By Dennis McNabb, The Mountain Times
According to the Oxford Dictionary, interior design is “the art or process of designing the interior decoration of a room or building.” Much more profound and complex than simply arranging furniture though, at its core it’s about carefully crafting a narrative that reflects the personalities and histories of both the space itself and its inhabitants. Every room has a story to tell and for the thoughtful designer, those spaces can be fashioned to honor past glories while simultaneously updating their aesthetic and maximizing their functionality. Jen Lorentzen of Fore Story Projects is just such a designer.
One look at any of her projects here on the mountain and it’s readily apparent that Jen was born with a gift. That gift has been expanded, honed, and refined over 20 years of experience working for brands and at Nike (where she created brand identities and designed environments for retail, events, restaurants, and concept spaces), but it’s an innate talent. Like all the most revered practitioners in her field, Jen has the uncanny ability to read a space and its occupants and envision it uniquely transformed to match the personalities of those within. It takes work. She is a diligent researcher, consulting with owners as well as digging through old photographs and articles regarding the property to find inspiration. Armed with all of this information, she is able to “tell a story” with her designs, and the results speak for themselves.
Jen’s first official job under the moniker of Fore Story Projects was to redesign one of the condos at Thunderhead Lodge (once the base station for the historic Skiway Tram). After countless hours of research and consultation, she decided to use the infamous bus itself, and in particular its driver, as her muse. Considering such details as the shearling bomber jacket the driver wore as well as the powder-coated metal, tweed seats, and chrome aspects of the coach, Jen carefully decorated the space to incorporate all of those elements. It’s the perfect balance of vintage and modern, cozy and sleek; an homage to the past and a nod to the future.
She followed that up with a second condo in the same complex: the Alpine Ascent. She also redesigned her own cabin, the Black Squirrel (which she has turned into a beautiful and rustic Airbnb), and worked with the previous owner on a local gem, the Glacier Public House: all equally beautiful and intentionally decorated. Her earnest efforts and unparalleled attention to detail are bringing in rave reviews. Fortunately, these kinds of examples of her incredible work are beginning to dot the mountain and celebrate the unique history of this place we all adore. Jen loves spending time here and harbors a genuine affinity for the community. She even runs a snowboarding non-profit and we are so lucky to have her!
As her business continues to grow and more jobs come her way, we can only hope Jen is not drawn too far from the area. She takes on projects wherever they may exist but her passion for sharing the stories of our mountain really shines in these special places. If you own property here and it’s in need of updating/redesigning, Jen should be your first call! Contact Jen Lorentzen, a local “hidden gem” who preserves and transforms spaces into treasures of their own.