Meet Jessica Talley! - Westport Moms

How old are your kids and how long have you lived in Westport? We have two boys 10, 8, and a girl who is 4. We have lived in Westport since 2018.

How did you end up where you are now in terms of your job, or whatever passion project it is you might be doing? I have always loved art, nature, and science. Through the years I practiced art but there was a point at which I almost went to medical school. Until I found architecture, which turned out to be the perfect marriage of my passions, and I went to Columbia University in NYC. Post graduate school, I won a fellowship, an opportunity to work at Kohn Pedersen Fox PC, an international firm in NYC, working on acclaimed projects to mention a couple: Prudential Newark and Hudson Yards. This experience led to me attaining my license. I knew a few years later I wanted to start my own company and to start a family, so that’s exactly what I worked toward. I persevered and in 2015, I started up Spring Architecture + Design. There’s a freedom in owning my own business, and great responsibility. I am so happy and grateful for both.

I see architecture as: where art meets nature and, in a sense, artistic surgery, medicine and a portal to well-being. I am passionate about helping and serving people and communities and providing beautiful spaces and sustainable projects. It makes me feel so good when people get excited by my creations and when I know we have done our due diligence on making the architecture as sustainable as possible in the process, while also instilling a newfound well-being in their everyday lifestyle.

I am currently working on a side passion project in conjunction with the architecture projects we are working on in the office. For a while, I have realized that not everyone can afford an architect or a professional designer. I have heard the voices of many people feeling stuck and confused and unhappy about their living or working space; them not knowing where to start or what to do so therefore living with it. So, recently I designed an online course called Springboard for people to be able to design their dream project with me as the educator and guide at a much lower cost than the market rate. By the end of the course, they will be organized with a vision board outlining and mapping out the concepts, materials, contacts, methods and more to their design project. It’s a way of me giving back to a larger community, and helping more people attain the lifestyle, wellbeing and beauty in their homes, offices, or other development projects. Anyone can join – people with no design, drawing or creative experience at all or even architects and designers can join and receive guidance on a particular project and get a significant amount of learning unit continuing education credits toward their professional development since it is being accredited by the American Institute of Architects. NOTE: $100 off the Springboard course for WESTPORTMOMS!

I am excited to ramp up the education side of Spring. There are 3 sides to Spring: 1) architectural projects for private/public clients (commercial and residential), 2) philanthropic projects (pro bono or competition projects that are helpful to humanity (i.e., last year we designed a girls’ center for safety and education in Mozambique, Africa), and now 3) educational guidance and mentorship through Springboard. I am happy to see Spring grow and expand and prosper. I am on a mission to spread wellbeing, beauty and sustainability through architecture and design. I hope to help and inspire others along the way.

        

What was your best memory from the last few COVID years, a strange time we know…I loved being with my kids all day, I loved teaching them and having them with me. We had a lot of fun. At one point we made our foyer a space for indoor recess and had a trampoline and a slide and gym mat for tumbling. We even turned my home office into a classroom and had 3 desks in there. It was a crazy time and so much grief and loss, but we had to make the most of it, and we did. The kids loved the time at home as well.

Do you like to read, or watch TV, or both? I read a few books every month. I recommend audible because as a mom entrepreneur running a business and taking care of the kids it’s rare I have much time to lay in bed turning a page. So, instead of not reading at all or having a book collect dust on the side table, I discovered audible and now I listen to many books in my free time just through my ears.

What is your favorite podcast? I listen to many, but the funniest one I have found so far that makes me belly laugh even on a run has to be Smartless with Jason Bateman, Will Arnett and Sean Hayes.

What is one food you could not live without? I love Japanese food, how it tastes and looks. It is so carefully and deliciously crafted.

What is one product you could not live without? For business, my tech tools, software, computer and phone. I have a well worked out workflow to create architecture and communicate my vision to clients.

What is your greatest fear? I do not like to worry, so I have learned to live without fear.

What is your greatest indulgence? I love indulging on Travel, and seeing other parts of the world, and experiencing adventure and new things, places, and cultures.

Which talent would you most like to have? Portal travel would be cool. In a flash be somewhere, anywhere, and any time. I wonder if that will be available in the future in our time.

What is one thing people would be surprised to know about you? I am an artist. I paint, draw, collage and do sculpture. I showed in art galleries before deciding to go into architecture. I also surf.

If you weren’t doing what you are today, what might your career path might have been? Probably a doctor.

If you could travel to one place this next year, where would it be and why? Ah so many places on my list this year: Probably Portugal or Iceland, two gorgeous places I’d love to see for their incredible nature and culture.

If you had 24 hours to do whatever you wanted to do, what would it be? Exactly what I am doing.

Are you a morning person, or a night owl? How does sleep fit into your life?  I love sleep and dreaming, I find it fascinating, I’m a vivid dreamer and every morning I learn from my dreams. Mostly a morning person at this stage with 3 little kids my energy needs to meets theirs, super high and ready to go.

What thing has surprised you most about being in the suburbs? The raccoons here; we have a whole family that visits our garbage most nights but we don’t mind because they are so crafty and neat. They never make a mess and twiddle around on their toes like 200-pound ballerinas.

What is the first thing you do when you walk in the door after a long day? Usually cook; you can find me in the kitchen a lot with a family of 5 and a dog.

Who is your favorite hero of fiction? Who are your heroes in real life? The great females of all time who advocate for female rights, and are working toward positive, meaningful impact for humanity. I mentor other women and help them to gain the courage to go into work or find a hobby after college or after kids. My hope is to empower, and help all aged women build their self-worth and discover they are powerful, worthy of success and deserve prosperity.

QUICK THIS OR THAT:

At a movie: Candy or Popcorn? Both; it’s the combination that is necessary
Cook or order in? Cook
Cake or Ice Cream? Ice cream
Iced Coffee or Hot Coffee? Hot
Beach or Mountains? Beach
Puzzle or Board Game? Puzzle
Reading or writing? Reading
Before bed: Social media or book/TV? Catchup with emails, calendars and kids’ admin
Watch or play sports? Definitely Play
Stay in or go out? Must be both, again the combo = balance
Comedy or Drama? Definitely Comedy

**Jessica is offering 50% off an initial design consultation to anyone who reaches out in March!

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