How do you find your dream job? Easy. Look back at your childhood pastimes, hobbies and obsessions as a window into your passion. Amanda Jewel did just that. Obsessed with nature and flora from a young age, Amanda is a self-taught, organic inspired floral designer and studio owner located in Tucker, Georgia. Co-operated with her husband, Michael, AJF+D studio opened in July of 2016 as so much more than a floral shop – open for workshops and events, they are a hub for creativity in Tucker. We caught up with Amanda about her inspirations, hometown and the process of opening her studio.
Take a little tour throughout their little space that they call home captured by the amazing Paige Molina and Melissa Schollaert Photography.
What events can be hosted here?
Workshops, intimate gatherings, holiday parties, photo shoots, networking events, dinner parties and more!
What makes this gathering space unique?
The overall vibe is a little bit southern with a lot of mid century, plus so many personal touches. Our studio is unique in that each room and vignette was carefully crafted for months - we as designers came in and completely renovated the space. The space is designed by AJF+D and no one else. It is an 85-year-old house that sits on the corner of Lavista Road and it has so much charm from the inside out. We captured the charm by keeping the awning on the front, fireplace, hardwood floors, and original doors with the hardware. We did replace the light fixtures and painted all of the walls to start fresh and then we brought in many pieces to accent our design and who we are as a company. Surrounding the house, we are carefully curating cut flowers for our arrangements, so come take a peek in a year and see a tremendous difference. We have plans to build raised beds in the back for even more opportunities and to create a cozy ambience for those backyard dinner parties.
Where did you draw inspiration for the design and overall process?
The interior design is a little different than others as it is basically what we like to look at. I have always had a dream to have a space with floral wallpaper. So I did just that! I took an accent wall in one of the rooms and put up Dutch Love by Ashley Woodson Bailey. The living space has the original fireplace and bookcases surrounding it where we hand selected items to showcase, from Floret Flower seed packets to Silk & Willow Beeswax candles. In that same room we brought in mid century furniture and a handful of AJF+D images on the wall of our work. Off of this room is the front porch which is completely screened in and even has a screen door which reminds me of living on the farm. On one side of the porch is a nice table that seats four and is perfect for a beautiful day. The larger space in the back is where most people will gravitate towards as we have custom handmade tables that my husband built which can each hold up to ten people for gatherings and workshops.
All of our inventory is showcased on metal shelves and we keep them on display by color/texture. Next to the shelving, we renovated the bathroom by painting the door, ceiling and vanity all one color. We made it a botanical feel and even added a gold faucet! We have curated every single piece that is inside of this house. 
Any favorite spots, shopping or restaurants in the surrounding area?
The City of Tucker is a sweet little town right outside of Atlanta. We chose Tucker because we live here and we want our kids to grow up here. We are the first creative business in Tucker and we really hope people will follow because Tucker is growing so much. I would highly suggest M572 for an intimate dinner, or for a fabulous cocktail, The Local 7 has GREAT bar food, and Stone Mountain is a fabulous place for hiking up the mountain, family picnic and the laser show. Also the city is just minutes away from Decatur!
Anything else you want to share?
Right now we are working on a dried floral piece so you will see dried flowers hanging all over the studio which is another unique item about our space. These types of things create conversations and experiences for everyone which is another reason that we do it. We want the little white house to be an extension of our business, we want to set the stage by creating an environment that is both pretty and comfortable so that everyone rather it be a Tucker resident, family or a client walks through the door is inspired by the creativity of AJF+D.
Credits:
Owner & Floral Designer: Amanda Jewel | Photography: Paige Molina Photography + Melissa Schollaert Photography | Upcoming Workshop: An Evening with AJ
