cool stuff that has a story and was made by human beings — the return of that is actually very exciting.

Manuella: I'm very happy about that too, because clients are more interested to know how something is made, about specific materials and where they were sourced. It just adds another layer to design that makes it so much more special and adds a lot more character.

Jaclyn, where can people find you? How can we connect with you?

Jaclyn: Instagram for sure — I'm way too active on that platform. It's @DoniDouglas_Design. Otherwise, our website, which covers Florida and New Jersey.

Manuella: Jaclyn, thank you so much for being here today. This was such a fun conversation. Let's do it again soon.

Jaclyn: Sounds good.