This week we got a chance to meet the very talented Julie Gordon.  After spending more than 14 years in the Housewares industry, Julie is taking her broad knowledge and sharing it with brides, grooms, homeowners, interior designers and realtors to build the Kitchen of their  dreams! Julie has represented such high quality brands as All-Clad Metalcrafters and KAI USA, Shun Knives, working directly with national retailers including Williams-Sonoma, Crate and Barrel, Sur La Table, Bed Bath and Beyond and Bloomingdales Home stores.

Whether you are looking for recipe development, brand visibility, industry trend information, custom wedding registries, kitchen design or travel and tourism from a Culinary perspective, Julie and Inspiring Kitchen are here to help.

1. What sparked your interest in housewares and drove you to make a career out of it?

I am a marketing and business development consultant with two high end housewares lines as clients. I also love to cook and entertain friends and family. Through my connections in the culinary space due to the housewares brands, I began working with customers who wanted me to share all the information that I learn about every day with those who also love to cook. That request for favorite finds and trends expanded into kitchen design and culinary travel along with recipe creation. Inspiring Kitchen was created to share all of this with anyone interested. Food brings people together after all.

2. Describe Inspiring Kitchen in four words?

Culinary, Design, Travel, Trends

3. How would you define your design aesthetics that helps people build a kitchen of their dreams?

I love a clean, modern kitchen. Sleek lines, comfortable, elegant, high quality appliances and cooking gadgets, a cook’s kitchen that is for families too. Lots of storage and counter space.

4. How do you balance creativity with commerce?

While I actively pay attention to trends, I very much want people to love their kitchens because they are a representation of their personalities and needs. Some of the products that I work with may be considered aspirational. I believe in paying for quality knowing you will get back the benefits many times over.

5. What are the biggest challenges and greatest rewards of having your own website and being such an inspiring personality?

The biggest challenge is dealing with all the technical parts of a site when you are not a technical person. The other challenge is trying to accomplish all that needs to be done (or that you want to do) when you are a small business.

The greatest reward is sharing what I get to do every day with people that are interested. Being able to share trends in the culinary, housewares, kitchen design and travel industry is enormously satisfying. Food brings people together after all. Whether in your own home, in a restaurant or traveling, you are dining with those that matter to you. That’s a wonderful thing!

6. What’s an ingredient that you just can’t live without?

Herbs and spices – this variances allows me to be creative with every dish I make. Basics like good olive oil are also key.

7. What’s your guilty pleasure?

Really good coffee ice cream (Hello Hagaan Daaz!) and Cape Cod potato chips.

8. Your fondest food memory?

Cooking with my grandmothers and Mom in the kitchen as I was growing up.

9. How do you manage to keep your skin healthy while running on a busy schedule like this?

I drink tons of water every day. I infuse the water with fruit for variety. Plus, I use moisturizer and eye cream morning and night without fail.

10. The three beauty products you wouldn’t leave the house without!

Other than moisturizer, concealer, mascara and lip gloss. Ok, and a hair band.

11. Which item(s) in your wardrobe do you cherish most?

Jewelry  that has special meaning to me either because of who gave it to me or for the occasion I received it. My Louis Vuitton wallet bought in Paris. Have had it a very long time.

12. How would you define your personal style?

Classic with well made pieces that I can mix with a trendy shirt, shoe or accessory. I’m petite so buying off the rack is challenging. I alter just about everything to get it to fit well. Plus, I get creative with buying styles designed for taller women like cropped pants that fit me full length.

13. Who is your culinary icon?

Honestly, too many to name. From my grandmothers and Mom to the amazing Chefs (celebrity and local) I have had the pleasure of working with over the years, I have learned from them all.

The post Let’s Meet Julie Gordon, The Housewares Queen appeared first on Obsessory Blog.