After nearly three decades away, award-winning interior designer Jennifer (Karatchuk) Proctor has returned to her hometown of Arborg — not just to reconnect with family but to bring home a career built on national-level experience, sustainable design and a growing passion for tiny-home living.
Interior designer Jennifer (Karatchuk) Proctor has returned to her hometown of Arborg, bringing home an award-winning career in sustainable design with a focus on tiny homes and minimalist living
Proctor, a graduate of Yorkville University with a bachelor’s degree in interior design, is the founder of JP Designs, an award-winning business she launched in Atlantic Canada during the pandemic. Her specialty in tiny homes, minimalist living and downsizing has earned recognition across the country — and now, she sees strong potential for that work to take root in rural Manitoba.
“It’s been 28 years since I moved away from Manitoba,” Proctor said. “I spent 23 years in Calgary, built a successful career in oil and gas, and eventually met my husband. But even with professional success, something felt missing. I didn’t feel fulfilled.”
That turning point came in 2009, when Proctor built a home in Calgary from the ground up. Without formal design training at the time, she immersed herself in every detail — reworking layouts, collaborating with the builder and designing custom features.
“I realized I had a natural talent and passion for design,” she said. “I looked forward to every meeting. That’s when it clicked.”
In 2017, with encouragement from her husband, Proctor made what she calls a terrifying but life-changing decision: returning to school full time in her 40s to earn her degree in interior design.
“I almost backed out three times,” she said with a laugh. “But it was the best decision I’ve ever made. This is truly what I was meant to do.”
Before even graduating, Proctor won her first professional award in 2020 for universal bathroom design — confirmation, she said, that she was on the right path.
After relocating to Nova Scotia, Proctor launched JP Designs in Halifax during the COVID-19 pandemic — something she never expected to do.
“I always thought I’d work for a large architectural firm,” she said. “If anyone asked whether I’d start my own business, I always said no. And here we are, five years later.”
Her niche soon emerged organically. While driving along the Bedford Highway in Nova Scotia, Proctor became fascinated by rows of shipping containers and began exploring their potential as residential and commercial spaces. That curiosity evolved into container-based designs and, eventually, tiny homes.
Her work has included container retail shops and crew spaces for the Area506 project in New Brunswick, as well as a large container home and stair tower designed for well-known YouTubers. Her designs and renderings have been featured on Atlantic Canadian television news.
“With my LEED certification, I truly believe small-scale living is the future,” she said. “It reduces environmental impact and makes housing more affordable. Large homes are becoming out of reach, and many people don’t want them anymore.”
Proctor said misconceptions about tiny homes remain common.
“People think they’re cramped or lack style,” she said. “But with thoughtful layouts, multifunctional furniture and smart storage, they can feel open, beautiful and highly functional. Living small can feel big — if it’s designed right.”
Her return to Manitoba, she said, has been deeply emotional.
“After years in Halifax and Seabright, we never truly felt at peace,” she said. “We missed family and small-town life more than we realized. When we crossed the Manitoba border, it hit me. I cried almost the entire drive to my parents’ place.”
She and her husband are currently staying with her parents in Arborg, where she has been reconnecting with familiar places like Riverton and sharing those roots with him.
From a professional standpoint, Proctor sees Manitoba — particularly rural communities — as fertile ground for tiny-home and downsizing projects. Compared to Atlantic Canada, where she found regulations around tiny and container homes restrictive, she says Manitoba is more open and more affordable.
“There are already tiny homes being built here,” she said. “With thoughtful design, these homes can support aging-in-place, affordability and sustainability — especially in rural areas.”
Designing for rural clients, she added, brings different considerations than urban or coastal markets.
“There’s often more land, which opens up possibilities for outdoor living and creative layouts,” she said. “But there are also infrastructure considerations — septic systems, wells, off-grid energy. Climate plays a huge role too.”
Across all regions, Proctor said her design philosophy remains consistent: creating spaces that foster connection.
“Every layout is intentional,” she said. “My goal is to design spaces that don’t just look good but enrich how people live and connect.”
While she plans to remain in Arborg until February, Proctor said interest in her work has already begun locally.
“I’m already starting to gain a few clients here, which has been really encouraging,” she said. “There’s still a lot to navigate, but my husband and I will decide whether Winnipeg or Stonewall becomes our permanent home. Growing my own business here is what I truly want to focus on and pursue.”
For Manitobans considering downsizing or building a tiny home, Proctor’s advice is simple.
“Don’t see it as a limitation,” she said. “See it as an opportunity. With the right design, you don’t have to compromise on comfort or style. Downsizing lets you focus on what really matters — and that kind of freedom is powerful.”
For more information, contact Jennifer Proctor, interior designer with JP Designs, at my number is 1-204-290-4275 or visit www.jpdesigns2020.com
