Sunday, March 16, 2008

About Me

Julie Thigpen is an interior designer and founder and editor of the design blog, Belle Maison. Belle Maison was founded in 2008 as an outlet for Julie’s passion for design and all things beautiful. What started out as a hobby quickly grew into a major blog, visits from loyal readers from around the world. Julie has collaborated with major brands such as Buick, West Elm, My Color inspired by Pantone, Bravo’s Interior Therapy with Jeff Lewis, Lowe’s and Valspar Paint, with features in Adore Home and Ivy and Piper Magazine. She has contributed as a design expert on HGTV.com and StyleatHome.com, and is a regular contributor on Houzz. Julie was also featured on One King’s Lane as a Blogger Tastemaker in 2012.

Belle Maison is a place where you’ll find decorating inspiration, trend reports, DIY projects, color inspiration, design book reviews and more. Julie has a great eye for color and stunning spaces, often sharing gorgeous images that keep readers coming back for more!

Julie comes from a design background of high-end residential design and Model Homes. She was a project manager for several years at a model home firm prior to launching her own business. She graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree from Interior Designer’s Institute, located in Newport Beach, in 2004. In 2009, Julie launched an online design boutique called Modern Chic Home and recently closed its doors, allowing her to spend more time with her son as a new mommy and focus on growing her design business.

Julie was born and raised in southern California, which she credits as a major influence on her approach to design. Her design philosophy has always been to create an environment that reflects her client’s personal taste and style, achieving a look that is both beautiful and livable.

In her free time, Julie loves spending time with her husband Ryan and their son who's almost one year old. She resides in Orange County, CA and enjoys trips to the beach, cooking dinner for family and friends, catching up over wine with her best girlfriends and volunteering at her church.