Stories of Home:
Uncovering Creativity and Building Community
Interior designer and restaurant owner Jolyn Chen has built a career of following her inspiration—and challenging the standard. The co-owner of the popular Xiao Ye in Portland started her career in hospitality in Washington D.C. at Rose’s Luxury, a beloved restaurant that broke industry norms and continues to inspire her work today. “They built such a positive, healthy culture and I learned that the hospitality didn’t have to subscribe to the toxic culture for which it’s known.” The hospitality world inspired Jolyn to seek out more work where she could create experiences for people, eventually bringing her to the travel industry and working with fellow creatives.
a new chapter
Putting Down Roots in Portland
This new creative spark brought Jolyn back to school and into the interiors world, where her love of curating experiences came into new harmony. She fell in love with design and developed her design eye, drawn to British and traditional European influences with touches of whimsy.
From there, Jolyn began to take on design clients before her and her husband, Louis Lin, took on their biggest project yet: putting down roots with their first home and opening their restaurant, Xiao Ye.
where old meets new
The Journey Home
Pictured: Malin Rug, Camdyn Bench, Zayd Coverlet, Virgo Table Lamp, Primrose Sham, Mirelle Pillow, and Selene Pillow.
“Growing up with immigrant parents, it always felt like this American dream to own a home. We lost our home when I was very young, which was difficult for my family—seeing how it affected my parents and our lives. Having a roof over your head means security and safety and that's a big deal.”
Pictured: Farideh Rug, Covey Bench, Lilith Dining Chair, and Calia Wall Mirror.
Signing the commercial lease for the restaurant and buying their first house shortly after marked the beginning of Jolyn and Louis’s creation of a home and a community on their own terms, in both spaces.
At the top of Jolyn’s priority list in creating a space is that it’s welcoming, which means it’s lived in, used, and inevitably imperfect. For Jolyn, it’s ok if things get stained or dinged because it’s a sign of life that changes the feel of a space.
"One of the first times we had people over, it was my birthday and it was so hot out. We cut up watermelon and my friends' kids were just running all over dripping watermelon and there are pink stains all over this bench I have and I love it for that. It reminds me of a really special time and day spending time with people I love most in our new place."
Jolyn Chen
Jolyn’s “grandma chic” style touches on everything she loves, and feels like a true reflection of the designer. While it creates a cozy, welcoming feel, it also feels like an extension of Jolyn’s identity, as she builds her own future. “I love color, pattern, and putting unexpected things together. As an Asian American, my identity is a mix of multiple things, and I like my designs to feel both nostalgic and new.”
Xiao Ye and Jolyn and Louis’s home are manifestations of this honoring of tradition while creating something new, both in Jolyn’s designs and in the community surrounding. “I see the way guests are enjoying their moments, having milestones there. The amount of weddings and proposals and anniversaries and birthdays and stuff that happens is crazy to me because it feels like we’re part of their story. It’s more than a restaurant—it’s more personal than that.” Jolyn’s advice for cultivating your own cozy, unique space? “Experiment! Try to not take the process too seriously or get too caught up in what goes with what. Don't be afraid to use color and mix patterns. Ultimately, you should have fun.”