We had the good fortune of connecting with Julio Miranda-Martin and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Julio, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
I’ve worked in the interior design industry across various positions. My first job was at 19, staging homes while attending interior design school at SFSU. During that time, I landed an internship at Anyon Design in San Francisco, which really opened my eyes to a world of design I hadn’t been exposed to before.

To be honest, I never fully felt like design was “for me.” My grandfather started an aerospace electroplating company, so I grew up around factories and machinery, nothing remotely aesthetic or artistic. Any references I had to design came from work and pure curiosity, even as a kid. There was no balance between life and work in my family—it was all one thing. Work was just an extension of who we were. So when I worked at companies like Anyon, Lawson-Fenning, and later Martin & Brockett, it didn’t feel like a big shift, it just was.

That mindset (that work and self are one), means I can only stay in places that truly support my growth and creativity. I know that’s a bit of a privileged stance to take, but I’ve thrown myself into design fully. It’s just how I operate.

What should our readers know about your business?
So at Studio Miranda Martin, I wanted to be a resource to the trade. I have a woodworker and an upholsterer here in Los Angeles who created my pieces. We offer complete customization alongside The Collection. It’s always growing, I’m constantly designing new stuff. Right now my apartment is functioning as a showroom so theres limited space haha.
I think what sets me apart from others is that because I am so small and most of our stuff is made to order, really the sky is the limit for clients. For all my made to order upholstery I offer C.O.M. so designers can really let their artistry shine in their projects.
The goal here is to allow the designers or clients who buy stuff from me to control the narrative of what they like, the kind of materials, colors, and textures.
I also do interior design projects. I want the studio to grow and evolve with how I feel and where I am in life.

I am most proud of the fact that it’s made in Los Angeles and it is latino owned an operated. In the interior design industry, our community tends works in the background. The workrooms, movers, upholsters etc…. So it’s very empowering to be forward facing.

No it was not easy, it was very scary. I was doing design stuff outside of my 9-5 job at Martin and Brockett. On the weekends, even still I do photography work for Lawson-Fenning. Outside of all this, I was doing quality visits at the workshops, designing, and building the brand. It was really exhausting once I officially launched Studio Miranda Martin but sort of addicting. My advice for any creative person, you just have to do it. Do something because there is never a “good moment” which is what I was always hoping for.

Lessons I learned is never burn a bridge EVER and to always leave the door open. Be very open and honest with those you work for about what your long term career goals are, even if they change. I feel really lucky to have remained friends with all my former employees and colleagues. These are the people who are growing alongside you.

I want the world to know that my brand is an extension of me, and that I wasn’t born into a world that really saw design. I came from a world of a factory, a suburb in East LA, a family where most of the members spoke spanish. My origin taught me that work identity, not a job. So when I created Studio Miranda Martin, it’s personal, although not a about trends what looks “expensive” It’s about creating a piece that can tell a story for a space and those who inhabit it. Although I take alot of pride and what I produce, it’s important to know that these are all material things, so living with them, letting things get beat up and worn is part of their beauty.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
So this is funny because as social and outwardly loud I am I always do the same sort of things. I live on Formosa and Sunset Blvd, right now, so usually I love to host dinners and cocktail parties. So I’d start with cocktails Friday night around 7, then at 8 we’d go to to Horses down the street. When I order food I go IN! Later that night if it’s someone who likes to dance depending if we are committing to staying west-side or east-side. If we are staying local I’d say go to soho house for drinks and if they’re doing a dj set. if not I really like dirty laundry or No Vacancy. After being out late somehow we always end up in Weho lol. If we want to go east side we go to Tenants of the Trees always!

Next Morning, I hate gettting coffee at “spots” so I usually make it at home. I will never wait in line for a coffee or a matcha lol. I love browsing showrooms. so I’d for sure show them 7th house gallery on melrose, Lawson-Fenning of course! I love fragrences and most of my friends do to so I’d go to Scent Bar on beverly Blvd then walk over to Nickey kehoe to see some of their home stuff. Lunch nearby my all time FAVORITE taco spot is Esquella. It’s a bit pricy but truly so good and so simple, everyone I take there loves it even my parents (harshest critics).

Always the Getty because it’s free. galleries like Rhett Baruch Gallery, Rhett is a mutual of mine now and he’s such a go getter. Make Room, and probably Lisson Gallery.

Of course at some point Mozza, the Osteria or Chi Spaca. It’s an institution.

I like to go to places where people geek out about the thing they’re interested in, and places that we get to know each other by name. At Scent bar, people love it because everyone that works there is obsessed with scent. same thing for the showrooms. I’ve made some of the coolest friendships through showrooms or meeting people that are obsessed with design. At Esquella it’s still family owned, and all the staff there have been there since I started going.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’m so excited about this. Without a shadow of a doubt, Glenn Lawson. He founded Lawson-Fenning alongside his business partner Grant Fenning. Glenn has always been a huge cheerleader for me and really encouraged. Really being apart of his orbit has given me so much confidence. I always felt like we had a short hand in understanding each other, and I have always respected and looked up to what he and Grant have built. Working at Lawson-Fenning really changed my life. it was the most empowering thing I really have done to date. There is a sense of family and community, and as an only child, I really am always seeking a big family internally. I feel like there I found myself and found my people.

Another person who really launched this later part of my design career is Jason Martin the founder of Martin and Brockett. He really took a chance hiring me as his Creative Manager. There I was working directly under him and I learned the ins and outs of furniture and interior design. He let me draw custom pieces for projects we did and having to go from a drawing to a physical product was incredibly rewarding and it really was what made the jump to launch Studio Miranda Martin. I always felt really lucky to know him just as a talented person.

Website: https://studiomirandamartin.com

Instagram: studiomirandamartin

Image Credits
All photos done by me. The model is Alleyda Barazza

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