From Backstage to Center Stage
Over nearly two decades, Julia King worked with some of the biggest names in interior design — including Kelly Wearstler, Michael Smith, and Charles DeLisle — picking up elements of their vastly different aesthetics along the way. Now, with the launch of her own firm, Studio Roene, her unique design language has emerged. Her first wave of projects demonstrates a creative blend of each client’s personality, King’s intuitive sense of color, and her artful mix of vintage and contemporary pieces.
“I always try to think: ‘How can we make it a little bit weird?’” King explains. “It doesn’t have to be in your face, but let’s just add one thing in each room that gives it a bit of funkiness.”
Hot Pink and a Fearless Starting Point
One of King’s standout designs is an office in a Silverlake home for a film producer, centered around a table with a hot-pink base — the client’s first significant furniture purchase. King designed the room around it, incorporating softer pinks and brushed metallic accents to make it shine. Elsewhere in the home, she gently coaxed the client away from a minimal, neutral vision toward bolder color choices and patterns.
“She wanted something really simple at first,” says King. “But after a few months, she embraced more playful design choices.” One example is a cabinet clad in Ettore Sottsass’s Alpi veneers in the primary bedroom. “There’s no way she would have liked that in the beginning, but that’s how far we came.”
Mill Valley House: Coastal Vibes with a Twist
In the Mill Valley project, designed for a family of avid surfers, King used coastal-inspired colors and textures — evoking beach towels and parasols — through upholstery, rugs, and bold tilework. Highlights include:
- A bright green kitchen peninsula support
- Teal tiles in the bathroom
- A custom banquette extending from a raised fireplace hearth
- A huge cobalt blue bookcase above a daybed
The design drew inspiration from California’s modernist enclave, Sea Ranch. “They didn’t want anything fancy — just fun,” says King. “So we used plywood and other humble materials to create the vibe.”
More on ArchUp:
Her Own Apartment: A Design Lab of Personal Expression
Julia’s LA apartment reflects her personal style more than any client project. Initially rented as a pied-à-terre because she loved the plastered bathroom, it became a permanent home after she and her husband moved from San Francisco. The building’s Spanish Colonial architecture deeply influenced her design choices.
“For every project, we respect the house’s architecture and do historical research to find details that are authentic,” she explains. “Then we make it feel fresh with color and curated furniture.” Though she debated repainting the white floors, she ultimately left them untouched so that her eclectic furnishings and objects would stand out.
Collectors, Creators, and Quirky Touches
King sources pieces from galleries like Marta Gallery, Rhett Baruch, and Jacqueline Sullivan, as well as Max Radford Gallery in London and Superhouse on the East Coast. She also champions emerging talent:
- Kate Greenberg’s red chair appears in the Mill Valley guest room
- Jordan McDonald’s ceramics are a staple in every project
- Glassmakers Dana Arbib and Rafi Ajl are also on her radar
“I just really like little quirky details that lead people to ask, ‘Hey, where did this come from?’” says King. And now we know.
