Rising Stars: Meet Julia of Hancock Park

Today we’d like to introduce you to Julia.

Hi Julia, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I come from a family of architects so I was naturally drawn to interior design from an early age. My career started almost two decades ago as an intern at Kelly Wearstler while simultaneously studying interior design at UCLA Extension. After a couple of months I was offered a full-time junior designer position, which felt like a very intense crash course in interior design. When the economy tanked in 2009, I spent a year living in Barcelona studying for a masters program in Design Management and soaking up the city’s insanely beautiful architecture. Once back in LA I went on to work for other big names in interior design (Michael S. Smith, Waldo Fernandez and Commune Design), which really allowed me to to see things from different viewpoints. My husband and I moved to SF some time before the pandemic, where I worked for a designer named Charles de Lisle for a few years. I finally hit a point about three years ago where I felt like it was time to make a big change in my life and try to start my own design studio. It took a lot of courage to leave a full-time job, but I had a few projects offered to me and it felt like a “now or never” moment. So far, I have no regrets and it’s been an interesting ride.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
When I started the business, it felt really easy and exciting. Various friends and colleagues were recommending me for projects here and there–and within just a few months I was featured in Architectural Digest as an emerging designer. I truly didn’t expect any of that to happen so fast, I could not be more thankful, because that really pushed me to make this business a real thing.
One of the biggest challenges I initially had to work through is having to be solely in charge of making every decision – including things I didn’t have to think about before, such as marketing, accounting, PR, or even business strategy. Something simple like pricing out projects was even tough for me, because I didn’t necessarily make those kinds of decisions when I worked for other people. In moments of doubt, it was really helpful to be able to call friends who had their own design firms, and not be afraid to ask them for help or advice.
The other thing I really had to adjust to was the need to have an active online presence as a designer or small business. I kind of dread social media, so while I’d rather not be posting anything, it’s such an important tool to make connections and sustain a real business, so I’ve had to force myself to keep posting my work and inspiration, and make the effort to get projects photographed and published.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I run a Los Angeles–based design studio known for interiors that are elevated yet unexpected – we sometimes refer to it as “offbeat chic.” My work blends vintage, custom and some collectible design with unexpected color stories and a mix of high and humble materials. Before launching my studio, I spent over 15 years working under various AD100 designers, which gave me a deep foundation, but it also allows me to break rules in an interesting way.
I mostly specialize in high-end residential and boutique / small commercial spaces, as well as custom furniture. I often mix eras and styles in ways that feel artful and approachable, and clients often come to me for spaces that don’t feel overly precious, but still feel intentional and tailored. I’m just as interested in a flea market find as I am in a rare Italian collectible, and I think that tension is what gives my work a little more depth.
I’m proud of the fact that three years in I am still busy, and doing interesting work. I think that alone is something I didn’t expect going into this.

What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
Running a business has its highs and lows and that is just a given. It can be easy to feel disenchanted when things get stressful or tough, but somehow things always work themselves out, so I’ve learned to just let things happen.
That being said, I also learned that allowing myself to take breaks and go out to connect with people, visit galleries and art fairs, travel – those are all super important to running a creative business and continuing to feel inspired.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://studioroene.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/studio_roene/?hl=en

Image Credits
Portrait by Jaclyn Campanaro.
Other photography by Ye Rin Mok, Ethan Gulley, Molly Haas