JulieO Design

As a General Contractor I rely on prompt and reliable information. Each project has specific needs. Julie has time and time again delivered as needed. Thanks Julie

We wanted a kitchen update in a home we had recently purchased. I knew I did not have the expertise to do the planning and the design choices on my own. To save money, we did not want to change the footprint of the kitchen and we hoped to use the existing cabinets. I had read reviews of Julie’s work and she was also referred by Tile and Stone Design Center in Ashland. We met for an “idea” consultation and we really liked her ideas. I would have never thought of the design features that she suggested and we loved every one of them. I was happily surprised that Julie’s choice of design features were so in tuned with our taste. It was not difficult for my husband and me to make our final choices. We love our new kitchen! We have much more room for storage and, even though we did not change the footprint, we have a much better flow. My husband and I can now easily work together in the kitchen without getting in the way of the other.

It was an extreme disappointment to have hired Julie. In August, 2015, I hired her. I fired her in March of 2016 due to non-delivery issues, delivery of poorly constructed merchandise, and inflated costs. I had numerous projects she was working on for me, mostly drapery construction, bedskirt, headboard, dining bench (settee), and a very small/ basic design for den cabinets. The products that were delivered were completely unacceptable and Julie did not make it right. Her mark up on items has got to be extremely high...so my advice to you is BE cautious! I was not and trusted her but I feel that the wool was pulled over my eyes. My mistake big time. For one settle bench, one small roman shade, a bed skirt, and some fabric for full length curtains, I ended up paying in excess of 20K!!!! Julie did not represent the status of projects accurately and her numbers began to escalate all the while she wanted more and more payments. Retrospectively and in talking with many other designers in the area, what I paid was so far out of line that it is unconscionable. I cannot recommend her in any capacity.

From the start, Julie listened. She developed an appreciation for what we liked and desired. Julie always provided us with choices of styles and price-ranges. She is fun to work with and always willing to search for the perfect piece. We love the results! This was a whole-house effort with few existing pieces. Julie was able to integrate our art, mirrors, rugs, and antiques with new more modern and organic purchases. We are especially pleased to have some locally made one-of-a-kind tables, drapes, and pillows. Beyond the creative aspect, Julie provided us with a detailed accounting of expenses and she kept delivery dates on-track. We highly recommend JulieO Design.

We recently decided to buy a home in a new development being built here and were stunned to learn that the developer was willing to design a home specifically for us! We'd never done this before, so it was a steep learning curve, to be sure. We knew of Julie's work from friends and were grateful for her advice and assistance. She helped us think through design elements of the house and was especially valuable when it came time to choose paint colors, carpeting, tile, wood floors, lighting, etc. She has a wonderful sense of color and balance and she totally "got" our taste. When we started going off in odd directions, she gently steered us back by explaining patiently and tactfully why certain choices wouldn't work the same way here as they did where we lived previously. She was so right, and we were grateful for her counsel. The house turned out beautifully, and we owe much of that to her.

Julie helped me w an interior design in 2009 as well as plans for an exterior architectural redesign in 2011 including assisting with a color scheme for my exterior home. She initiated a design we are very pleased with, of which can be done in stages making it manageable financially and emotionally! Because she has an interior design and an architectural degree, plus is creative and sensitive to what th client wants she was perfect for our needs. She is very easy and pleasant to work with and I enjoyed all my experiences with her.

Julie is so easy to work with, I was very impressed with her creative solutions to many of my design problems like my floor plan or incorporating pieces I already have. Her expertise with fabrics and colors are amazing, she brings a fresh and unique look that I wanted to convey. I wanted my space to have an elegant but relaxed feel and she quickly gets exactly what I am looking for, each time I work with her. I couldn’t be happier with the end result and highly recommend her for large or small projects!

I have worked with Julie O'Dwyer on several projects now. One in particular that stands out is a kitchen remodel we performed for a client in Ashland. The client needed an energetic change to her space that reflected a life change she had experienced. Julie's creative design brought color with a palette of materials that ushered in new life to the kitchen that modernized it and still left it with a timeless feel. We used glasscrete counter tops, beech wood cabinets below finished with monocoat (zero voc's), and painted uppers with etched glass. I thought it was a bold move to split the uppers and the lowers with a different finish and in the end it worked out fantastic. I earned a tremendous amount of respect for Julie on this job. She provided a plan that had vision and yet was open for participation from homeowner and builder alike. She was able to accurately state what details were integral to the design and which could be articulated with other ideas and materials. Sincerely, Steve Sirianni