Fifteen years later, Julie is still a fan of the classic design choices they made. Though she worked as a school teacher for 20 years, design has always been a passion for Julie. “My mother says I’ve been doing interior design since I was three years old when I would rearrange all the shoes in her closet and later all the glasses on the bar,” Julie says with a laugh. “After I retired I began designing full time, and since that time I’ve been designing everyday all day.” With a plate full of clients and an ever-revolving inventory of accessories Julie opts to keep a clean and simple base of furnishings in her home. “In most of the projects that I do, I do white throughout. And while it may be all different versions of white, it’s always a clean palette,” she says. “That way if someone does have an interesting pop of color or a family piece or a piece of art they’ve fallen in love with—no matter what, the white will work!” Julie notes that the white in her house has a touch of cream as the paint color is actually mixed with 25 percent Gentle Cream by Benjamin Moore. “In most of my projects I use purer white—but this was 15 years ago, people weren’t as friendly with using pure white like they are today.”
The creamy white palette works well with Julie’s effortless transitional style. She mixes antiques as well as modern elements and vintage finds, and finds special ways to showcase family pieces. From the front door you’re welcomed by an eclectic, elegant piano room anchored by an eye-catching painting by Ashley Longshore. As you move past the intricate iron-laced stairway, you’ll pass a formal dining room with a dazzling chandelier Julie designed along with Julie Neill of New Orleans-based Julie Neill Designs. “We worked together to design (most) of the light fixtures in the home, and we named them after my children,” Julie Ponze says, adding the dining room’s French-inspired chandelier’s name is “Juliette,” after Julie Neill and herself.
