Meet Julie Guidry of J Guidry Designs in Design District

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I started flipping houses in my early 20’s and when I first began, staging wasn’t part of my process. It wasn’t until I had a very large home on the corner of busy and busier that had few showings. I that I decided to furnish the property to see if it helped buyers better see themselves in the home. I finished on a Friday, there was an open house that Sunday, and we had two offers over asking price. At the time, “staging” wasn’t a term or something anyone else in Dallas was doing.This drastically changed my process and led me to transition into a career focused on the design and staging of homes. A few years later, a realtor friend asked me to stage a 3.5 million-dollar home. I completed the project with fine furnishings throughout, original artwork and every finishing touch you could think of to add the extra layers of comfort and beauty. The home sold the first day on the market.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
As every Dallas-local knows, we live in a market that is ripe with talent and constantly busting at the seams with new, brilliant designers and entrepreneurs moving here each day. Overcoming struggles in this business is about staying relevant, not being afraid to innovate and maintaining confidence in your worth. In my line of work specifically, you can always find someone cheaper, but I am an ASID designer and therefore, I operate my business with the highest level of standards and quality of design. My clients are happy to invest because of the level at which I operate and the tailored services I provide.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the J Guidry Designs story. Tell us more about the business.
I am most proud of the relationships I have built with my clients and with realtors over the years. I have been in business since 1996 and have had many of the same clients for almost 25 years. Similarly, I have enjoyed working alongside some of the same realtors for several years and helping them improve their processes. Being able to serve my clients well and create a smooth experience for them throughout each season of their life and the unique needs that arise with each transitional period is something  in which I take tremendous pride. I am an known for my novel approach to business and working with a curated mix of high-end furnishings, original art and unique found pieces. I never compromise the quality of design for the sake of selling the home and will always match my design work with the home’s price point.