We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Julie Smith. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Julie below.

Julie, appreciate you joining us today. What was the most important lesson/experience you had in a job that has helped you in your professional career?

As a former Fashion Designer, attention to detail was crucial. In a world where 1/4″ means a different size, we were taught to take note of the tiniest of details. As in Interior Design, we needed to use both the creative part as well as the mathematical parts of the brain to create a successful product. This has helped my transition into interiors both as a Designer as well as a Business Owner. Being able to make a space look “pretty” is only one parameter in design. First and foremost it needs to function to the clients’ needs, be scaled appropriately, fit into some sort of budget, hold up to everyday life and then yes, look better than they could have imagined. There are many moving parts that make a space feel curated and effortless. As a Business Owner, this must all be achieved within an agreed upon time frame with clear deliverables, while keeping track of all the details (including space planning, construction as well as finishes) and running a design studio.. oh and employees… can’t forget about those guys! Running an Interior Design business is not for the faint of heart and can feel “heavy” more often than not. With all these moving parts, my time in the Fashion Industry has taught me to take the overwhelmingly large picture and break it down into bite size tasks. My creative days are fueled by my love for all things design while my back office days are fueled by coffee and an amazingly supportive left brain dominant team.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers?

I was born and raised in New York and have been in love with most aspects of design my entire life. As a young child I spent many hours in my mother’s closet playing with her high boots and fur coats. I would “re design” her belts with new (and what I still think of) improved buckles that I would “find” in my father’s closet or random thrift shops. I come from a family of Doctors/Engineers so this was an entirely brand new experience for my left brain parents. I went on to study both Business as well as Fashion Design and worked at companies such as Saks Fifth Corporate as a buyer, Converse and even Rusty (remember that surf brand?) as a Clothing Designer. My mother all the while was buying homes, fixing them up and selling them. She did multiple homes at a time and fell in love with the construction process… go figure. Moving from NYC to San Diego in 2009 marked the end of my fashion career and the beginning of the rest of my career life in Interiors. I have spent much of my career in Interior Design bringing both items and spaces that are functional but curated. I geek out on space planning, figuring out the technical details (plumbing, electrical and millwork – which is my very favorite) and providing clients with a creative, curated result that is cohesive with a side of something different/new. I will never stop growing and evolving. I am constantly thinking of ways to better my craft. I am one of the lucky ones that gets to do what I absolutely love so I owe my clients the knowledge, experience and expertise to do
it right. I am proud of how far this design firm has come in a short amount of time and look forward to evolving into different aspects of the industry.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Everyday is a blank canvas, a new challenge. I am so fortunate to make a living by dreaming big. Do not mistake it however, with every out of the box space or piece of furniture that we dream up comes the question of how the heck do we build it and fit it into the budget? I have always been so inspired by NYC, my home. In my many years as a Clothing Designer living in the city, you would have found me in the middle of Union Square watching people, what they were wearing and how it made them feel. It was constant inspiration to me and I was lucky to be able to translate that inspiration into new shapes and silhouettes that were sold worldwide. Seeing someone enjoy what I have created is the biggest reward both in Fashion and especially in Interiors.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Yes, absolutely. I have this insatiable inner drive that sometimes keeps me from celebrating the small victories because I have not yet shown all of what I have brewing inside. It is my greatest gift and my biggest downfall wrapped into a ball of intensity and passion for my craft. I strive to keep evolving as a Designer as well as a Business Owner. My mission is to design a home that shows all of this in every last detail before I can rest. I have so much more to give, I have no idea when or if this journey will end.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.julacoledesign.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jula_cole_design/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-smith-2a538812/

Image Credits
Samantha Goh, Nader Essa