JULIA MARCUM · CLJ (Chris Loves Julia)
Interior design and renovation leader documenting a modern colonial home, outdoor kitchen lessons, hidden storage, and family-friendly design.
Dim Every Light for a Cozy Nighttime Home
My lights have a turn-down service. 💁🏻♀️ Every single one dims — the chandelier, the lamps, the picture lights. Some have wall-switch dimmers, some have the dimmer built right into the lamp. The point is the same: by the time the sun goes down, every light in our home knows to soften. At 9pm, a room that can’t dim is a room that doesn’t quite feel right. If your lights don’t dim yet, this is your sign 🤎
Close‑up
But howwww close were you? 😏 Paint color: Setting Plaster by Farrow & Ball in all her glory 🤌🏻
Flip Your Top Sheet for a Neater Bed
This is one of those things you can’t unsee once you know it. Top sheets are designed with a “right side” (the patterned side). If you put it on pattern-side up, you’ll always see the wrong side when it’s folded down. Instead: Make your...
Create a Luring Spot, Not Just More Backyard Furniture
Your backyard isn’t the problem. You don’t need more furniture or a bigger setup, or everything done all at once. You need a reason for people to linger. A place to gather. The thing that makes no one want to...
Choose Beauty and Function over Minimalist Trends
Minimalist? Never heard of her. But if it’s beautiful, useful, and makes our home feel like us…it’s staying. 🤎
Timeless Style: Mixing Modern, Moody, Traditional Home Décor
It’s the mix that makes our home work moody, modern, traditional… all at once every 👏 time 👏 Our latest with Pottery Barn (and Pottery Barn Kids + Pottery Barn Teen) is live— layered, a little nostalgic, and designed to feel like it’s always...
Match Artificial Turf to Real Lawn for Seamless Look
People always ask what grass we used between our pavers… Plot twist: it’s artificial. Turf has come a long way from the shiny mini-golf look. Our biggest tip is to bring samples outside and match them to your real lawn in natural...
Budget Makeover Tempts Even Renovation Savers
My sister mentioned she doesn’t love her kitchen, but they’re saving for a full renovation, and suddenly we were 10 minutes deep into a budget-friendly weekend makeover plan. 💁🏻♀️ (Anyone else want to invite me over?! 😂) Send this to someone saving...
Small Home Nooks Keep Daily Life Flowing Smoothly
Some of the most important spaces in our home aren’t big or showy. They’re the small spots designed to make everyday life run smoother.
Backyard Built for Loved Ones, Not Just Looks
When we designed our backyard, the goal wasn’t just a pretty space. It was a place for the people we love. Family dinners. Birthday parties. Friends who stay too late. We spend most of the year out here now and it never gets...
Simplify Materials: Removing Elements Enhances Outdoor Kitchen Design
Outdoor kitchen lesson we learned the hard way: Just because something is beautiful on its own, doesn’t mean it’s right for the space. When we added stone here it competed with the brick and the pavers and the whole area felt heavy....