OUR STORY
As a former producer (HGTV, TLC, CBS) with an addiction to all things home and a few renovations under my belt, I was always getting questions from friends about where they should shop, what they should choose, and who they should hire.
Regardless of my past experiences, I still found myself staring at paint chips, chairless tables, and dysfunctional work spaces. I knew that if I was feeling frustrated with my unfinished home, others were too.
So, I decided to launch Designport on Facebook as a way to share ideas and resources around design.
This quickly became a place for everyone from DIYers to seasoned designers to connect and share helpful advice. Given my passion for writing and photography, I began to seek out cool stories from within the group and tips I had gathered from pros and started sharing them on Instagram.
The response has been huge and so I’ve recruited a few of the awesome design-lovers I’ve met along the way to create www.mydesignport.com. To start, it will be a searchable hub for archived stories and new features, as well as shoppable posts, tips from experts, and guides to resources in Fairfield County and beyond.
Please snoop around, send us feed-back, and enjoy! I’m so appreciative of and proud of the community we’ve created and look forward to what’s to come!
XO, Jen
OUR MISSION
Designport is a portal for all things home design and renovation.
We’re based in Fairfield County, Connecticut, a hot-bed of house love.
Provide original content that informs and inspires
Provide opportunities for in-person community events
Provide access to trusted resources
Our sweet-spot is helping you find bite-sized advice. As homeowners we know how hard it is to make decisions - from countertops to couches, paint to planters, the options are endless. We aim to provide locally-sourced tips and ideas for elevating what’s already in your home - and to be a launch-pad for larger projects. We’re obsessed with talented interior designers, architects, builders, and landscape architects. We also celebrate stylish influencers, entrepreneurs and creatives who inspire us with their vision.
This Sounds FUN…How Can I Get Involved?
SIGN UP! Our monthly newsletter provides a first look at new stories, event information, and partner promotions.
PARTNER: Let’s collaborate! Paid partnership and sponsorship opportunities available. Email hello@mydesignport.com and we’ll set up a chat.
CONTRIBUTE: We invite you to join our Facebook group and ask and answer questions. DM or tag us on Instagram @my_designport or email us at hello@mydesignport.com with your story ideas. Are you a writer or photographer? Reach out!
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Jen Berniker, Founder of Designport, Head of Content
Jen’s spent a decade producing and writing lifestyle television shows for HGTV, TLC, PBS and CBS as well as clients like Suburban Jungle, GE and various non-profits. She’s written for Lifestyle Publications, scarymommy.com, and Domino Magazine. But her favorite gig was directing an HGTV series about small spaces, because she got to “snoop” inside peoples' apartments and get to know their story. A graduate of Brown University, Jen concentrated in Media Studies, and studied photography at RISD. Jen lives in Westport, CT with her funny husband and two quirky kids.
Photo by Maya Porrino
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Annie Ford, Director of Marketing & PR
Annie is quick to get excited about ALL the pretty things - a beautiful home, a special place, a maker’s work - and she’s even more excited to share them with others. She paid her advertising dues planning and producing campaigns at Nickelodeon, and then NBC Sports, where she fell in love with the Olympic backstories, got a good dose of Premier League, and learned more about things like Professional Bull Riding than most would consider normal. She loves New England, and can’t imagine (refuses) not living near water. Coastal Connecticut has become home to her family of three creative kids and handy husband, who looks patiently at her endless paint & wallpaper screenshots and not-to-scale sketches to make the most of their home.