Mother Stories
The Teen Room: Jess Brown And Her 15-Year-Old Son, Tiger
Written by Katie Hintz-Zambrano
Photography by Photographed by Michelle Drewes
Dec 1, 2016
Jess Brown is a woman who inspires us for several reasons. Not only does she run two successful businesses—both a womenswear label and a famed rag doll collection—she’s also the mother to two incredible teenagers, Stella, 18, and Tiger, 15. Here, the multi-tasking mama opens up the doors to Tiger’s teen-tastic room, recently revamped thanks to RH TEEN. The third in our series on the teen bedroom (take a look inside Sheri Evans and Sasha Berliner’s home, as well as Wendy and Logan Polish’s abode), it’s also the first time we’ve profiled the room of a boy. Step right in to see it in all its glory, as well as read Jess’ thoughts on raising teenagers!
This post is brought to you by Mother + RH TEEN
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- "My room is really comfortable, good for hanging out in, and warm." Laguna 3-Drawer Bed with Panel Headboard, $1699-$2049, RH TEEN. Garment-Dyed Vintage Cotton Bedding Collection, $39-$239, RH TEEN. Illuminated Marquee, $319, RH TEEN. Polyhedron Side Table, $499, RH TEEN. Beckett Task Lamp, $159, RH TEEN. Honeycomb Rug, $779-$2319, RH TEEN. Distressed Canvas Bean Bag Cover, $99, RH TEEN. Custom Brushed Belgian Linen Cotton Flat Roman Shades, RH.
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- "Tiger's room is a very cool, cozy spot that's usually packed with a group of 15-year-olds! The greys keep it really warm and his love of punk rock and skating is really showing through!" Laguna 3-Drawer Bed with Panel Headboard, $1699-$2049, RH TEEN. Garment-Dyed Vintage Cotton Bedding Collection, $39-$239, RH TEEN. Illuminated Marquee, $319, RH TEEN. Polyhedron Side Table, $499, RH TEEN. Beckett Task Lamp, $159, RH TEEN. Honeycomb Rug, $779-$2319, RH TEEN.
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- "I'm really into skateboarding right now. And I've been listening to a lot of punk. I really like the bands The Descendents, Black Flag, Rancid, Bad Religion, and The Clash." Garment-Dyed Vintage Cotton Bedding Collection, $39-$239, RH TEEN.
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- "Well, the eighties in Marin County were kind of a wacky free-for-all for a lot of teenagers. I know I had a lot more freedom then they have. I do see that they're both following the same path of creativity, though. My teenage years were when I defined my own style and began creating my world the way I saw it. They are both doing the same."
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- "Ugh...well, I was 15 in 1985. There was a lot of hot pink and black happening. I think my phone matched my bedding. I'm remembering checkerboard print was involved, it was all very Pat Benetar. Not to mention the Duran Duran posters. The only cool part was the very beginning of my antiquing love had started. I had a great collection of vintage hats that I pinned to my wall. I collected and found them all at the Marin City Flea Market, I would go every Sunday." Laguna Wide Dresser, $1699, RH TEEN. Skate Black & White Photography, $699, RH TEEN. Vintage Surveyor's Tripod Table Lamp Base, $369, RH TEEN. Vintage Trunk Digital Conversion Turntable, $249, RH TEEN. Honeycomb Rug, $779-$2319, RH TEEN.
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- "My room used to have things like Legos and toys, but those have gone away and in their places are things like skateboards and albums." Laguna Wide Dresser, $1699, RH TEEN. Skate Black & White Photography, $699, RH TEEN. Vintage Surveyor's Tripod Table Lamp Base, $369, RH TEEN.
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- "I love my new record player. It has a really nice sound and when the record is finished the arm brings itself back." Vintage Trunk Digital Conversion Turntable, $249, RH TEEN.
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- "My bed and my chair at the desk. Both of those get the most use." Riveted Aluminum Trunk 3-Drawer Desk, $1,549, RH TEEN. Platt Desk Chair, $649, RH TEEN. Vintage Wrench Task Lamp, $189, RH TEEN. Industrial Shadow Box Memory Board, $435, RH TEEN. Modern Metal Letter, $32, RH TEEN. Metal Gallery Frame, $32-$49, RH TEEN. Perforated Metal Desk Accessories, $29-$69, RH TEEN. Marshall Kilburn Speaker, $299, RH TEEN. Perforated Metal Storage, $39-$74, RH TEEN.
