Juliette Calaf, of Jules Lola + Eve, provided heartwarming insight to the importance of “home” during the pandemic. Her business strives to make homes enjoyable to their owners, family, and friends. Based in Miami, she spoke to us about this concept and other aspects of her work in residential interior design.. Learn more in this interview for byDesign!
What is your favorite part about being a designer?
I love seeing our clients enjoy their homes in new ways.
Who or what would you cite as your most important influence?
My clients are my most important influence. I love the unique challenges each of them present. They’re all different and want to use and enjoy their homes in different ways. I love discovering new aspects and coming up with ideas for my clients’ specific needs.
Can you tell us about your personal brand?
The naming of Jules Lola + Eve comes from combining my nickname and those of my daughters, the plus sign signifies our bond. In business, as well, it signifies the bond of families, friends, and guests that clients welcome to their homes. My business is about creating special spaces where clients can gather to enjoy their homes.
What is your favorite color palette to work with?
Blues, blacks, and whites. My favorite color is blue and all the shades in its spectrum, from navy to bold blues to soft gray blues. I use them in much of our designs. I also love white walls with splashes of color using wallpaper. Black looks cool with everything, it can also look elegant when used in cabinets or furniture.
If you could travel back, what advice would you give yourself as you start this career?
Plan a process! Have a process for everything. It makes managing clients’ expectations much easier and prepares you for growth from the beginning.
Please give us an overview of the more personal side of your business, how did it come to be, any interesting stories about the origin you can share?
Design has been a life-long love. Since I was a little girl, i loved touring show houses with my mother, and going to antique markets, and picking fabrics. From there, this passion never stopped.
Do you have anything you can share about how you and/or your firm have been affected by COVID-19, and any tips for other designers on how to navigate and cope?
We have definitely been affected in that the projects that were in construction are paused temporarily. However, this time has given us the opportunity to continue working on projects we were sourcing and purchasing, It also allowed us to rethink our process to make things steam-lined for our clients in the future. We see the future in a positive light. The home has become center stage and that will be good for the industry overall.
What do you like most about DesignerInc?
It helps us source a lot of our items using one platform rather than having to quote and order from several places. It has become our one stop shop.
How do you think the industry will be affected by COVID-19?
By working from home, my husband working from home, and our girls learning from home… this has brought back many values that we had from another time. Life is centered about the home and less about going out. We have always been home and family-oriented but this time has allowed us to use and enjoy our home differently. I feel like this will stay with all of us for a long time making the home a strong focus in our daily lives. And, my business is excited and ready for this.
Follow her on Instagram: @juliette_juleslolaeve.