Jamie “Finalformla” Interview
Welcome back to another installment of our creator series!
As always, the heart of this series is to spotlight creators who inspire us to look at our homes with fresh eyes and new perspective. In this feature, we’re excited to introduce Jamie, the creative mind behind finalformla. Through a blend of interiors, photography, and storytelling, Jamie is carving out a unique voice in the interior design community.
Who is Finalformla?
Jamie’s story begins in the Bay Area, but has called Los Angeles home for the past seven years. He describes himself first as a family man, but just as strongly as a creative at heart. His path has been anything but linear, shaped by a mix of professional work, family life, and the pull of artistic expression. He explains: “I’ve always been drawn to different forms of self-expression—whether it’s music production, visual art, collecting, or most recently, photography and interior design.”
By day, Jamie works as a hospital operations manager. But as he puts it, every free moment is dedicated to building his creative platform. He acknowledges the balancing act between raising a family, managing a career, and pursuing a passion project. “Life is full and busy—raising a family with my partner and pursuing this side passion—but I’m grateful. This past year has brought some incredible opportunities, and I’m excited to keep growing from here.” It’s clear that finalformla is more than a page—it’s a reflection of Jamie’s values, creativity, and daily life.
Home Decor Journey
For Jamie, his love for design began with an awareness of how environment shapes emotion. Growing up, he moved frequently with his mother, and though resources were limited, those experiences shaped how he approaches creating spaces today. “I’ve always been very aware of my surroundings—not because I grew up with a lot, but because I often had to make the most of what we had. My mom and I moved around quite a bit, and while she did her best, our spaces didn’t always feel like ‘home.’ That made me hyper-aware of how environment affects comfort and stability.”
Even as a child, Jamie would find ways to take control of his environment, using his passion to create a sense of comfort and consistency. “I remember coming home from middle school and rearranging furniture or reorganizing kitchen cabinets—small ways to create a sense of control and normalcy. My mom had a unique sense of style that definitely rubbed off on me—our home was always filled with plants and interesting flea market finds.” As an adult, that awareness deepened into a passion. He says it wasn’t until his later in his life that he started collecting furniture. “I moved out at a young age, but it wasn’t until my 30s, when I began collecting furniture, that I really started to appreciate design on a deeper level. That’s when I began paying close attention to how arrangement, color, and texture can work together to create balance and harmony in a space.”
His journey shows that design often comes from lived experience, and that even small moments can spark lifelong passions.
Finalformla the Content Creator
Jamie’s creativity has taken many forms. Before interiors, his energy was poured into music production. He even released electronic tracks under the alias “USER DELUSION” and began performing DJ sets around Los Angeles. But life had shifted and so did his creative focus. “Before I started finalformla, my creative focus was music—I produced electronic tracks under the alias USER DELUSION and was beginning to get DJ gigs around LA. A younger version of me would’ve jumped at those opportunities, but by then, I was a new father and a few years into sobriety. That lifestyle just didn’t align with who I was becoming.”
Jamie adds “Around that time, I found myself drawn to the beautifully curated spaces I was seeing on Instagram. I started exploring interior design more seriously and quickly realized that creativity doesn’t have to stay in one lane. For me, design felt just as fulfilling as making music—it came from the same place. Whether I’m building a sound or styling a room, I’m chasing that same sense of harmony and expression.”
When he began documenting his own design journey, the growth was slow but steady. Things accelerated once he picked up a Fujifilm camera, opening an entirely new creative outlet. “I’d always admired film photography through friends in SF, but I never expected to pick it up myself. Once I did, it opened a new creative outlet and helped the page gain visibility. I was lucky to catch the attention of creators and pages I really respect, like @white__sage and @11.990904 and a repost from @ericallenluis gave the account a major boost.”
Looking ahead, Jamie envisions finalformla as more than a passion project. “While I try not to get caught up in metrics, my goal is to grow finalformla into something more sustainable—an outlet where I can continue to create and eventually generate meaningful income to support my family, whether through brand partnerships, photography work, or other creative collaborations.”
Inside the Home
Every home tells a story about the person who lives there, and Jamie’s apartment is no exception. His space is a thoughtful reflection of the design styles that inspire him, carefully layered with pieces that feel both intentional and personal. Rather than leaning into a single aesthetic, Jamie embraces variety—drawing from multiple design movements to create a home that feels dynamic yet cohesive.
“I appreciate a range of design styles, from modernism and mid-century to brutalism. When selecting pieces for our home, I strive to balance these influences and curate items that truly resonate with me. Living in an apartment means we have to be intentional with space, so form and function are always top priorities. I’m also mindful of maintaining aesthetic cohesion—since we live in a newer building, too many vintage pieces might feel out of place.”
That balance between form and function drives many of his design choices. Practicality comes first, but never at the expense of character. He often looks for creative ways to add warmth and texture to the clean lines of a newer apartment, keeping the atmosphere approachable and lived-in.
Art is another key element. While original works are a long-term goal, Jamie has already found meaningful ways to bring color and vibrancy into his space. “While I’d love to invest more in original art, I’ve been fortunate to collaborate with great companies that have gifted me beautiful prints to add some color to our space.”
Beyond curated prints, it’s often the smaller, more personal objects that give his home its soul. Jamie treasures items passed down from his father and those collected through his own creative journey. “For me, the most sentimental elements are often the small, irreplaceable details—like the original punk flyers passed down from my dad, including works by Raymond Pettibon, one of my favorite artists. Unique chairs, books and ceramics also play a big role in creating a warm, lived-in atmosphere.”
This layered approach—combining art, vintage finds, and personal mementos—has helped his apartment evolve into something far beyond its original blank canvas. Looking ahead, Jamie is already imagining what the next chapter of his home might look like. “If you look through my page, you’ll see the evolution of our space. We’ve done a lot with what we have, but we’re currently searching for a new home with more vintage character—something like a Spanish or Art Deco style in LA. Stay tuned!”
For now, his apartment is a living document of his creative eye and resourceful spirit, but the search for a new home signals an exciting next stage—one that promises even more personality and depth.
Advice to You!
As we closed our conversation, Jamie reflected on the lessons he’s learned both as a designer and as a content creator. For anyone beginning their design journey, his advice is simple: start with inspiration, not imitation. “For anyone starting out, my first piece of advice is to create a space that truly inspires you. It’s easy to fall into the trap of copying trends or mimicking what’s popular on social media—I’ve been there myself. But you don’t need to own an IKEA enetri shelf or follow the crowd to make your home meaningful. Instead, ask yourself: What kind of space do I want to wake up to every day? What does my lifestyle require? How can I design a home that’s both beautiful and functional?”
He encourages mixing vintage and new pieces, and embracing the “weird” or unconventional when it comes to art. “I recommend mixing vintage finds for character with new pieces that meet your needs. And when it comes to art—don’t be afraid to embrace the ‘weird’ or unconventional; that’s what makes a space uniquely yours.”
For aspiring creators, he stresses persistence and authenticity. “The key is simply to start and be willing to make mistakes. I still cringe looking back at some of my early posts, but those moments have helped me grow and refine my content. If you want to collaborate with brands, don’t hesitate to reach out. My biggest partnership started with a simple DM and a lot of persistence. Remember, there’s always someone out there working twice as hard with half your potential—so don’t sell yourself short.”
We’re grateful to Jamie for sharing his journey, both in design and content creation. His story reminds us that creativity can take many forms, and that a home is never finished—it grows alongside us. While you wait for the next installment in the series, make sure to check out some of our favorite table lamps! Until next time.
