
At Home With Jenny Sung, L.A. Mother Of 2 & Founder Of Gjenmi
Written by Katie Hintz-Zambrano
Photography by Photographed by Nicki Sebastian
While L.A. mama Jenny Sung might surround herself with glittering things all day (via her fine jewelry line, Gjenmi), what we love most about her is her down-to-earth approach to life and motherhood. Below, the mother of two adorable littles (Luna, 4, and Theo, 6) invites us into her Eagle Rock home, which is filled with thoughtful treasures from fellow indie makers, alongside equally artful kid-created messes. Follow along as she takes us through her inspiring space and fills us in on her L.A. roots as the middle child of Korean-American immigrant parents, her own parenting style (including eschewing gender norms), and her very personal efforts to #StopAAPIHate.
- "Our home is in Eagle Rock, Los Angeles. We live in a little neighborhood called Verdugo Village. We have lived here for 8 years now and we love our community."
- Big brother Theo, almost 7, showing us around.
- A pillow by Block Shop Textiles sits on top of a vintage chair.
- Pretty ceramics line the fireplace, including a Love Sign Hand by Dorien Garry and vase by Rami Kim.
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"I lean towards a lot of obvious neutrals. Probably because I’m not always confident in interior design. I buy what I like, but it doesn’t always work out since I’m not someone who measures or thinks about a spot that needs something new. Since the pandemic, my design and purchasing process has changed from in real life flea market purchases to a lot of online vintage finds or supporting local small businesses for home goods."
Ceramics by Mt. Washington Pottery and Elenor Bostrom, and candle by Roen.
- Ceramics by Sara McLean and Dorien Garry. Light by Noguchi.
- A wood squiggle by Katie Gong adorns the wall, near a Noguchi light.
- Jenny's bright, white kitchen space.
- "It's an insane mess! Always a mess. but we try to keep things somewhat organized for everyone’s sanity. I recently purchased new bedsheets for Luna and Theo from Roux and they love them! They call them their 'cool grown-up sheets.' We have seasonal art they get to put up and we try to keep it colorful and fun."
- Luna, 4, rests on a comfy stack of textiles by Roux and Sheltered Co. Wall art by Katie Kimmel.
- Jenny wears joggers by Metamorphosis Studio and Gjenmi jewelry. Luna wears PJs by Hey Gang and carries a stuffie from Merci Milo.
- "Absolutely. To be frank, I never had much time or put much thought or efforts into making our home exactly what I wanted for us. But quarantine really made me re-think the way I looked and shopped for our home—especially since we were spending so much time at home last year. I started buying from retailers that I personally knew and wanted to support, I bought better, long-lasting items rather than inexpensive, lower quality things. I really shifted from this mindset of 'go, go, go, go' and had the opportunity to slow down and re-evaluate not only the way our home looked and felt but also everything else in my life."
- "I’m most excited to see the kids grow up. I’m so curious about who they are and who they will become. They’re at an age where conversation can flow easier and I’m consistently in awe of them and am very proud of the little human beings they already are."
- "I guess my own failings/disappointments make me nervous. My own self doubt of parenthood is always lurking in the back of my mind. Am I too overbearing? Am I too chill and relaxed? Do I care enough? Do I care too much? The struggle of balance and giving the kids the space and opportunity to grow and learn on their own will be something I will always worry and think about."
- The sweetest embrace.
- Sweet built-in shelves to hold all of Theo and Luna's special things.
- "No. Ironically, I never had much interest in children prior to having my own. Ha!"
- Doggy piles on mom are the best.
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"It's small, but my sanctuary! My room is a tight squeeze, even tighter for a king bed, at that. It's pretty calming and neutral in my room. I have pops of small color and try to keep my room as a boundary for me and the kids. They know when I need to wind down or need a few minutes of space, I’ll usually retreat to my room to clear my head. I also have wonderful french doors that lead to the deck where I can sneak in a CBD (or THC) puff after I put the kids down for bed. Edie Parker has great CBD products that I carry in my store."
Weighted blanket by Sheltered Co.
- "My favorite piece is my BZIPPY side table. It's functional, feminine, and a beautiful piece of art that I know I will cherish and admire for many years to come. I’ve come to realize that I enjoy having pieces of furniture, art, ceramics (basically anything of use) from designers and artists I know. It’s always a nice afterthought."
