How does your practice evolve from initial concept to the final handmade finish?

It starts with a feeling more than a finished drawing. I think about the shape and how it'll live in someone's home, then I start building by hand and let the piece keep evolving as it takes form.

Because everything is handmade, there are always small decisions along the way; a curve that softens, a proportion that shifts, a different texture or pigment that's the part I like. The fact that it's shaped throughout a creative flow of uncertainty.

Sculptural furniture and functional art, how do you think about the balance between use and form?

The piece has to work first. A table still needs to be a table, hold things, feel stable and make sense in daily life. But furniture can do more than be useful. It can anchor a room, change the feeling of a space, and make a simple moment feel more intentional, whether it’s to share Tea, food, display a beautiful flower arrangement, or simply sit in silence. That's the balance I'm after with LOJA: pieces that are functional but still carry deep presence.

Nature feels central to your design language. How does it influence the shapes, materials, or mood?

I’m always looking at the landscapes around me and I think it naturally shapes my work. I spend a lot of time outside around stones, trees, water... Nothing in nature is too perfect, but everything has balance; that's what I try to bring into the pieces. Soft curves, weight, earthy tones, natural textures, shapes that carry the same quiet balance I see outside.

You work with natural lime finishes. What draws you to that, and how does it change the character of a piece?

I'm drawn to lime because it has life in it. It's not flat, it has depth, movement and a natural softness and coolness that reminds me of real stone. The finish varies, so every piece has small variations.

There's a practical side too: lime is breathable and naturally alkaline, which helps discourage moisture and mould from being trapped on the surface. It also connects back to old stone houses and Mediterranean walls with materials that have been used for a long time. For LOJA, the lime is what gives the pieces their character. It makes them feel earthy, raw and full of life.

There's a real sense of stillness and ceremony in your furniture. How do you hope people experience a space furnished with LOJA pieces?

I hope the pieces help people slow down a little. Not in a sophisticated way, but more through simple moments.

For me, the sense of ceremony doesn't have to be something big or loud. Most of the time, it’s hidden in the mundane moments of our daily life, the morning coffee, the pause between tasks or a long Sunday lunch. That's what I want LOJA pieces to bring into a space: presence, warmth and a feeling of connection.

What's feeling exciting or next for the studio?

What's exciting is that LOJA is starting to become real. For a long time, it was just ideas, sketches, and late nights after work. Since the first pieces were made and photographed, I've started noticing how much my way of working has shifted. Trusting the first inspiration and letting it flow in its full creativity brought lots of freedom.

Next is to keep refining the collection before the official launch and hopefully find the right studio or workshop to create more.

Julien wears Utility Shorts in Chocolate Brown and Long Sleeve in Butter