25th November 2025 | IN DESIGN ADVICE | BY SBID Share Tweet Pinterest LinkedIn Julia Brown, Founder of Room By Julia Brown, has given her insights into the industry. I have worked in the residential design industry for over 20 years, after studying interior design for four years and beginning a career as a CAD draftsman to gain technical experience. I then spent a year in Singapore working with a luxury residential design team and knew instantly that this was the field I wished to remain in. Returning to England commenced a 20-year career in the high-end residential design industry and which is now reflected in Room’s overall ethos. Room by Julia Brown Room by Julia Brown Why did you want to work in the interior design profession? Creativity comes natural to me. Whether that is in curating your own wardrobe, the space you live in or even designing your lifestyle to suit your own requirements, creativity is at the forefront of everything we do. Studying interior / architecture for four years set me on a path to be an architect but I soon changed direction into interiors, whilst my husband progressed on to become an architect. We now complement each other perfectly and each have our different strengths in each of our fields. Room by Julia Brown Which elements of your profession do you enjoy the most? The initial design stage for me is always the most exciting. Taking the brief and floorplan and coming up with an idea that perhaps hasn’t even been considered gives me a rush of adrenaline and I always can’t wait to share it with my clients. Then receiving feedback like “Yes! That’s exactly what we want” is pure joy and complete job satisfaction. A lot of hard work goes into bringing the designs to fruition, but nothing will dim that initial creativity process. Room by Julia Brown What has been your most memorable career highlight from the past year? Even though I’ve been in the industry for over 20 years, Room is relatively new in the making, and I’ve really enjoyed creating it and nurturing its roots. Developing the brand, logo, tone of voice and tailoring the services we offer has been so rewarding in its process. Having people reach out and support me in these early stages is both humbling and encouraging and I am excited for where these first projects will take me. Room by Julia Brown What are your favourite types of projects to work on and why? Residential work is deeply personal. You’re invited into someone’s home, trusted with their vision, and part of their life for months at a time. Those relationships matter, and often, they become long-term connections and friendships. Room by Julia Brown Room by Julia Brown What are the most challenging aspects of working in interior design? I like to obsess over every little detail in the planning stages. Making things look “pretty” is one thing but ensuring the functionality works is also vital. It can be frustrating when contractors misinterpret a detail so regular site visits and checks are paramount to keep an eye on progress. Good communication with all involved is also crucial to bringing a project to completion. Room by Julia Brown What do you wish you knew before working in the field? To not take things too personally. Whilst the process is in fact very personal and friendships are often formed during a project, it can be challenging to service and support your clients’ emotions too throughout the process. A guiding hand and reminder of what the goal is can be helpful when they become overwhelmed by their overall budget or the main contractor running behind. Everyone is often working hard to achieve all that is required of them so maintaining a professional obligation whilst still the supporting emotional needs of all involved is a learned skill. Room by Julia Brown If you could give one tip to aspiring designers, what would it be? To be yourself, honest and hard working. Most people can see right through you if you are trying to convince them you are something that you are not. If you don’t know the answer, say so, but say you’re going to find out for them. And then standby that promise by putting the work in and returning with evidence. Good communication with your client and your trades is essential. How do you see the interior design industry evolving in the year ahead? So many freelance designers are working from home rather than having large fancy expensive studios these days. This is of benefit to your clients as there are no unnecessary overheads and in fact, freelance designers can be entirely focused on the project in hand rather than running a showroom. It’s also common for designers to collaborate rather than compete against each other. What does being an SBID Accredited Interior Designer mean to you? Receiving the SBID Accreditation was important for me to share with my clients. After all, they are the ones who are putting their faith in me and my services. The accreditation proves not only previous qualifications and applied experience but also the commitment to continued professional development which can only reinforce a designers capability. Julia Brown, Founder of Room by Julia Brown About Room by Julia Brown Room by Julia Brown is a high-end interior design studio that creates beautifully considered homes. Led by experienced interior designer and high-end cabinetry expert, Julia Brown, we bring together creative vision, technical precision, and a trusted network of skilled makers to design spaces that are both practical and deeply personal. Great design isn’t just about how something looks. It’s how well a space works for the way you live, and how it flows with the rest of your home. We help our clients make confident decisions, avoid costly mistakes, and create rooms that reflect who they are and how they actually live, with beautifully crafted cabinetry that’s built to last. From the flow of your floor plan to the feeling you want when you walk through the door, every detail is designed with intention, built around your lifestyle, not just the room plan. Visit Profile If you’d like to feature your news or stories on SBID.org, get in touch to find out more. If you’d like to become SBID Accredited, click here for more information.