we are so happy to see you!

far from pretty is a multi-disciplinary brand, designing in the paper and home decor industries. offering creations from hand held correspondence, to large scale wall coverings, to one of a kind artwork, we hope to add more color and joy to your environment.

it all started with a love for pattern.

far from pretty is the latest venture from jennifer james mayes (“mayesie”), a designer with her feet firmly planted in multiple camps. dissatisfied with the idea of needing to “pick a lane”, she launched far from pretty to bring the strength of her vision and aesthetic to the public.

from her thirty year tenure in retail visual merchandising and graphic design, jennifer brings her unique perspective to the fore, designing for all areas of the home. with experience working as the lead visual director for Fortune 500 companies (Nike, J.Crew, Anthropologie); training visual teams from store opening construction through top tier volume expansion (Kate Spade NY); and creating brand DNA from incubation to launch (Jo Snow Syrups, Life&Fork magazine)—jennifer developed a keen sense of what color and pattern can do for a space.

never one to shy away from the mixing of stripes and plaid, jennifer now brings this love to the surface designs and interior spaces she creates. you’ll find her in Chicago, living in her 1950s cottage with her family and large pack of animals. she’ll most likely be in pink or glittery gold—and be designing something special, just for you.

we believe…

that thank you notes should be written by hand; that you’re never too old for a good hair ribbon; that wonky teeth have more character than straight ones; that ganache beats out buttercream any day of the week; that nothing can hold a candle to the feel of a book; that wide leg pants are the greatest invention; that fancy drinks should always have paper umbrellas; that the more color and pattern in your life—the happier you are.