'I can walk into a house and see what it needs' – Jennifer Aniston on why interior design is her top career alternative

Jen may have become a force in the interior industry, in a world beyond the silver screen – here's why she 'thrives' during the process

Jennifer Aniston
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Jennifer Aniston may be instantly associable with Hollywood (or Manhattan's Greenwich Village, considering her role in Friends), but in a different life, she may have shaped the interior industry instead. 

Jen, who resides in an elegant mid-century modern property in Bel Air, recently shared that if she hadn't embarked on an acting career, she would have built on another of her 'passions': interior design. 

'I love putting homes together and creating spaces. I can walk into a house and see what it needs. And it's a fun process,' Jennifer shared with the Wall Street Journal, who asked the actress for her alternative career. 'Some people dread it. It can break up relationships. I thrive during that process.'

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For those who are fans of Jennifer Aniston, her revelation may come as no surprise. The actress often treats followers to various glimpses around her property, designed by architect A. Quincy Jones in 1965, that serves as the ultimate canvas for experimenting with her favorite design trends

Jen worked with designer Stephen Shadley to transform the home into the perfect sanctuary, featuring a retro-style wooden kitchen, her white and brass bathroom (both of which we've already penned a love letter to in recent months), and her tropical wooden porch, seen above.

'If I wasn't an actress, I'd want to be a designer. I love the process,' Jen also previously shared with  AD. There's something about picking out fabrics and finishes that feeds my soul.' 

Alongside designing, Jen also has a thing for decorating homes beyond her Bel Air mansion. Last November, she famously purchased Oprah Winfrey's Montecito farmhouse for $14.8 million, and she also reportedly owned numerous homes, many of which were designed by renowned architects in Beverly Hills and New York. 

However, while Jen may have an impressive property portfolio, she is becoming increasingly 'particular' about the projects she undertakes. 

'There was a time when I thought there was something romantic about picking up and trotting off somewhere different every three months. Now I'm becoming more particular about the projects I take,' she also told the Wall Street Journal. Adding that 'there's nowhere else I want to be.'


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Megan Slack
Head of Celebrity Style News

Megan is the Head of Celebrity Style News at Homes & Gardens. She first joined Future Plc as a News Writer across their interiors titles, including Livingetc and Real Homes, before becoming H&G's News Editor in April 2022. She now leads the Celebrity/ News team. Before joining Future, Megan worked as a News Explainer at The Telegraph, following her MA in International Journalism at the University of Leeds. During her BA in English Literature and Creative Writing, she gained writing experience in the US while studying in New York. Megan also focused on travel writing during her time living in Paris, where she produced content for a French travel site. She currently lives in London with her antique typewriter and an expansive collection of houseplants.