Celebrity interior designer and television host Jennifer Farrell is a familiar face to audiences who have enjoyed her designs and shows for over two decades. Founder of the interior design firm Jennifer Farrell Designs, Jennifer now introduces an ambitious concept for modern luxury living: I.C.E. House, or Interconnected Changeable Environments, a show home in the south of France. 'The concept is you never have to change your home, but your home changes with you,' she explains. We talk to her about the new show home and trends in the industry.
This is part 1 of the interview with Jennifer Farrell where we talk about the new modern living concept I.C.E. House. Stay tuned for part 2 where we talk about the shift in trade shows to a global design culture and current trends in the industry.
Jennifer Farrell. Photo: Monica Orozco
From Barbie doll house designer to TV personality
'I think I've always been a designer,' Jennifer says when asked how she got started in the industry. 'Ever since I was a kid, I've been drawn to design. I used to watch TV shows about interior design and make my own Barbie doll houses with different wallpapers and furniture. Now, I'm really doing the same thing—but on a much larger scale,' she laughs.
'In 2001, I opened my own interior design firm, Jennifer Farrell Designs, so I've now been in business for 23 years. We're based in Southern California, but we take on projects from all over the world. In 2003, I appeared on my first design show, Merge, which was a big hit here, just as the home television industry was taking off. My timing was very lucky. Over the past years, I've been hosting and designing on TV shows while managing my design firm. This journey has led to my own collections and partnerships with brands, for whom I also create show homes.'
Interconnected Changeable Environments
I.C.E. House takes show home design to a new level by creating a two-year, immersive experience in which fans and industry insiders can follow the development and transformation of the property. Unlike traditional show homes, which are open for a brief public viewing, Farrell's approach includes live broadcasts, press tours, brand events, and a VIP Reveal Party at the end.
Rendering of I.C.E. House.
'For traditional show homes here in the States, multiple designers usually come together, each brand taking a room. They sell tickets, and people walk through, and an hour later, it's over. I do it differently. I buy a property in need of transformation and create a Jennifer Farrell Designs show home experience that's a unified design. I bring in brand partners across all areas—furniture, appliances, lighting, tiles—integrating every aspect of each brand into my design. This then becomes a two-year rollout of exposure and promotion,' Jennifer explains.
Set in the South of France, I.C.E. House stands for Interconnected Changeable Environments and comprises three interconnected structures—Indy House, Centre House, and Extension House—that adapt to meet a resident's changing needs. 'The concept is that you never have to change your home; instead, your home changes with you. There are three separate buildings interconnected by open-air breeze ways that can be enclosed with glass, transforming them into additional rooms. The spaces vary, allowing the home to adapt to your lifestyle and needs, so you can stay in one home forever,' she says.
'I've been working with this concept of an adaptable, multi-structure space for years. For at least 20 years, my friends have heard me talk about it—what I jokingly call The Golden Girls compound,' Jennifer laughs. I would tell them, 'One day, I'm going to create this.' And in 2026 the project will become a reality. 'We'll open the physical I.C.E. House in 2026, but we'll start unveiling it virtually in 2025, showcasing one room at a time for a sneak peek at the project.'
Rendering of I.C.E. House.
Finding the perfect place
'The process of finding the house could have been a TV show in itself,' Jennifer laughs. 'I've never lived in France, but I love the country, and it truly fits the aesthetic I wanted to create. I initially found around 500 homes online and narrowed it down to nine properties. My husband and I toured the French countryside, exploring each one. Honestly, I wanted to buy all of them!' she laughs. 'But house eight was the winner—it perfectly matched the renderings and drawings I made.'
'The reason we chose the south of France is that the aesthetic of this project is rooted in the concept of "ancient meets modern". My initial renderings featured three ancient stone farmhouses enhanced with glass and steel elements. I wanted to tell a story of a global design culture, which led me to approach this as an international project. France has many beautiful historic farmhouses already set in their own hamlets, so I was able to find the perfect one. The structure's "bones" are already there, and we'll add modern elements of glass and steel to the exterior.'
Inside the home, her own collection launching next summer, Jennifer Farrell for Global Views, will be featured, along with many other partners that will be introduced along the way. The theme of ancient meets modern will be incorporated throughout the house with handcrafted pieces and sustainable elements. 'This is a trend I'm seeing across the industry right now,' Jennifer says. Designed as a completely off-grid home, I.C.E. House will include two wells, solar power, septic systems, and a vegetable garden, embodying sustainability and adaptability for a home built with the future of 2030 and beyond in mind. 'At each show home I've done, I've learnt different things. I.C.E. House is really a culmination of all the things I've learnt along the way.'
Stay tuned for part 2 of the interview, where we talk about the shift in trade shows to a global design culture and current trends in the industry.
More information:
Jennifer Farrell Designs
www.jenniferfarrelldesigns.com
US
I.C.E. House
[email protected]
www.icehousebyjenniferfarrell.com