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- "I am not positive what I want to be yet, but I'm pretty sure that I want to go into engineering or something in science. Because of my interest in engineering I was thinking of Cal Poly for college." Riveted Aluminum Trunk 3-Drawer Desk, $1,549, RH TEEN. Vintage Wrench Task Lamp, $189, RH TEEN. Industrial Shadow Box Memory Board, $435, RH TEEN. Metal Gallery Frame, $32-$49, RH TEEN. Perforated Metal Storage, $39-$74, RH TEEN.
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- "I have a lot more freedom than before." Industrial Shadow Box Memory Board, $435, RH TEEN.
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- "I love that this lamp is made of wrenches." Vintage Wrench Task Lamp, $189, RH TEEN.
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- "Watching them become who they actually are. You have this idea as a mother of who your children are, you provide them with all of the amazingness you can come up with, and then one day, they begin to reveal themselves in a different way. Not as your child or a part of the family you've created, but as themselves. It's a beautiful thing to see." Perforated Metal Storage, $39-$74, RH TEEN.
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- "Allowing them to make their own mistakes. They have to gain life experience so they can navigate in the future. If we protect them from every stumble, they don't learn. It's so hard, but it's so important. They need to take all you've given them and then work with that to make their own decisions, good or bad." Laguna 3-Drawer Bed with Panel Headboard, $1699-$2049, RH TEEN. Garment-Dyed Vintage Cotton Bedding Collection, $39-$239, RH TEEN. Polyhedron Side Table, $499, RH TEEN. Beckett Task Lamp, $159, RH TEEN. Honeycomb Rug, $779-$2319, RH TEEN. Distressed Canvas Bean Bag Cover, $99, RH TEEN. Laguna Wide Dresser, $1699, RH TEEN.
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- "She's cool and she's always there for me." Polyhedron Side Table, $499, RH TEEN. Beckett Task Lamp, $159, RH TEEN. Distressed Canvas Bean Bag Cover, $99, RH TEEN. Laguna Wide Dresser, $1699, RH TEEN.
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- "Everyone is allowed in my room." Laguna 3-Drawer Bed with Panel Headboard, $1699-$2049, RH TEEN. Garment-Dyed Vintage Cotton Bedding Collection, $39-$239, RH TEEN. Illuminated Marquee, $319, RH TEEN. Polyhedron Side Table, $499, RH TEEN. Beckett Task Lamp, $159, RH TEEN. Honeycomb Rug, $779-$2319, RH TEEN.
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- "Well, Tiger has some really clear goals for himself. He's a very focused kid and I know he will do amazing things. Selfishly, Tiger leaving will be tough since he's the youngest. We are really aware of how quickly teenage years are moving. I want to make sure I'm very present for him over these next four years." Distressed Canvas Bean Bag Cover, $99, RH TEEN. Laguna Wide Dresser, $1699, RH TEEN. Vintage Surveyor's Tripod Table Lamp Base, $369, RH TEEN.
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- The fifth member of the fam. Garment-Dyed Vintage Cotton Bedding Collection, $39-$239, RH TEEN.
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- "My biggest fear was that we would all be fighting constantly, that we would be struggling over boundaries and have a very unpleasant home. I was worried that family time would have a bad vibe. I think for the most part we've kept it pretty cool around here. Of course we've had some pretty Lifetime-worthy moments here and there, but I've learned to choose my battles. I'd rather let the messy room argument go then lose out on the really important conversations and laughter we get in its place." Laguna 3-Drawer Bed with Panel Headboard, $1699-$2049, RH TEEN. Garment-Dyed Vintage Cotton Bedding Collection, $39-$239, RH TEEN. Illuminated Marquee, $319, RH TEEN. Beckett Task Lamp, $159, RH TEEN.
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- Two generations of punk fandom. Garment-Dyed Vintage Cotton Bedding Collection, $39-$239, RH TEEN.
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- "Different. Easier in a lot of ways. They are independent, creative, and very very cool people. Hanging out with them and not constantly feeling like every moment is a teaching moment is a huge relief. It's harder in a lot of ways, too, but that's just the selfish part. As a mother you have to let go of your control a little bit everyday. It feels so odd."
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- Mama-son love.
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- "Ride the wave! Parenting teens takes you for a crazy ride. You really get tossed around. Don't be rigid, be clear and consistent but not rigid. They absolutely have to learn from experience. Be present and an active sounding board. Give boundaries that make sense. Use common sense. Don't go through the teenage years all over again with them. Love them...this is when they show you who they are. Don't waste your time making them into who you wanted them to be or who you thought they were. Soak it up, it goes really fast."
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