Local Biz Cast Weekly Spotlight on Business Leaders

Dr. Pete Wohl of The Spine and Health Centers of New Jersey proudly presents the LocalBizCast, a weekly podcast featuring conversations with prominent business owners, entrepreneurs and influencers throughout the area. Tune in every week for new insights, stories, and success strategies from local entrepreneurs making an impact in the community.

From Hollywood Special Effects to Bergen County’s Go-To Faux Artist

In this episode of LocalBizCast, Dr. Pete sits down with Jill Hayden, a wildly talented artist and co-founder of Faux Time Design, whose creative journey is as unexpected as it is inspiring.

Jill started her career in Hollywood special effects, working on projects like Waterworld—yes, that Waterworld. But after experiencing one too many California earthquakes, she packed her bags and headed back to New Jersey. She spent a few years teaching… until maternity leave, a paintbrush, and a conversation with a friend lit the spark that changed everything.

Together they launched Faux Time Design—literally painting out of a garage. Their very first job? A $200 mural in a nursery school. Jill was thrilled to split the money. Her business partner wasn’t—because that $200 became the seed that launched a now-thriving company known for its stunning faux finishes and masterful artistry.

Today, Jill is a true magician with surfaces.
Walls, ceilings, columns, chairs—if it exists, she can transform it.
Wood, stone, marble, metal, textures—there is no pattern she can’t replicate and no technique she won’t master.

Her combination of imagination, technical skill, problem-solving, and pure artistic grit has made her one of the most sought-after faux finish artists in the region. And her story? It’s honest, creative, and full of the entrepreneurial spirit that drives so many of our guests.

In this episode, Jill shares:

• What working in movie special effects taught her about creativity

• How a $200 nursery mural turned into a thriving business

• The artistry and science behind faux finishing

• Why no project intimidates her—and how she “figures it out” every time

• The joy of building something from scratch while raising a family

• What makes Faux Time Design the go-to choice for homeowners and designers

Whether you're a homeowner dreaming up your next project, an artist looking for inspiration, or an entrepreneur starting from your own version of a garage, Jill’s story is going to resonate.