Everything's Coming Up Awesome for Elleehome
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Friends I love when I’m able to share an Instagram friend who I’ve also had the pleasure of meeting in real life! Sandy Jandu is an Instagram Influencer and Interior Designer. She shares her creative home with her husband Vin, their daughter Alice age 5, dog Anakin and cats Bader and Mia.
When I started following Sandy on IG in 2019 I was happy to learn we both lived in New Jersey and thrilled to learn we lived only 10 minutes away. We immediately met for coffee.
the entry of her home
Sandy has an incredible eye - adding layers of color and texture to spaces. She added a wall of wood and deep colors to her homes entry. So inspiring!
She was born in the United Kingdom and moved to Canada when she was six - living there as the middle of three kids; she has an older sister and younger brother. I was always a creative, very imaginative kid, and preferred my own company to play.
Tell me how did you end up in NJ? I got married to a New Yorker, and we moved to NJ a year after we were married.
Her Livingroom
I love to ask every creative I interview if they decorated their bedroom as a child - most say yes as did Sandy. Yes, always. In high school, my bedroom was a pastel purple with black accents.
What did you study in college? I went to the University of Waterloo and to Western University and I have a BA in Visual Arts and English and a Bachelor of Education. My career goal had always been to teach – and I was a high school English and Visual and Media Arts teacher in Canada for about 4 years.
Sandy created this free hand mural in her diningroom!
The mural wall
“I want to be the voice for people who buck trends and design to the beat of their own drum”
Why did you create Ellee Home? I started ellee home because I didn’t see anyone like me doing design and diy. Now having done this for two years, I’m a part of an amazing community and get to share people of color influencers with my audience.
Client space
Sandy created the above space for a clients child. I asked her to speak about how she found herself in the world of design. I’ve never not been into it lol. I’m a creative person and a very visual person. I have always loved making my spaces *fit* and I love that I get to sometimes do that for other people.
When we met in 2019 your focus was definitely on client design and assisting others with their websites but, I see your attention has shifted. That’s exactly right! and I’m pushing interior client services back so that I can focus on being an influencer of the Instagram community.
her bath
Any influences on your style? I’m influenced by texture and how materials balance or contrast with each other. A few designers/influencers I love are Gina Baran, Erin Conway, Shavonda Gardner, Medina Grillo, Emily Henderson, Lea Johnson and Erin Wheeler.
Please share with my readers where you’ve been published:
favorite transformation
Clare Paint - this was special for me because I’m such a fan of Clare paint and they asked me to be part of their new color launch for this project. That’s why my livingroom is my favorite transformation. I loved my Clare Paint for this project!
I started the hashtag #zerodollarupdate and it’s been incredible to see how creative my community has been in creating design and décor for their home for $0.
Anything you wish to share you’re working on for 2021? I’m working primarily on my basement in terms of design content and I’m working really hard to be able to support my family through these creative means at least 50% of my work time.
Her Basement