- Beauty and bauble essentials.
- Delicate pieces from Jenny's line, Gjenmi.
- "My upbringing was pretty much the stereotypical immigrant story. My parents worked incredibly hard for our family. For as long as I can remember they have always been entrepreneurs and showed me what hard work and dedication was from a very young age. We grew up in Arcadia for most of our childhood. I have two siblings: Jane, the first born, and Joeanne, the youngest. Middle child syndrome!"
- "My parenting style changed and evolved very much after having Luna. I felt way more relaxed and confident after experiencing parenthood with Theodore. My husband is way more relaxed as a father, but has a very competitive spirit, which I appreciate since I don't possess that at all."
- Siblings being siblings.
- Time to take it outside!
- Jenny wears her dad's hand-me-down Harley-Davidson tee, Gjenmi jewelry, and Beek by Two Birds sandals.
- "Luna is 4 and Theo is 6, but they’re turning 5 and 7 this year, so I’m constantly being reminded that they’re almost 5 and 7. Theodore likes Pokémon, The Magic School Bus, skateboarding, riding his bike, Beyblades, and now he’s dipping his toe into Minecraft. Luna likes My Little Pony, Pokémon, Elsa and Anna, and I’ve just started to introduce original Disney princess movies to her and she’s not as excited as Theodore about it. It's really fun to see what they both gravitate to, especially since we really try to offer everything to both the kids without the 'gender norms.'"
- The family's values—and artwork—loud and proud.
- "We didn’t find out the sex for Theodore (hence his hashtag #peanutpak), but for Luna, we found out."
- "Yes. We 'try' to not watch TV during the week. And if we have a work call or Zoom meeting we have to attend, the kids are allowed an educational show each (it buys us about an hour). Theo will usually watch Wild Kratts and Luna will watch Daniel Tiger. The iPad is strictly for Zoom school. Tiger mom, rawr!"
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"Theo was in kindergarten and Luna was in preschool when the pandemic hit. Early on, my husband and I decided we would split the day in half. No judgement or questions, 9am-12pm one person would be with the children, 1-4 pm the other person would take over."
"I worked/emailed/made jewelry, I worked out…maybe went for a run or I slept. It was a really nice way to figure out some kind of routine and normalcy during quarantine and gave us some space to come up for air as parents and business owners."
- "My role models are always my close friends. The wonderful, beautiful circle of mothers I get to have as my support group have always inspired me to be a better mother and person."
- "Both my husband and I are from Los Angeles, so this is our home. We love it here, and love how the beach, mountains, and desert are just a couple hours away. We love the diversity Los Angeles offers and we’re lucky to be a part of a community that feels like home."
- "Pre-pandemic we went to indoor playgrounds like Peekaboo and Awesome Playground. Pre-pandemic and now during it, we love parks! Especially York Park, Cleland Park, and Yosemite in our neighborhood."
- Sweet ocean life dioramas.
- And more colorful kiddie crafts.
- "Ah, I love this question. I like being a wild card. Fashion has always been a first love of mine and I have been playing with a lot of proportions lately, so I’ve been wearing a lot of oversized/menswear. Sometimes I’ll feel feminine and wear a summer dress with sneakers and the next day I’ll be really refined with a collard shirt and trousers. For me, fashion is a way of expressing yourself—your mood, your inspiration."
- "Ah, yes. For the first couple of years with each child, I really had to invest in some clothing that was easy to rip off so I could breastfeed easily!"
- "As a Korean-American, I’m a firm believer in Korean Beauty. It's typically affordable and they really believe in a lot of TLC for your skin and body. I typically stock up on Korean Beauty on Soko Glam and ask my friend Jeanne Y. Sun for some skincare/makeup tips! For makeup, I’m a 'no makeup, makeup' kind of gal. I love all products Ilia, since green beauty is important to me."
- "In the last year, I’ve realized how much being active means to me. It's really not even for my physical health at this point, but for my mental health. I love working out at my local gym, Metamorphosis Studios, which pivoted quick during the pandemic. They’re currently offering an outdoor experience, which I attend at least 2-3 times a week. When I can’t attend a class, I usually go for a run or grab my racket and rally with a friend at the tennis courts. Being unapologetic about making time for myself and what makes me sane has been a very long journey and I think I’m finally at a place where I understand that if I take care of myself in the way that I need to feel my best, then I get to offer my best self to my family and that is ultimately the best kind of mother I can be."
