WHEN TALENTED PROFESSIONALS TALK, WE LISTEN.
Every home has a story and every homeowner tells it through its design. Whether it’s a wall covering, paint color, art piece, furnishing, fixture, or antique, what is in the home is an expression of its owner. WHJ profiles two professionals who help curate these stories— Jennifer Hoey of Suede Studio and Meggan Hubsmith of Goffin Heritage Homes.
Suede Studio
Jennifer Hoey, ASID
Jennifer Hoey is the creative director and founder of Suede Studio, a full-service interior design firm specializing in high-end residential projects and boutique commercial projects. Jennifer employs nine talented professional women in two offices: Ketchum, Idaho, and Bozeman, Montana. She oversees the designers on every project, and empowers each team member to work autonomously, fostering their own style within the context of the brand.
What services do you offer?
We offer a luxury turnkey experience to our clients so they can focus on their busy lives while we deliver their dream property on budget and on schedule. We have worked side by side with premier architects and contractors for 20 years, so we understand how to collaborate efficiently.
Our detailed drawings and specifications are what we are known for, and our diverse portfolio exhibits the breadth of work we have been fortunate to complete. Our Project Designers hold NCIDQ qualifications and are skilled at anticipating the needs of both our clients and members of the trade.
What geographic area(s) do you serve?
With offices in Ketchum, Idaho, and Bozeman, Montana, we regularly work in Sun Valley, Big Sky, and Jackson and throughout the Mountain West. Many of our clients have enlisted us to work with them on their other homes around the country. Working from coast to coast creates opportunity for diversity within our designs and inspires us in our primary markets.
Do you have any special certifications or specialties?
I am NCIDQ qualified and am also a Professional Member of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID). I spent many years designing custom kitchens for my family’s business while I was going to design school, so custom cabinetry is my specialty. I trained all the designers at Suede Studio to be adept when it comes to cabinet design – it’s an excellent way to execute func-
tion and style.
What inspires you?
I’m inspired by an innate desire to design unique spaces and work with new materials and products to push creative limits. I love that no two projects are alike, and I enjoy the challenges presented with each.
What project(s) are you most excited about right now?
It’s hard to pick! One that stands out is a multi-structure family compound in Jackson. It consists of a home, guest house, and spa barn. Others that come to mind are a modern hillside project at the base of the mountain in Ketchum, a new home for repeat clients, and a gorgeous Moonlight Basin residence with Lone Peak views.
Describe your process—how do you work with clients, contractors, and architects?
I work closely with the client and design team to develop the interior vision for the project by building upon the established architecture. We provide pre-construction budget numbers to the contractor for our scope to make sure the budget aligns with the team’s vision. Working within those parameters, we meticulously detail the selections and finishes through CADD drawings and renderings. Our Project Designers manage team calls and site visits, making sure our vision is executed perfectly. Once our specs are in the contractor’s hands we shift focus to the furnishing phase of design. Our procurement managers handle all orders until the pieces are carefully installed into our client’s home.
I’m inspired by an innate desire to design unique spaces and work with new materials and products to push creative limits. I love that no two projects are alike, and I enjoy the challenges presented with each.
Jennifer Hoey
What is the most exciting new product or development in your field?
Rocky Mountain Hardware will be releasing a new line called “Phases” that I designed. I am excited to enter the realm of product design and to be able to utilize these pieces for my clients.
What do you enjoy most about helping people create a home or business that reflects their lifestyle?
I love the psychology behind design. I love the challenge of each job, everything from negotiating agreements to anticipating the needs of each client and even bridging the gap between partners. I enjoy listening to a client and translating what I hear into something that functions well for their lifestyle and is so beautiful that their eyes light up when they see it! I also thrive on the relationships I have built with people in the industry. Working with the best makes the job fun!
Do you have a favorite sport or recreational activity, and what do you enjoy about it?
My passion is horseback riding. I have a 12-year-old, 18-hand hunter named Chewy. He is the best! I love going to the barn at the end of my workday and putting complete focus towards my amazing animal.
What do you enjoy most about living and working where you do?
I am fortunate to be able to live the lifestyle that my clients are seeking. I have a home on five acres just outside the Sun Valley area with incredible views of the Pioneer Mountains. It’s so quiet and peaceful. I split my time in Bozeman where I live in a downtown residence and can ride my bike to work. I get to enjoy the best of both worlds, rural and downtown mountain life!
