Author: julie Cavanaugh

An experienced interior designer who is certified through the California Certification for Interior Design and Build It Green, Julie Cavanaugh holds a degree in interior design from West Valley College in Saratoga, California. Excelling at creative problem-solving, Julie Cavanaugh has developed an approach to design that stresses functional and aesthetically pleasing spatial relationships and interior flow. Since founding Design Matters nearly a quarter of a century ago, Julie Cavanaugh has led this Los Gatos, California-area firm in a broad spectrum of comprehensive interior design and architectural planning projects. Design Matters works in multiple markets within the United States. Her latest renovation project on the Sonoma Coast has gained a reputation for its significant architectural impact. When she isn’t working, Ms. Cavanaugh enjoys hiking with her dogs and spending time with her children and husband, who is an Olympic gold medalist. Her hobbies include attending wine tastings and hunting for quality used furniture.

Interior Design and Home Decorating Ideas

Julie Cavanaugh is a California-based interior designer with two decades of professional experience. She is the founder and senior interior designer of Design Matters in Los Gatos, CA. At Design Matters, Julie Cavanaugh leads a team of interior designers who provide comprehensive design solutions for residential and commercial properties across Northern California.

Eye-catching interior designs are one of the hallmarks of a great home. As such, homeowners are always on the lookout for decorative elements that can add a bit more elegance to their living space. Here are some terrific home decorating ideas to try out:

1. Hardwood floors

Hardwood floors, with their smooth, sleeky surfaces, add a classic feel to a home’s interior, especially those with darker shades. They’re also durable and easy to maintain. Furthermore, they come in different categories with individual prices, giving homeowners a wide range of options, depending on their budget.

2. Multipurpose furniture

Furniture pieces are one of the essentials in a home. They’re also one of the elements homeowners can get creative with to spruce up their home interior. Investing in multipurpose furniture pieces is a terrific way to do this. Tables with wine racks, coffee and dining table combos, and stairways with bookshelves are some of the exciting options available.

3. Unique lighting

Like furniture, lighting is another fundamental aspect of a home. But, when choosing the lighting elements for their houses, most homeowners stick with the simple stuff. However, some elegant options can have a dazzling effect on the interior design of a home. Eclipse wall lights and antique chandeliers are some terrific choices.

ASID Academy Provides Continuing Education for Designers

Julie Cavanaugh is the founder and senior interior designer with Design Matters, an award-winning residential and commercial interior design firm in Los Gatos, California. Julie Cavanaugh earned a degree from West Valley College and is a member of professional organizations such as the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID).

A professional organization for designers, design students, manufacturers, and suppliers, the ASID offers numerous professional development opportunities through ASID Academy. This online training platform hosts courses for ASID members and the general public on topics such as health and wellness, residential, workplace, health care, and hospitality design.

ASID Academy users can easily browse course listings by category, course type, or publication date, and can tune in to live webinars. They can also purchase on-demand courses that can be watched at their convenience. All courses clearly state how many continuing education credits they carry. For educators, an Educator Hub provides a convenient way for instructors to plan and organize their online curricula.

Why Malibu Attracts Luxury Real Estate Buyers

Julie Cavanaugh is an accomplished award-winning interior designer whose experience spans more than two decades. In her current role as founder and senior interior designer at Design Matters, she manages a team of interior designers as well as offers design solutions for both commercial and residential projects. Julie Cavanaugh projects include the luxury property market in Malibu.

Malibu is a famous city known for its breathtaking cliffs, stunning beaches, rugged canyons and a spectacular Mediterranean climate. With nearly 13,000 residents, the 21-mile long strip of white sand is dominated with exclusive tourist attractions including five-star hotels, multi-million dollar homes and exclusive celebrity hideaways. Luxury property buyers admire Malibu because of its excellent climate as well as easy access to both entertainment and silicon industries. The Malibu luxury property market is synonymous with extravagant amenities.

The city’s luxurious properties have panoramic and unobstructed views making them attractive for high-end buyers. Home designs in this area incorporate large sliding glass doors and walls that uniquely fuse both an indoor-outdoor style of luxury living. Malibu homes are also famous for their resort pools that rival those of exclusive five-star resorts. Homes feature infinity pools with waterfall features, pool bars and sweeping ocean and mountain views. In addition, buyers can find homes with cantilevered style pools that begin at the doorstep into the ocean.

A Look at the ASID Outcome of Design Award Program

Based in Los Gatos, California, Julie Cavanaugh has served as senior interior designer at Design Matters since establishing the award-winning design firm in 2000. Under the leadership of Julie Cavanaugh, Design Matters has received a number of honors from the American Society of Interior Designers.

The American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) Outcome of Design Awards program has been developed to recognize projects that not only embrace the latest industry tools and strategies, but translate these technologies into quantifiable results for projects and the people who inhabit those spaces.

Elements of the award program’s criteria include evaluations of occupant experience in newly designed spaces and the overall effectiveness and innovation of specific design solutions, as well as extensive post-occupancy research. Recent Outcome of Design Award winners include the Sensory Wellbeing Hub in Chicago, an open-source sensory diverse solution that can be installed anywhere, and the M Moser Associates Living Lab, a corporate office environment that reimagines the dynamics and use of space in modern work environments.

A more in-depth look at eligibility requirements for nominees, as well as a full list of Outcome of Design Award winners, is available online at www.asid.org.

Sonoma’s Iconic Sea Ranch Evolves to Meet a New Era

Julie Cavanaugh is an established presence in Los Gatos, California, where she leads the interior design company Design Matters. Julie Cavanaugh has completed luxury projects in locations ranging from Jackson Hole to Malibu, and coordinated a renovation project in a Sonoma Coast region known for its architectural impact.

A 2019 New York Times article drew attention to another Sonoma County location, Sea Ranch, a “modernist utopia” that has recently been catching up with the new century’s aesthetics. Envisioned in 1964 by faculty at the University of California, Berkeley, the development turned what had been a 5,200-acre sheep ranch into a residential community that derived its fundamental utility and aesthetics from nature.

The wood-crafted Sea Ranch design combined open interiors, slanted shed roofs, and overhead spaces with skylights, outlooks, and elevated sleeping areas. Innovative for its era, this aesthetic has earned Sea Ranch a place on the National Register of Historic Places.

While the development has grown over the decades to encompass 1,769 houses, it still offers residents a unique, immersive proximity to nature. In recent years, some homeowners have broken from the wood-clad aesthetic and opted for more modern materials, such as fire-resistant, low-maintenance, cement fiberboard. Others have used contemporary materials such as concrete and Cor-Ten in ways that take inspiration from the look and feel of old barns in the area. One common goal is to preserve the sense of solitude and closeness to nature, while designing structures that are in much closer proximity than the original developers planned.

CID Designation

An experienced California interior designer, Julie Cavanaugh earned a degree in the discipline from West Valley College in Saratoga. Since 2000, she has served as founding senior interior designer of Design Matters in Los Gatos. Julie Cavanaugh’s work in interior design benefits from her membership with the California Council for Interior Design Certification.

For nearly 40 years, the California Council for Interior Design Certification (CCIDC) has been in charge of administering the California Certified Interior Designers Title Act. This state legislation added the title of “certified interior designer” (CID) to the California Business and Professions code and established the official CID designation for individuals who meet specific educational, professional experience, and examination requirements as set forth by the CCIDC.

The examination component of these requirements consists of a 150 multiple choice questions on subjects that range from California building codes to California contractors law. In addition to meeting school and work prerequisites, along with passing the certification exam, individuals who seek the CID designation must agree to adhere to a strict code of ethics and professional conduct.