Today we’d like to introduce you to Jesse Turek.
Hi Jesse, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I started in beauty, fresh out of high school, Working with Laura Mercier as a makeup artist and learning how color, light, and small choices change how someone feels. In Los Angeles, I studied Interior Design at FIDM and opened my first firm, then headed to New York City to rebuild and grow. For a long stretch I split my days between Manhattan and Bucks County, balancing city rhythm with country calm and shaping a style that’s personal, livable, and grounded.
I’m the founder and principal of Turek Interiors and SUFACESCAPES, with more than two decades of work across many types of homes—revived Tudors, full beach-house overhauls, cozy bungalows, city apartments—as well as restaurants, lounges, and the greenroom for Live with Kelly and Ryan. I’ve learned from incredible talents like Karina Oldemans in Los Angeles and James Huniford and Christopher Maya in New York. My projects have been featured in The New York Times, Design NJ, MyDomaine, Sotheby’s, and Business Insider. Clients often joke that I’m their “design therapist,” which I take as the highest compliment. My aim is simple: create spaces that lift daily life. I live in both Manhattan and Pennsylvania and happily take on work in NY, PA, NJ, and beyond.
The newest chapter grew from an old memory: as a kid in a desert valley below the Sierras, I built forts and searched for arrowheads with my family—treasures that taught me to notice material, story, and place. Years later, that spirit led me to Easton, Pennsylvania, where I opened Fort + Arrow—a working studio and boutique under one roof. Recently, Fort + Arrow joined with Turek Interiors, bringing the heart of a shop to the reach of a full-service practice. It’s a home for design, for making, and for gathering objects that feel true.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Not at all smooth—real growth rarely is. Moving from beauty into interiors meant starting over, saying yes to tiny projects, and learning the business side fast. Rebuilding my firm in New York required patience and a thicker skin; I had to re-earn trust, refine pricing, and learn to say no so I wouldn’t burn out.
There were plenty of practical hurdles: contractors who fell through, budgets that tightened mid-stream, and—especially in recent years—supply-chain chaos, shipping delays, and costs that shifted overnight. Splitting time between Manhattan and Bucks County taught me to systematize, communicate clearly, and build a dependable network of trades. Opening a brick-and-mortar in a historic building came with surprises behind every wall: permits, contractor issues, and timelines that stretched.
What made it work was resilience, transparency with clients, and community. Fort + Arrow took shape slowly, with contingency plans and a lot of late nights. Merging Fort + Arrow with Turek Interiors let me combine heart and horsepower—keeping the intimate, hands-on feel while adding depth of resources. The hard parts sharpened my process: plan ahead, leave room for the unexpected, and keep the focus on creating spaces that genuinely support people’s lives.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a residential and boutique commercial designer focused on creating calm, layered spaces that feel collected over time. My work spans full renovations to single-room transformations, from historic restorations to modern apartments and weekend homes. I handle the full arc—concept, drawings, materials, custom millwork and furnishings, art and styling—so the finished space feels coherent, personal, and easy to live in.
I’m known for listening closely, translating a client’s daily rhythms into floor plans, light, and texture. I mix new pieces with vintage and artisan-made work, favor natural materials, and sweat the small details: how a cabinet edge meets a stone splash, how a sofa depth changes conversation. I’m proudest when clients tell me their home changed how they cook, gather, sleep, or slow down. Highlights include restorations, beach-house overhauls, intimate restaurants, and the greenroom for Live with Kelly and Ryan, along with features in major publications—earned one thoughtful project at a time.
What sets my studio apart is the blend of heart and rigor. The merger of Fort + Arrow with Turek Interiors combines a hands-on shop mindset—where I design, make jewelry, and source uncommon objects—with the resources of a full-service practice. That means honest budgets, clear timelines, trusted trades, and access to one-of-a-kind pieces. My early years in beauty taught me how color, light, and proportion affect how people feel; today, that same sensibility guides interiors that are timeless, understated, and truly lived-in.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
Thank you for reading and for supporting independent studios and shops—it truly matters. If you’re in or near Easton, PA, stop by Fort + Arrow to say hello, explore the boutique, or chat about a project. The studio is open by appointment, and I’m always happy to share resources or point you to makers I love.
If you’re starting a home project, give yourself time and start with how you want to feel in the space. The rest follows. With Fort + Arrow and Turek Interiors now under one roof, we can help at any stage—from a single room to a full renovation—across NY, PA, and NJ (and beyond).
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.fortandarrow.com
- Instagram: fort.and.arrow
- Facebook: Fort + Arrow
- Other: https://www.turekinteriors.com
