Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennessy Espinosa.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’ve always been drawn to objects with history. The fingerprints of past lives on silver, the quiet poetry of old glass, the charm in a hand-stitched edge. For years I collected pieces for my home and for friends, and I realized the best rooms felt like stories you could sit inside. Twelve Fourteen grew from that feeling: a desire to share soulful, well-made pieces and to make “vintage” feel warm, elevated, and deeply personal.
I started small, sourcing on weekends, cleaning and cataloging at my kitchen table, and posting to Instagram. The response from my community was immediate and humbling. People weren’t just buying; they were sharing their memories: a grandmother’s dish, a mirror that felt like home. That confirmed my mission: curated objects with soul and story.
Very early on, I decided to build Twelve Fourteen around themed, artful collections rather than random drops. Each release is a little world! Palette, textures, metals, purposeful references so pieces relate to one another and to the feeling we’re trying to create in a space. Over the last year I’ve launched multiple edits (and celebrated our one-year anniversary with “In Reflection,” a nod to every collection that brought us here) and collaborated with designers, including “The Riviera Edit” with Girls Who Do Interiors.
As the brand grew, clients began asking for help styling gatherings and shoots, so I built a vintage rental collection. Silver trays, glassware, candleholders, statement serve ware so hosts and creatives could bring that layered, heirloom feel to their tables without having to own it all. I love watching a room change when you add candlelight to old metal or serve oysters from a heavy silver bowl. Hosting becomes art.
None of it has been instant or easy. I’ve learned logistics, restoration, pricing, shipping, website building, and how to protect creative time. I’ve done dawn flea markets, late-night polishing, and many “back to the drawing board” moments. But the work is joyful. The community that has gathered around Twelve Fourteen. Clients, fellow vendors, designers, family and friends has been the heartbeat. They share leads, cheer on launches, and show me how these pieces live on in their homes.
Today, Twelve Fourteen is equal parts curation, creative direction, and hospitality: themed vintage collections, a growing rental catalog for events, thoughtful collaborations, and a community based presence online. At the core is the same belief I started with, homes and tables feel different when they include objects with a past. My hope is that what I collect becomes part of someone else’s future story.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Definitely not a perfectly smooth road but I think that’s true for most creative businesses. Twelve Fourteen started as a passion project, and turning something so personal into a functioning business came with a lot of learning curves.
One of the biggest challenges was figuring out how to balance the artistic side of the brand with the operational side. I love the sourcing, the styling, the storytelling. That part feels natural to me but running a business meant learning everything else: pricing, inventory management, shipping materials, website building, taxes, vendor communication, and managing my time in a way that didn’t burn me out. There were moments in the beginning where it felt overwhelming, like I was learning twelve jobs at once.
Another struggle was confidence. Letting myself take up space in an industry I admired from afar. Vintage sourcing and interior styling can feel intimidating, especially when you’re building your own lane. I had to learn to trust my eye, trust my curation, and trust that there’s room for a brand built on intention rather than volume.
There were also practical challenges: sourcing quality vintage in consistent quantities, navigating rising shipping costs, dealing with fragile items breaking in transit, and scaling collections when so much of what I offer is one-of-a-kind. Growing the rental side added new layers. Logistics, storage, refinishing older pieces, and creating systems for pickups, drop-offs, and event timelines. But every challenge pushed me to refine my vision. I learned to slow down, to plan, to adapt, and to ask for help when needed. Most importantly, I learned to see struggles as part of the brand’s evolution. They shaped Twelve Fourteen into something more resilient, more intentional, and more aligned with the way I truly want to show up in this space.
Even in the harder seasons, the joy of what I do and the community around Twelve Fourteen has always outweighed the challenges.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Twelve Fourteen Vintage?
Twelve Fourteen Vintage is a curated world built around the beauty of collected objects, intentional design, and the art of hosting. At its heart, it’s a brand rooted in nostalgia, where every piece has a past, every detail matters, and every collection tells a story. I source vintage home décor, servingware, tableware, and heirloom-style pieces that feel soulful, cinematic, and full of character.
What I’m most known for is my thematic drops. Curated collections that feel like tiny universes. Each edit is inspired by a mood, a place, a season, or a story: a coastal afternoon, an Italian summer, a romantic dinner table, a holiday gathering. Instead of selling random one-offs, I approach curation the way an art director would approach a scene. Thoughtfully, cohesively, and with emotion. That’s something that sets Twelve Fourteen apart. It’s more than a shop; it’s an experience, a feeling, and a point of view.
Alongside the collections, I also offer a Vintage Rental Collection created specifically for events, photoshoots, weddings, dinner parties, and creative projects. This side of the business has grown into something I’m incredibly proud of. It allows clients to weave vintage magic into their gatherings without having to source everything themselves. From silver serving trays and champagne buckets to linens, glassware, and table décor; rentals let people bring a touch of timelessness to their special moments.
What I’m proudest of, brand-wise, is staying true to intention over trend. The Twelve Fourteen community values slow collecting, meaningful objects, and the beauty of mixing eras. They appreciate the charm in patina, the history in craftsmanship, and the stories these pieces hold. That connection, to the objects and to each other, is what inspires every collection I build.
For readers discovering Twelve Fourteen Vintage for the first time, I’d want them to know this: I’m not just curating objects, I’m curating atmosphere. I’m creating pieces and collections that elevate everyday rituals, make hosting feel artful, and turn a simple table into a scene you’ll remember. Whether someone is shopping a collection, sourcing a unique gift, renting for an event, or seeking styling inspiration, my goal is always the same; to help people bring soul, beauty, and story into their spaces. Twelve Fourteen is for the collectors, the hosts, the romantics, the detail lovers, and anyone who believes that the objects we live with should mean something.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
I’d love to share that Twelve Fourteen Vintage isn’t meant to be experienced only online. Whenever possible, I participate in local pop-up markets and vintage events throughout South Florida. These in-person days are some of my favorites. There’s something so special about seeing people connect with the pieces, hearing their own memories sparked by an object, and meeting fellow vintage lovers face-to-face. If you ever see Twelve Fourteen at a market, please stop by! I truly cherish those moments of community.
I also encourage anyone who feels connected to the brand to join the Twelve Fourteen newsletter. It’s where I share upcoming collections, early access to drops, behind-the-scenes notes, hosting inspiration, and opportunities to collaborate. Community is the heart of Twelve Fourteen. This brand has grown because of the people who love vintage, who appreciate artful living, and who believe in giving objects a second life.
My hope is to continue building a space where collectors, hosts, and creatives can feel inspired, supported, and part of something meaningful. Thank you for being here and for allowing me to share a little piece of my world.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.twelvefourteenvintage.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/1214vintage/
- Other: https://twelvefourteenvintag.etsy.com
Image Credits
Girls Who Do Interiors (in the group picture)
Christal Gines (Styled bar was part of her interior design project)