- "It’s not for the faint of heart. It's a lot of work and tons of commitment. There will be tears and the reward is beyond worth it, but it's not as easy as it appears, especially on social media. The advice I always tell people is 'do not be afraid to ask for help.'"
- "Always! It's a tough one, especially with my Korean-American background and upbringing. Through a lot of talk therapy and self work, I’ve come to realize that the guilt can be inherent if I don't unlearn what I grew up with in my own home as a child and also what society expects from us as mothers."
- The cutest pint-sized style—Luna in Black Crane pants.
- And now, a visit to the Gjenmi Studio space in Highland Park.
- "I own Gjenmi Jewelry. It's a fine jewelry collection made in Los Angeles. I started my self-taught journey when I was pregnant shortly after my own wedding. I had gifted my bridesmaids some necklaces I designed and they started getting popular as gifts in my group of friends. This is how I had the courage to start my own collection and business."
- Jenny wears her dad's old blazer, a vintage t-shirt, vintage Lee's, and Gjenmi jewelry.
- "I worked at my family’s printing company in Downtown Los Angeles. I worked there for about 5 years and learned so much about entrepreneurship from my time there. I studied product development in college and have lived in Los Angeles my whole life."
- "My life is usually inspiration. My travels and experiences, and I incorporate that with the Gjenmi branding. Sometimes I get in creative ruts and need a little jumpstart, but usually it's just depletion in my own self. A little museum, staycation, or flea market trip will usually throw me back into some kind of inspiration."
- In addition to Gjenmi's jewelry collection, the shop has other covetable offerings, including lingerie by Only Hearts.
- "Absolutely. When I’m feeling depleted or uninspired creatively, I’m likely needing some time away from the kids and family and this will often feel guilty for me needing and wanting it."
- "The biggest challenge, in all the ways, was the unknown during the pandemic. It still is. It's been so hard to be a business owner and gauge/navigate business as a whole. My silver lining was to slow down and create what I actually wanted to design and make rather than what stores and trends were wanting every year."
- "Trust no one and check it twice. Follow your heart."
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"I’m currently loving and appreciating a lot of local makers right now. Mt. Washington Pottery (Beth is amazing). Rami Kim Studio (Rami is amazing). Meha Ceramics (April is amazing). And Dorien Garry Studio (Dorien is amazing). All women-owned/local makers…and I clearly have a ceramics problem!"
"For artists, I always tend to lean towards my favorites—Hilma Klint, Louis Bourjois, and some Isamu Noguchi. A lot of O’Keefe lately, since I desperately want to visit New Mexico this year as a solo inspiration trip."
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"This past year has been a year full of transition and self reflection. When George Floyd was murdered last year, I felt so helpless. My heart fell into my stomach and I remember a moment telling my friend how broken I felt. I’ll never forget what she said to me: 'Start from home.' And so I did. I started being really intentional with our books and the conversations I had with my kids."
"Recently, with the violence and hate crimes/murders against the AAPI community, it's hitting in a completely different way. I feel tired, rage, and so much sadness. It feels like the crossroads of white supremacy and the patriarchy are doing anything and everything they can do to get away with this and it feels defeating. What I love is how the AAPI community is standing up and taking space. It's really time for us to share our stories and be unapologetic for demanding what we want and need. I don’t want to live in a world with fear because I am an Asian-American Woman. I’ve recently auctioned with @createtostophate, which is a wonderful way to build awareness and fundraise for @stopaapihate."
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"Being patient and being okay with the unknown/not having control of everything all the time."
Flower by Edie Parker CBD products at the Gjenmi shop.
- For more on Jenny and her brand, be sure to follow @gjenmi and @jennysung on Instagram, and visit gjenmi.com.
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Such a beautiful home, a such lovely jewelry! I would love to know the paint color in the kid’s room – it’s the perfect light blue!
Such a wonderful surprise to see this feature today. Jenny your quarantine hair is SO glam and long! You look great, the kids happy and the house cozy as ever. Thanks for sharing xx LL
Jenny and her family are so beautiful. I loved this feature on one of my favorite jewelry designers!
These photos are gorgeous! I love Jenny. She’s such an inviting and warm person. Her hustle is unparalleled and her parenting is goals. Such a great visual round-up!