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Julianne Stirling noticed she was spending more time studying the buildings she visited during her sales calls than in her meetings. And she couldnt walk past airport newsstands without buying a stack of design magazines.
I used to sell data equipment, when technology was a brand new industry. The companies I visited all had state-of-the-art data processing facilities, she says. Id always ask for a tour of the building and look at how it was designed. Then one day while sitting on a plane, she formlated a plan. I decided to get a design degree, Julianne says.
In the early 1990s, Julianne and her husband, Jim moved to Fairfield County. There was a huge recession then, maybe worse than today, she says. Juliannes interior design business caters to high-end clients who are often willing to wait six months for her services. Her favorite projects are whole-house renovations. I love being in at the beginning, working with the architect and contractor so that I can see the total project, she says.
She credits technology with helping her keep multiple design projects running simultaneously. I use an amazing program called Studio Designer, she says. The program allows the designer to track every detail of a project from the clients initial wish list, to status reports on each room.
Juliannes creativity doesnt end with beautiful interiors. Her next project is designing jackets. Encouraging her in this new venture is her interior designer peer group. The women meet monthly and push each other to step out of their comfort zones. One designer always wanted to write, so the group gives her writing assignments. Another member wary of technology and now shes learning to use an iPhone and setting up a website.
Ive always loved fabrics and jackets. When vendors come to show me their new lines, Id always find a fabric that would make a perfect jacket, she says, laughing. And when she confessed her secret fantasy to the peer group, she got an assignment. I had to make sketches of jackets and post them on the internet, she says. Heres a sneak peek into her first drawings.
Do you belong to a group that encourages you to pursue new ventures? Id love to hear about it. Email me at fpearson@mainstreetconnect.us.
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