Conversations with Jake Morris

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jake Morris.

Hi Jake, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Sharlin Interior Design officially began in 2019, but the seeds were planted long before that. Both Emily and I (Jake) have always been drawn to design in one form or another. My path started with an early love of building and sketching fantastical spaces, which eventually led me to earn a Master’s in Architecture and work on a wide range of projects, from strawbale homes in Maryland to educational parks in Mexico. Emily’s journey began as an artist and evolved through her time in Hawai’i, where the bold colors and natural beauty deeply shaped her design sensibility.

We joined forces to create Sharlin Interior Design with a shared goal: to design spaces that feel good to live in, not just beautiful, but deeply functional and personal. We wanted to make the process approachable and collaborative, with design packages that work for different needs and budgets. Whether we’re working locally in Colorado or virtually with clients across the country, our approach is rooted in listening closely and creating something that truly reflects each client’s personality and lifestyle.

It’s been a joy to grow this business, meet so many amazing people, and help turn houses into homes. We love what we do, and we’re excited for what’s next.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely hasn’t been a perfectly smooth road but what meaningful journey ever is? One of the biggest challenges was relocating from Hawai’i to Colorado and essentially starting over. Emily had built strong relationships and a design reputation in Hawai’i, so moving to a new state meant rebuilding that foundation from scratch: new networks, new suppliers, new client base. It was definitely daunting at times.

But what made the transition smoother was discovering how much Coloradans value the same things we do: healthy, intentional living, a deep connection to nature, and homes that support both rest and adventure. In that way, the spirit of the place felt familiar. Our clients here care about how their spaces feel, not just how they look. That alignment in values helped us start building trust more quickly than we expected.

Like any small business, there have also been growing pains, navigating everything from pricing structures to managing remote projects across time zones. But those challenges have pushed us to refine our process and become more adaptive. Looking back, the hard parts taught us a lot and helped shape the approachable, down-to-earth service we offer today.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
At its core, our work is about helping people feel more at home in their space. We take the time to really get to know our clients, from how they live, what they value, what colors and textures they’re drawn to, to what’s working in their space and what isn’t. From there, we create interiors that reflect their personality and support the way they actually move through their day-to-day life.

We’re not interested in creating instagrammable-perfect spaces that don’t feel lived in. Our goal is always to design something beautiful and practical, whether that means carving out a cozy reading nook for someone who loves quiet time, finding durable materials for a family with young kids, or helping a couple blend two very different styles into one cohesive home.

We’re known for being approachable and collaborative. Clients often say they feel at ease with us, which is something we take a lot of pride in. We want the design process to feel exciting and creative, not overwhelming. So we break things down step by step, stay flexible, and bring some humor and heart to the process.

As far as what sets us apart, we don’t have a “signature look,” and that’s intentional. We focus on tailoring each design to the client, rather than fitting them into a mold. That said, our work does tend to be warm, layered, and thoughtful. We both bring different strengths to the table: Emily has an incredible eye for color and texture, shaped by her background as an artist, while Jake brings a strong architectural foundation and a love of flow and form. Together, we’re always thinking about the big picture and the tiny details, and how to make it all feel just right.

What we’re most proud of is when a client walks into their finished space and says, “This feels like me.” That’s when we know we’ve done our job.

What were you like growing up?
Emily was always making something, drawing, painting, embroidering, rearranging her room every few months just for the fun of it. There was a real love of color and detail from the start. She’s always had a strong visual sense and a quiet determination, someone who would get completely absorbed in a creative project for hours. Nature was a big influence early on too. Growing up near the ocean and later living in Hawai’i, she developed this deep appreciation for the rhythms and beauty of the natural world, which still shows up in her work today.

Jake, on the other hand, grew up building forts out of sticks and snow, sketching imaginary worlds, and constantly tinkering with how things worked. He was curious about everything, especially spaces and how people interacted with them. There was always some little architectural model or fantasy map in the works. He had this mix of imagination and practicality that eventually led him into architecture, and now into interior design, where he gets to blend function and creativity every day.

Looking back, we were both kids who liked making things better, more beautiful, more useful, more expressive. That impulse hasn’t really changed, it just got more refined over the years.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.sharlininteriordesign.com/