October 26, 2011
designer julie palmer
I don't think I've been into a more well-organised home than when I visited the Queensland house of Julie Palmer a few months back. Not only that, but it was thoroughly well designed and perfectly groomed. I was even treated to a home-baked quiche. Julie and I had initially been in contact in relation to her design business olive & joy but when we got talking homes, I just had to see her place. Soon I was on a plane and shooting it with photographer Chris Warnes. It recently appeared in real living magazine.
During the visit, it was also great to see Julie's studio for olive & joy, and get a demonstration of how she screenprints her cushions, tea towels, artworks...
How did you get your career start and what path have you taken since? I studied interior design at uni, but since then the path has wavered in many different directions. From renovating properties for our own boutique development company and building our own homes, to learning to screen print and starting my own business with olive & joy.
What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt along the way? Everything takes longer than you think it will, but with a little patience and time, anything is possible.
What’s your proudest career achievement? I believe my proudest moments are yet to come – which is quite a lovely, exciting feeling.
What’s been your best decision? To marry my husband Andrew, hands down my favourite person on this planet.
Who inspires you? People who know where they are going in life inspire me immensely. Those not afraid to dream and then make it happen.
What are you passionate about? Ooh, hard one. I’m passionate about so many things – the handmade, screen printing, vintage furniture, interior styling, learning new things, texture, colour, and of course my family and friends.
Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? My great grandmother Olive, and my husband’s grandmother Joyce – olive & joy’s namesakes. I think they would be very proud of what we are creating here.
What dream do you still want to fulfil? Start a family of our own, and enjoy a margarita in Mexico (not at the same time!).
What are you reading? My attention span is far too small for a book right now, so lots of magazines and design blogs. In saying that, I recently enjoyed reading Pattern by Orla Kiely, I loved learning about her journey in pattern design.
images courtesy of olive & joy