Summer Décor Inspiration: An Interview with Mary Jeanne Kneen of Kneen & Co
Mary Jeanne Kneen’s home smells of hydrangeas, jasmine, and champagne. A Baobab Pearls White candle burns on her coffee table next to a stunning bouquet of blush hydrangeas and lilac delphina roses perched in a white bisque Nymphenburg coral vase. Mary Jeanne is the picture of cool confidence and timeless sophistication. She’s wearing chic, white cigarette pants, a dazzling top, and a matching sweater wrapped around her shoulders, Connecticut-style. “I get chilly,” she says with a cheeky smile and shoulder shrug.
Mary Jeanne brings all of this edgy elegance and more to Kneen & Co. Having founded Kneen & Co over twenty years ago, she has built lasting relationships with luxury vendors and artisans across the globe. And with each handpicked product, she hopes to bring joy and beauty to everyday living. To celebrate the height of summer, Mary Jeanne has curated a breathtaking array of summer essentials that promise to elevate your seasonal home decor and tabletop.
To gain deeper insights into this exquisite curation, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Mary Jeanne Kneen, the visionary founder. In this blog post, we’ll uncover her summer inspirations, design philosophy, and unique touches that make this summer’s curation truly exceptional.
What inspired your latest summer curation? Were there any specific themes or influences that guided your choices?
I was thinking about warm sunny days, outdoor dining, outdoor walks, and being by a beach. One of the best parts of summer for me is the abundance of flowers available from grocery stores to farmers’ markets. It’s so easy to find them and make your home more beautiful.
For this edit, I wanted splashes of color: bright yellow, pink, and green. This creates a fun, summery style and brings vibrancy to the table.
Do you think of this curation as purely seasonal? Or could these pieces work for other times of year?
I like to think that home decor is like a wardrobe. You have your basics and then can add in beautiful pieces to your existing, evergreen collection. I’ve chosen pieces for my edit that will outlast the summer and seamlessly blend into fall and winter looks. For example, the Saint-Louis Folia Satin Vase is stunning all year round. It looks gorgeous with a vibrant bouquet of flowers and is also elegant without flowers. The vase is slightly frosted and has beautiful cuts to the crystal and is stunning as a standalone piece. Part of the beauty of Kneen & Co is that our products lend themselves to different styles.
How do you like to think about style? What’s the best piece of fashion or design advice you’ve ever received?
Keep it simple with good basics and classic pieces, and liven it up with great accessories. For your wardrobe, buy a great blazer or jacket. Never buy anything you’re not 100% comfortable wearing; you need to feel comfortable to wear it well.
If you love it, that’s all that matters.
What advice would you give about home decor?
If you love it, that’s all that matters. Buy things you can move around in your home. Accessories don’t have to stay in the same place. For example, the Soleil D’Hermès Small Tray is beautiful and versatile. Use it in your kitchen, or put it in your bedroom or powder room and use it for rings or cufflinks.
Can you share a story about one of the standout pieces in the collection?
I absolutely adore the new Hering Berlin AMP collection. It’s just a beautiful glass—sexy, with a hint of color at the bottom. It feels great in your hand, and I love the curve of it. There’s nothing like it out there, and I’m really excited to feature it in amber, though it’s also absolutely gorgeous in midnight blue.
What’s one piece from your collection that you think would be perfect for a summer soirée?
I also love the little mini Saint-Louis Folia lantern. It’s perfect for bringing outside, whether for a dinner or for sharing a glass of wine. It’s tiny, gives off beautiful light (both warm and cool), and adds a lovely ambiance to any situation.
I love the idea of using the white cashmere blanket from Masserano on cool summer nights. It’s perfect for wrapping yourself outdoors or indoors after dinner, cozying up by a fire, or watching a movie. It’s a beautiful color that works well with any decor or season.
What about for a summer brunch?
I also adore the new Mimosa dinnerware from JL Coquet. It’s a standout—a truly beautiful, warm, and sunny collection. I see it as the perfect breakfast service—getting up and having your breakfast with it really says summer, and that makes me happy.
Do you have any favorite items for hosting or entertaining guests?
The Lobmeyr Night Set is great for when people come to visit and stay in the guest room. It’s a lovely touch to have water available, and it’s a nice accent for your guest room.
The R+D.Lab Helg tumblers are perfect everyday glasses for me. They go in the dishwasher and fit beautifully in your hand. I use them daily, and they’re great for any summer vacation home.
The Lobmeyr No. 4 Monogram (Pearl) glasses aren’t necessarily for everyday use, but they’re perfect for special occasions or to elevate casual dinners. They are versatile and work for water or wine—I would love to drink rosé from them.
Another standout is the Nymphenburg Moth Votive. It’s a perfect accent for outdoor or indoor tables. It lights a table up beautifully.
Do you have any gifts that you would recommend to give to hosts?
Many of these pieces would make excellent gifts, such as the Augarten lemon box or baguette, which can hold wrapped candy or actual food. I gave the baguette to my husband, and he immediately filled it with butter. He was so happy.
I also love our new Baobab candles. They smell delicious but not overpowering, and the containers and glass are beautiful enough to keep and used later for flowers. The Baobab Pearls White candle is beautiful and can be used in any room.
For a cook, we have various Libeco small kitchen towels, made of Belgian flax. They’re super absorbent, chic, and practical.
The Printery stationary is great too. I especially love the dragonfly motif—dragonflies remind me of summer, whether in the garden or on the golf course.
What’s your go-to summer accessory that you never leave home without?
ISDIN sunscreen and a pair of sunglasses.
Can you share a fun fact or a little-known secret about yourself that your customers might not know?
I speak fluent German—I lived in Germany for 8 years.
Huge thank you to Mary Jeanne Kneen!
This is giving me so many ideas!
Thank you Amy!