216-496-1192
The Genesis of Freshwater
We began Freshwater Interiors with a singular vision: to craft spaces that breathe the same serenity as the water. Our journey started with our founder, Jenifer Bemis, attending Kent State University studying interior design. She comes from a family of interior designers and florists. Jenifer founded Metropolitan Design Group, Inc. in 2002. In 2025 she was inspired to rebrand for her love of lake living. She, personally, owns a small cottage on Lake Erie. Her friends and clientele introduced her to Portage Lakes.
Our philosophy is rooted in the belief that luxury is not merely about the materials, but the narrative they tell. There is an art and science to interior design. We are not decorators, although that is within our wheelhouse. We work with architects and clients to create furniture plans, lighting plans, material selections, design custom cabinetry, select furniture, art, and accessories. Jenifer is best known as being an expert colorist. We blend the raw honesty of soft brutalism with the fluid grace of editorial modernism, creating environments that are as functional as they are profoundly artistic.
Every project we undertake is a collaborative dialogue between the client and the designer. A client typically knows what they like, they just don't have the knowledge, vision, resources, and contacts to put it all together. On that note, we welcome general contractors and/or design build professionals. We bring expert flooring professionals and custom cabinet makers. Your budget determines what we can achieve. Although we tend to create higher-end spaces, we welcome a wide breadth of projects from single bathrooms to entire homes.
Our only rule: WE TREAT OTHERS HOW WE WANT TO BE TREATED. Kindness and courtesy is a must on both ends. We want to enjoy our clients and the process. We love our country and diversity equally.
Jenifer and her husband, Tom live in Fairlawn Heights with their rescue animals. Tom is an accountant for Summit County and for Freshwater Interiors. They plan on retiring (some day) on the lake.