How Yond Interiors’ Julia Miller Creates Spaces Made for Living

Rip & Tan: Talk to us about the journey to Yond Interiors. How has your background in social work influenced the way you approach the business of interiors?

Julia Miller: My background in social work is the basis of how I think about my entire life, and particularly our work. The heart of our work as interior designers is to bring joy, fulfill dreams, and create spaces that facilitate meaningful lives for our clients.

Social work gave me the perfect skill set for project management—detail orientation, a love for the process and the messy middle, and ultimately a passion for improving people’s lives.

Social work helped distill the importance of a well-functioning space that was restorative and personal. Being able to create spaces for people and families that enhance their lives and allow them to pursue their dreams is truly a special gift!

Rip & Tan: We’d love a glimpse into your process. What was the guiding vision for this space? In terms of visual aesthetic versus curating a feeling, how do you find that balance when you design?

Julia Miller: Our little team is driven by process. All of our projects flow the same way, no matter the scope. Our first real meeting with the client is always a design and layout concept meeting.

This meeting is where we start to co-create the aesthetic of the project and we dig into the functional details (i.e. floorplans etc.). Once we get sign-off from the client on the aesthetic direction and floorplans, that’s when we create.

Ultimately, our client’s preferences are the guiding light for the vision, but we certainly co-create on the front end of the project. We craft spaces to completion so when it comes to our presentation we have well-considered spaces that all play well together with our client’s preferences in mind.

Rip & Tan: What were some of the highs and lows of designing your home? Did the process differ from how you would take on a client’s interior?

Julia Miller: It is so much harder to design for yourself when you’re a designer. I consider my home to be my ultimate experiment and much to the frustration of my husband and kids—our spaces are ever evolving.

I think that what makes it difficult to design for yourself is having too much knowledge about what’s out there, not following a strict process, and not being able to design a space to completion in one go—we have budgets too!

Rip & Tan: You’ve spent some time designing interiors abroad—have any of these international projects or general locales inspired this space?

Julia Miller: I spent time living in East Africa and Southeast Asia and created many meaningful homes. My international experience has really keyed into my values of sourcing ethically and finding vendors that respect their employees. We used Coral and Hive, an amazing company, for our living room rug—they are a true cross-section of beauty and ethics.

Rip & Tan: We’re transfixed by the way you’ve layered varying textures and finishes. Do you have any tips for creating such intriguing dimensions in our own homes?

Julia Miller: I think that texture is so often overlooked when we are designing spaces. To be honest, until recently there was not a lot of furniture, specifically, at the retail level that offered a variety of textures (mohair, boucle, wool, linen, leather, and so forth).

It’s hard to introduce all the right textures without having the right resources. I would say that in my mind, I think that it’s important to vary the textures— so say linen goes on the sofa, then try mohair on the accent chairs, and wool on the rug. Just be aware of the materials (read the labels!) you are selecting and always, always get samples.

Also, layering in vintage furniture and accessories is essential. I heard a saying that ‘you shouldn’t be the oldest thing in your house and I cannot disagree!

Rip & Tan: Yond Interiors is all about form meeting function—what’s the secret to a layout that allows for optimal living and interaction for both those who live there and the guests they host?

Julia Miller: Honestly, it’s different for everyone. We have clients that just want to host their book club comfortably and clients that regularly host 15 people.

The secret sauce rests in understanding your client. Regardless of the client, we find that comfort is always king, and no matter what, if the space is comfortable and cozy everyone will feel welcome.

Rip & Tan: When it comes to creating an environment that truly fosters quality living, what’s one thing we should never sacrifice? What’s one thing—be it a trend or a piece of furniture—we can do without?

Julia Miller: Fast home fashion. I know it’s hard, but investing in high-quality pieces and really evaluating whether or not it’s a need or want is really important.

We have met with so many clients that are frustrated with themselves for throwing away so much money over the years on pieces they don’t love. It all takes a lot of time and money and if you can wait for the item you truly love it will be worth it!

Rip & Tan: What does living well mean to you?

Julia Miller: It means connecting with others. After the pandemic, I think it was pretty clear how much we need human connection. It’s really what makes all of this worth it.