Check Out Julia Chasman’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Julia Chasman.

Hi Julia, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Julia Chasman Design started doing renovations in the Highland Park and Eagle Rock neighborhoods of Los Angeles. I began by buying an older bungalow style home that needed love, and, when it was completely restored, selling it. The second of these houses got exposure in a national magazine, and sold in a bidding war. I used the disappointed bidders from that house to start my client-based design and build firm. Today we have expanded into a proper small luxury full service interior design firm, still strong in the remodeling area. We have worked all over LA, and also renovated a mid-century cabin in Joshua Tree that was a successful short-term rental all through the pandemic.

We focus on kitchens and bathrooms, with an emphasis on an older vintage style appeal. We have partnered with Vintage Tub & Bath for several years and showcased their charming vintage-style fixtures in many of our homes.

Last year we participated in the 60th Anniversary of the Pasadena Showcase House of Design 2025, and scored a popular win with our design of the Library — a modern-day Snug that took layering to a new level, with 3 different wallpaper patterns, 2 layers of rugs, and color-drenched walls and ceiling , featuring dozens of art objects from all over the world, and beautiful arrangements of books and paintings . It was a true Cabinet of Curiosities set in a classic Monterey Colonial estate in the San Marino area.

Julia Chasman Design is growing all the time, with clients spread out all over the Los Angeles area; last year we started our first project in New York City, and look forward to completing it in the coming year. A recent project – our Santa Monica Traditional, was the subject of an exclusive home feature in House Beautiful, generating thousands of views and likes on social media. The Homeworthy episode featuring the Craftsman home of owner Julia Chasman has more than 60,000 views on YouTube. Our design goals have remained consistent — with the reflection of our clients’ loves and tastes always being foremost in our minds.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There were lots of struggles! When the pandemic hit we thought we would have to close. Instead like many other designers we found that we were busier than ever, and our Joshua Tree short term rental was booked solid for more than a year. Transitioning into the luxury decor world has presented some challenges, as we seek out bigger and better projects with higher budgets, we don’t want to turn our backs on the small vintage homes that were our bread and butter.

Getting the word out is key to our goals, so we welcome the chance to be featured in like-minded publications like VoyageLA and hope that you will follow us on Instagram @juliachasmandesign

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I started as a producer of feature films, and spent many years as a storyteller in that world, producing over 12 films and becoming a voting member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. I took my love of storytelling and translated it into the home design world. Here I find many similarities between making a film and making a unique home. In the home space I look for that personal angle that tells the story of the people who live there, and seek to showcase the special tastes of those people through the display of their art and collectibles over the years, especially from their travels and other experiences. I love to guide clients through this process and help them zero in on what they love. Often we look to custom pieces or unique works by artisans to tell a more layered and personal story about our clients. The mark of the human hand is so important to our work. At the same time we have to balance our designs with the practical side of function in the home. Our homes have to be livable and comfortable, and we don’t feel we have to sacrifice beauty and originality to create this kind of living space. Balance is key, and trust between the client and our team is the most important tenet of our design philosophy. At the end of the day I am most proud of the many successes I’ve had in transforming living spaces to make our clients’ dreams come true.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
We hope you will follow us and reach out to us with your home dilemmas and dreams. We want to help!

juliachasmandesign.com

Pricing:

• Hourly pricing is our standard
• Flat Fee pricing is often an alternative
• We are a Luxury service but we live in the real world! We will work with you on your budget, but we won’t lie to you.
• We will try our best to let you know how much your project is going to cost.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.juliachasmandesign.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juliachasmandesign/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/julia.chasman/
• Youtube: https://youtu.be/V_FgsEnZNnA

Image Credits
Eagle Rock Spanish Project – photos by Sara Ligorria-Tramp at Tramp Studio
Pasadena Spanish Project – Photos by Jenna Peffley
Joshua Tree Mid-Century – photos by Bret Gum
Rustic Canyon Mid-Century — photos by Bret Gum

Santa Monica Traditional Project – photos by Michael Clifford Photography