Hailing from the Loire Valley in central France, Julien Legeard grew up surrounded by architectural greatness. It was then that his curiosity for detailing, materiality, and design burgeoned. After completing his studies, Julien moved to New York City and founded The Prestige Group, a collective of craftsmanship and skillful execution of high-end architectural projects. After a decade of success in the design industry, Julien launched Legeard Studio, an architectural and interior design services firm focused on impactful and timeless designs. Julien believes that while technology is very important, tradition, skill, and craftsmanship bring passion to a design. Learn more about Julien Legeard in today’s Designer Friday.
This open-concept living space offers two lounge setups, which allow guests to have an option on where and how to relax.
Andrew Joseph: Describe your design style as if you were explaining it to someone who cannot see.
Julien Legeard: Interiors should feel timeless and evoke positive emotions to make the homeowner feel protected within their personal sanctuary. Mixed metals, sculptural sofas and coffee tables, and dynamic color palettes are simply a taste of the several design elements we consider to translate these ideas of rest and relaxation into each curated environment.
AJ: If you weren’t a designer, you’d be a ….?
JL: I’ve always been a big sports fan. If I weren’t a designer, I’d be a soccer coach.
AJ: What’s the weirdest thing a client has ever asked you?
JL: The weirdest, and probably one of the most tedious requests I’ve ever received from a client was to install an infinity pool for his beachfront property, except the length of the pool needed to line up perfectly with the horizon. We actually measured the client’s height to ensure his eyeline was aligned, as well!
This Asian fusion restaurant blends eastern and western influences, combining wabi-sabi and modern-day New York elements to create a captivating sensory dining experience.
AJ: What’s your design pet peeve?
JL: Whenever a client says, “We want white walls.” I understand the desire to have a clean, crisp look, but there’s so much more that can be done creatively with walls like a fun wallpaper, pops of color, or artwork.
AJ: What was your first job?
JL: In my first real job, I represented a company that sold traditional, gilded 18th-century chandeliers at the New York Design Center (NYDC) as the showroom manager. I have such a fondness for tradition and craftsmanship, so this was such a great opportunity to work in this type of environment.
AJ: What would your dream project or dream client be right now?
JL: I would love to design a real smart home. By “real,” I mean a home that embraces the technological advancements made over the last decade. Lately, homes have been treated as a decorative element, but technology allows us designers to put humans back at the centerplace of the home. Automation, thermal detection, fingerprint recognition, and more make designing smart environments crafted specifically around the user possible. Paired with a contemporary and minimalist style, I believe we can create places where people feel good within their own unique sanctuary. The technology makes the homeowner’s life easier, and the less-is-more design style allows the user to make the house their home through personal touches.
Bathing in luxury amidst the clouds, this opulent white marble bathroom transports you to serenity as you soak in the bathtub, gazing out upon the breathtaking skyline of New York City.
AJ: How would you define your work in three words?
JL: I would say my work is authentic, timeless, and meaningful.
AJ: What might the architecture and design world look like in 10 years?
JL: There are two newer design mindsets that have gained popularity over the last few years—metaverse environments and sanctuary settings—I feel will continue to flourish over the next decade. The dichotomy between the crazy virtual experience and an authentic, holistic experience lead for other styles to emerge between the two, as well. One hope is that any and all approaches are as sustainable as possible.
About the Maker | Legeard Studio is an architecture and interior services firm known for creating timeless, impactful designs at the convergence of art, architecture, and technology. Through an interdisciplinary and collaborative approach, the studio’s impressive portfolio exhibits a powerful range of design expertise across high-end residential and commercial spaces in New York, Miami, Chicago, Los Angeles, and beyond. Each project aims to bring soul, energy, and context to form a thoughtful, sophisticated, and refined aesthetic. Demonstrating a deep understanding of the ever-shifting dynamics of the built environment, Legeard Studio aims to address these shifts through emerging techniques, innovative materials, and a sustainable mindset.
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