Vanessa Paisley-Clare: Bold by nature, subtle by design
IN a world where Pinterest boards and Instagram grids often define what’s “in style”, Jamaican interior designer Vanessa Paisley-Clare offers a refreshing perspective, one rooted in heart, function, and just enough boldness to turn heads without screaming for attention.
As the founder and lead designer of Clare Design Limited, Paisley-Clare’s journey has been less about chasing trends and more about crafting spaces that feel good to live in.
“I never went to design school,” she shared. “Everything I’ve learnt is self-taught, driven from passion, instinct, and a genuine love for creating.”
That passion has guided her through over two decades of freelance and professional experience, culminating in a brand and aesthetic that is unmistakably hers.
Design, it seems, runs in her DNA. Coming from a family of creatives, her father in marketing and advertising, her mother, a landscape artist, she was naturally inspired to embark on her own creative journey.
Paisley-Clare started her career in 2005 doing faux wall finishes and gradually expanded her services, building a clientele that trusted her with more comprehensive design solutions. A turning point came while redesigning a friend’s house.
“She couldn’t believe the transformation,” Paisley-Clare recalled. “Even though it was stressful, I felt alive. That was the spark.”
Years later, another twist of fate reinforced her calling; she was hired to redesign the very home she once grew up in.
“I cried when I saw the address,” she said. “It was like all the stars had aligned.”
Today, Paisley-Clare’s designs are known for their contemporary, clean, and highly functional styles, curating longevity and not chasing trends.
“I might bring in a bold tile or a deep green vanity,” she said, “but always in a way that can stand the test of time.”
One of Paisley-Clare’s most high-profile achievements to date is her work for Kohler by Tile City showroom. Each suite was crafted around the character of the Kohler pieces — vanities with curved doors, striking faucets, sculpted basins.
She highlights a subtle design detail in one of the Kohler suites: a white wallpaper with an iridescence and embossed pattern that subtly uplifts the vanity, a detail easily missed but deliberately chosen.
Paisley-Clare designed two suites and built them around the unique personalities of the Kohler pieces. Her approach was intentional, to complement, never compete. In one standout suite, bold emerald green marble tiles serve as the backdrop to powerfully designed fixtures.
“I wanted someone to walk in and feel like Wow. That’s the feeling I was after. Sophistication with edge.”
Another space was designed to mimic a luxury spa, calming, cohesive, and classy.
“That’s the beauty of Kohler’s collection,” she said. “The fixtures have weight and integrity. They’re versatile, you can take one piece and style it in five different ways.”
Paisley-Clare’s work often challenges the local norm.
“Many Jamaicans play it safe with neutral colours, similar cabinetry, same tiles. But even within that, you can inject personality. It’s in the fixtures, the finishes, the hardware choices” she said.
Her designs suggest that bold doesn’t have to be loud.
“You don’t need neon to make a statement. A navy vanity, brass fixtures, an unexpected tile shape — those are the things that make people stop and say, ‘I never thought of that, but I love it.’”
To those dreaming of a design career but unsure where to begin, Paisley-Clare offers grounded encouragement: “It’s okay to be scared at first. But the more you do, the more confident you become. Start small, learn and ask questions.”
Sometimes the most iconic designs don’t come from a blueprint — but from listening to the space, the client, and your own creative instincts.
