Design Ideas

Scout & Nimble On Design

Meet Jesse Bodine, co-founder and chief creative officer of the online home furnishings retailer, as she walks us through her design history — from her most challenging project to what’s next.

For Jesse Bodine, a love of design — especially interior design — was always there. As she shares in this edition of “On Design,” it’s why she waited for bedding catalogs to arrive in the mail; it’s why she asked Santa for furniture; it’s why she begged to wallpaper her room.

And like so many successful endeavors, what started as a passion and a hobby (and in this case, some 15 years ago as a design blog), has turned into a career leading two companies: online home furnishings retailer, Scout & Nimble, and Bodine White, a full-service interior design studio.

In the kitchen of her latest project, a residential new build on a hilly lot in Columbia, Missouri, Bodine shared some of her thoughts on inspiration, why her favorite architectural style is so hard to pin down, and how design impacts everything around us.

Q: What is the most challenging project you've ever taken on?

A: The most challenging project I would have to say, hands down, is this one [her spec home design project in Columbia, MO]. This was one where I didn't have a client I was working for. This is my design style, and it’s really influenced by my childhood, by memories I had. So, it feels a little vulnerable to be sharing my thought process and perspective with the world. But this is really the closest thing to my style.

Q: Where do you get your main sources of inspiration?

A: I used to always think that I got most of my inspiration from travel. And what I've realized is it really is from the presence of just being still and taking notice — whether that's on a walk or just sitting on my back porch watching my bluebirds. I find inspiration just in those quiet moments.

Q: What's your favorite architectural style and why?

A: To say that I have a favorite architectural style is hard. I really do love all styles and I really feel like wherever the house is located is going to influence what architecture I feel is right. But, if I were to hire an architect, it would be Jeffrey Dungan to design and draw my dream home.

Q: How do you know when a project is complete?

A: It's those quiet moments when the last accessory is placed, that I just stand back; it's a feeling. It's a definite feeling of “here it is.” I even go back to those initial conversations — whether it's a year in advance or months in advance — I have that replay from the very beginning of the project. It's really fulfilling. And it’s always why, when I finish a project, I'm like, "When's the next one? Let's go."

Q: What home, building, installation, or piece do you wish you designed or created?

A: Hmm. This is a hard question. It's a fun question. What do I wish I designed? Oh, the thing I wish I would have designed are the patterns in all of William Morris's fabrics.

Q: What does design mean to you?

A: I really feel like it's an experience. I have a strong belief that your surroundings influence your health, your happiness, your wellbeing, your confidence, your interpersonal relationships. So, to me, I want to be surrounded by the things that I deem beautiful — and what that does on the outside and inside is huge. So, I think design is feeling like home, feeling like yourself, and feeling reflected in your surroundings.

Q: When did you know you wanted to become a designer?

A: Even when I was little, I knew that I loved design. I would rearrange my room. My Christmas wish lists were furniture. My favorite thing to do was wait for this bedding magazine that I would flip through. I begged my parents to let me wallpaper my room. So, there were signs, but I didn't have a really great influence of creatives in my life. I had a love of math and sciences, so design ended up being a second career choice for me.

Q: How do you incorporate light, air, and views into your projects?

A: I think there's such a balance to bringing in light and to have edited space — white space — to create balance within a design. I think that is really important. Obviously, windows play a huge role in that, and thinking about how light's going to go, come through, how it's going to feel in the space. I love seeing those light rays come through. I take a lot of time studying plans, studying the position of the house on the lot, in reference to the surroundings. Is your house going to be south-facing or north-facing? There are definitely design details that we tweak to be able to capture the light in the best way.

Q: What's something that people would find surprising about you?

A: I think people would be surprised to know that I was actually a nurse. I graduated with my Bachelor of Science [degree] in nursing.

Q: What's next for you?

A: So, 2026 is going to be really exciting for Scout & Nimble and Bodine White [interior design studio]. We have a lot of exciting projects in the works – and maybe I’ll do another one of these spec homes.

For even more design insight, see Bodine’s conversation with Tim Davis, senior brand ambassador at the Marvin Brand Experience Center in Boston. The two cover everything from finish colors and hardware considerations to window styles and functions, and how each helps guide homeowners, builders, and architects through the processes in their respective roles.

Check out previous “On Design” stories, including Lake + Land Studio, Jessica Williams, She She, and Douglas Friedman.

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