because we love design
JL Design Associates is the brain child of Julia Walters Curanaj, founded in 2002 to be her dream firm. Since its founding, JLDA has become a leader in planning, design and project management. We are a full service commercial interior design firm specializing in corporate, multi-family housing, hospitality, salon academies, medical and retail.
the team
JULIA WALTERS CURANAJ
President
Julia is an award-winning Interior Designer and Principal of JLDA, a firm with vast capabilities and talent lands projects from Perth, Australia to Paris, France (and everywhere in between). Her penchant for design started in childhood when Julia decided she was a big city girl and wanted to live in a loft. With that, she "redesigned" her room with gusto (much to her parents' dismay, then later much to their delight)! Undeterred, Julia went on to graduate from Parsons School of Design and prior to founding JLDA in 2002, she was a Senior Associate to leading global architectural firm Swanke Hayden Connell. Julia's list of clients include Bank of America, Kao Brands, Pitney Bowes, University of Connecticut and RMS Companies.
Professional Accreditations:
State of Connecticut Licensed Interior Designer # IDE 0003828
WBENC WBE Certification: July 2010
NCIDQ Certification #1199: October 1993
Professional Affiliations:
Professional IIDA Member #114804: January 2000
Professional ASID Member #1214816: July 1997
LESLEY ROSE MAY
Vice President
Lesley also has a lifelong passion for design, although her childhood start only involved an obsession with LEGO blocks and a parentally sanctioned redesign of her room. After getting her Masters of Architecture from Syracuse University, she went on to work at a number of the leading design firms in the area, starting at Swanke Hayden Connell where she met Julia. Over her career Lesley has designed, planned and project managed build-outs of all sizes for clients including Synchrony, Tudor Investment, United States Tennis Association, GE Capital Americas and Mountain Development.
Professional Accreditations:
M. Arch
LEED AP Certified