My name is Julia, I set up Jri design + soft furnishings 2002 when we moved to Somerset with our young son, to be near family. I have spent my life surrounded by fabrics and crafts people. On my mothers side from the East End of London, my grandfather and great grandfather were upholsterers, I remember the smell of old sofas being stripped when watching my grandfather work in the family interiors shop they ran in Harpenden. My father is from Eastern Europe, I watch with fascination as my Grandmother and her friends carded and spun the fleece ready to make up into wool for rugs and jumpers. As a young teenager I made my own clothes and then took on local commissions before going on to learn how to pattern cut and tailor, I was even asked to make for a prestigious shop in South Molton street, in London's West end.
I went on to study design and construction of film and theatre costumes, working in various theatres, then briefly running the production department at a large costume house, dealing with designers who often came to us with the difficult things to source, within a budget and to tight deadlines. I became freelance in the film industry as a supervisor and then designer, working on films, television and commercials, this taught me how to stand in someone else's shoes and what I would choose if I were them. I have gained a deep insight into the history of design, fabrics, textures, colour and people, something that helps me greatly throughout my work. I am comfortable working on both period and contemporary projects.
I have a very practical approach, together with my with family, we extensively renovated several homes. Together, we lovingly, brought a three story Wells town house back to life, it was our full time job for over a year, we transfored it from an uncared-for derelict hostel to a cherished family home. The house caught the attention of many, with a national television show requesting access to follow the restoration of this previously unloved home, and a number of interior magazines showing interest in photographing the property. When the eventual purchasers visited the home, they noted the clear attention to detail that had been shown throughout the renovation project, this is something I display in all of my work.
We now live and work in a beautiful old church in the heart of Somerton.
I went on to study design and construction of film and theatre costumes, working in various theatres, then briefly running the production department at a large costume house, dealing with designers who often came to us with the difficult things to source, within a budget and to tight deadlines. I became freelance in the film industry as a supervisor and then designer, working on films, television and commercials, this taught me how to stand in someone else's shoes and what I would choose if I were them. I have gained a deep insight into the history of design, fabrics, textures, colour and people, something that helps me greatly throughout my work. I am comfortable working on both period and contemporary projects.
I have a very practical approach, together with my with family, we extensively renovated several homes. Together, we lovingly, brought a three story Wells town house back to life, it was our full time job for over a year, we transfored it from an uncared-for derelict hostel to a cherished family home. The house caught the attention of many, with a national television show requesting access to follow the restoration of this previously unloved home, and a number of interior magazines showing interest in photographing the property. When the eventual purchasers visited the home, they noted the clear attention to detail that had been shown throughout the renovation project, this is something I display in all of my work.
We now live and work in a beautiful old church in the heart of Somerton.