Favorite trip you’ve ever taken?
I went on safari to Kenya this summer with immediate and extended family. It was amazing to see animals interact in their natural environment and to spend time with my family. We are all very close and it was an experience to remember for many reasons.
Goffin Heritage Homes
Meggan Hubsmith,
Owner & General Contractor
Goffin Heritage Homes is a custom home construction company with an emphasis on “livable luxury.” They strive to combine luxurious amenities with comfort, practicality, and functionality to give our clients elegance and convenience in their daily lives.
Meggan is a second-generation general contractor who founded Goffin Heritage Homes. Her father, Ray Goffin, was the Magic Valley’s premier luxury home builder for over 30 years. Goffin Heritage Homes is a continuation of his legacy, focusing on the highest quality homes with an added woman’s touch for design.
What services do you offer?
We oversee every aspect of custom home design, construction, and warranty services to ensure that each homeowner has the very best experience while building their custom dream home.
What Geographic Areas Do You Serve?
Our focus is on bringing livable luxury to the Wood River Valley and Magic Valley areas.
When did you know that you wanted to go into construction? What motivated you?
As a little girl, I spent many days on job sites with my dad watching and learning all aspects of the construction process. This fostered a passion for architecture and creating beautiful yet functional, livable homes. When I was 19, I designed and helped oversee the construction of my first home. This design was extremely popular, and my father built versions of the layout for numerous clients in the years to follow. This was my first insight to the talent and passion I have for home building, and it drove my desire to pursue a career of my own in residential construction.
Describe your process. How do you work with clients, designers, and architects?
My approach is to be proactive early in the project and solve problems before they occur. I work directly with my clients and their architects to provide insight on ways to enhance design and layout, incorporate luxury amenities, and create a home that is perfectly suited to each client’s lifestyle. Whether we are working with our in-house design team or the expertise of an outside designer, early collaboration can minimize costly mistakes and ensure that our homeowner’s vision is executed flawlessly.
What projects are you the proudest of?
Currently the projects I am most proud of sit along the top of the Snake River Canyon. These projects’ geography required vigorous pre-planning with structural engineers, numerous geological studies, and cohesive collaboration with the top tradesman in the industry. These challenging projects occupy a great deal of time and resources, pushing the limits. I find these projects inspiring and cannot stop thinking about them even at the end of the day.
As a little girl, I spent many days on job sites with my dad watching and learning all aspects of the construction process. This fostered a passion for architecture and creating beautiful yet functional, livable homes.
Meggan Hubsmith
What makes the difference between good construction & great construction?
A good construction company will follow blueprints and do what they are told. A great construction company will treat the project as if it is their own home. They will only allow processes, materials, and tradespeople to be used that they have full confidence in.
What words do people use to describe your work?
My company is often described as trustworthy, transparent, innovative, and trendsetting. We strive every day to exceed the expectations of our clients. I want each client’s experience to result in an on-budget build, carried out in an efficient and professional process, with an end product they are ecstatic to call home.
If you weren’t in construction, what would you be doing?
If I were not in construction, my second passion is interior design. Inadvertently, my love for interior design often projects itself into my construction projects. Having a keen eye for detail, understanding space and scale, the ability to think creatively and problem-solve is something I love.
What places in the world do you find most inspirational?
I love travelling abroad. It takes me out of my comfort zone and inspires me to see, taste, and try new things. It constantly challenges me, not only to adapt to and explore new surroundings but also to engage with different people. Traveling is most meaningful when I get to experience it with friends and loved ones. Of course, it never breaks my heart when I can convince my husband to tour some of the architectural marvels found abroad.
What do you enjoy most about living and working where you do?
Growing up in Idaho has given me a passion for the outdoors. I have been blessed with the opportunity since childhood to enjoy horseback riding, skiing, hiking, boating, camping, and mountain biking. The people in Idaho are second to none; passionate, honest, and hardworking is how I would describe the people I get to work with every day.
If you could own any piece of fine art, what would it be?
Anything created by Ashley Collins! I saw my first piece by Ashley at a gallery near Fort Worth. Many pieces are equine-themed and massive in scale. Covered in resin to add texture, Ashley encourages patrons to touch and feel the art. Her originality inspires me, and I dream of owning one of Ashley’s pieces someday.
