Julie Riggin - Principal Designer
Julie Riggin is an award-winning interior designer whose passion and achievements in design have positioned her as one of Colorado’s best. As a formally trained interior designer from the University of Missouri, Julie unlocks a unique level of depth through her mutual consideration of interior function and personality. Her trademark style is evident through the sophisticated yet fun use of color, texture, and light, and every home she designs receives her personal signature of timeless casual elegance and simplicity.
Before establishing Julie Kay Design Studio in 2012, she spent several years working in Chicago sharpening her technical skills in the luxury residential interior design world. Her husband’s profession as a U.S. Army Artillery Officer meant Julie would be moving to exciting new cities across the nation, which gave her the opportunity to expand her design style, knowledge, and experience. Her distinguished designs can be seen in homes throughout the country, and her work and expertise have been featured by premier publications and websites including Elle Décor, The Cottage Journal, The Washingtonian, Northern Virginia Magazine, Colorado Homes & Lifestyle Magazine, and Colorado Springs Lifestyle. In 2022, Julie was awarded Colorado’s top ‘5 Under Forty’ designers/architects and made it on The Fabulous List 2022 as one of Colorado’s masters of Interior Design. Additionally, JKDS was listed as one of the Colorado’s Top Interior Design Firms in 2023 and 2024.
Julie enjoys exploring the Colorado outdoors with her husband and 2 children as well as traveling, painting, hiking, skiing, and trying new restaurants.
The Team
Kelsey Berens - Senior Interior Designer
Kelsey was born and raised in South Dakota, where she found herself always gravitating towards beautifully appointed spaces. As she grew, so did her love for all things Interior Design, leading her to pursue both of her Bachelor’s of Interior Design and Consumer Affairs Business Management from South Dakota State University. Kelsey continued to expand her industry knowledge as a commercial designer for four years, where she specialized in hospitality, corporate, historic, government and faith-based projects. She has designed and managed various scaled projects ranging from 500-200,000 square feet. Kelsey joined the JKDS team in June of 2022, where she has brought her love for texture, minimalistic style, and a keen eye for enhanced, functional design.
Outside of the office, she loves spending time in the mountains, traveling with her high school sweetheart, and spending time with her friends and family.
Rachel Jacobs- Junior Interior Designer
Rachel was raised in Georgia and graduated from Georgia Southern University where she received her Bachelor’s of Interior Design. She previously worked in residential and Aerospace design, where she managed multiple projects while continuing her growth in material selections, furnishings, and knowledge of the overall building process. She pushes herself to think outside the box to create beautiful spaces for any and every client. Rachel enjoys utilizing warm tones, cozy textiles, and standout pieces.
Rachel moved to Colorado in 2023 with her husband, an Officer in the U.S. Army. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, reading, and playing with her 2 dogs.
Cassandra Tong - Business Manager
Cassandra originally sought a career working for the FBI. She began as a patrol officer for her Tennessee hometown municipal police department. Before receiving a Bachelor's of Science in Business Administration and Finance, she traveled all over the U.S. and Europe before landing in Colorado. Cassandra spent a few years applying her degree by working in Human Resources for a private prison and then Operations Management for a staffing firm. She joined the JKDS team in 2022 to spearhead operations, procurement, and all other administrative duties.
In her free time, you can find her tackling DIY home remodeling projects and spending time with her 2 daughters.
Ready to get started?
If you can’t wait to create a beautiful, functional home for your family — let’s chat.