We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Julia & Pierre-Axel Levy & Coulibeuf a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Julia & Pierre-Axel, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Do you take vacations? Why or why not?

Pierre & Julia: With summer approaching, this question feels very relevant. Especially since we just returned from our first real vacation in 4 years: a trip to Italy. 


As designers, travel isn’t just a break, it nurtures our creativity. Being European, it’s important for us to reconnect with our roots. Experiencing the architecture, materials, and craftsmanship abroad gives us fresh inspiration that that we’re excited to bring into our projects.

That said, taking a vacation as a business owner isn’t easy. It requires a lot of planning ahead, and just as much catch-up when you return. Being in a different time zone means you can’t be as responsive, which can feel uncomfortable when you’re used to being very hands-on.

But we’ve found that stepping away is essential. It helps us see our business and our creative direction in a new light. When you’re busy with the day-to-day, you don’t always have time to reflect. Travel gives you that space.
Our advice: don’t wait for the “perfect” time! It probably won’t come. But the return on that time off, both personally and professionally, is absolutely worth it.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

We’re Pierre-Axel and Julia, a husband-and-wife team who met while studying Interior Architecture in France. After graduating, our careers took different directions that eventually led us to where we are today.

Julia worked in commercial and residential design across Europe, while Pierre-Axel focused on creating unique, collectible furniture pieces, which he continues to design from his studios in Los Angeles and Santa Barbara.

Julia: In my interior design work, clients often come to me looking to solve problems. I help them bring both structure and beauty to their homes, which can truly change the way they feel in their space day to day. My goal is to create spaces that make life easier, more organized, and more beautiful. We believe great design should feel effortless, even when it’s working hard behind the scenes.

Pierre: Together we run Closets Etc,a Santa Barbara-based business specializing in custom closets, garage systems, and high-end storage solutions. Every project is unique and made to suit the client’s lifestyle and taste.

We’re proud of the trust we’ve built with our clients and the reputation we’ve earned in the Santa Barbara community. Many of our clients come back for future projects or refer friends and family, which is the greatest compliment we could receive.

Let’s talk M&A – we’d love to hear your about your experience with buying businesses.

Yes, we did! Four years ago, we purchased Closets Etc, an established cabinetry business based in Santa Barbara.

At the time, we were both working in design in Los Angeles and looking for an art studio space for Pierre in the area. That’s when we came across the business and saw a real opportunity. It had a strong local reputation and great potential for growth and modernization.
The acquisition process and transition took nearly a full year. There was a lot to rebuild and reimagine, but that’s exactly what excited us. We saw a solid foundation we could grow from and make our own.

Since taking over, we’ve expanded the design side, introduced modern tools like 3D modeling, built a new showroom, and refined the design process through the lens of our interior architecture experience. We’ve developed strong relationships with local architects and designers, and raised the standard of what we offer—from materials to craftsmanship.

It’s been a challenging and incredibly rewarding journey, that has allowed us to build a business that reflects both our values and our creative vision.

How’d you meet your business partner?

As mentioned earlier, we met while studying at a design school in France.

It’s been both fun and a privilege to watch each other grow over the years, from late-night working on graduation projects to navigating our first jobs and moving abroad.

Today, we run our businesses side by side, combining our individual strengths with a shared design vision. Our professional collaboration is built on mutual respect and a creative connection that continues to evolve with every project we take on together.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.pierre-axel.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/closetsetc_santabarbara/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@gd_lifestyle

Image Credits

RG photos and Cecile Delepière