Anyone can hang trophies on the wall or display guns in a case, but constructing a room that has a soul requires understanding a sportsman’s personality and experiences. For nearly 30 years Tom Julian, the founder of Julian & Sons Fine Woodworking, has done just that, using the finest wood to create elegant and functional art galleries, gun and trophy rooms, executive suites, home theaters, libraries, lounges, and wine cellars.
Tom, who helms the company alongside his sons, Jacob and Joe, believes a space should convey a narrative about its owner. To create this kind of environment, the Julians interview and carefully map out projects with clients, ensuring completed rooms are beautiful and reflective of the sportsmen who inhabit them. And because Tom and his sons are hunters themselves, they know a Parker side-by-side or mounted ten-point is only as important as the story behind it.
The Julians rely on old-world craftsmanship and technological innovation to transform rooms from the ground up. This often means building library cabinetry, beautiful bars, entertainment centers, tables, display cases, and other pieces to bring a room to life. They prefer to a design room from a project’s onset, so they can create a space that is stunningly expressive of a sportsman’s stories and outdoor lifestyle.
In addition to Julian & Sons’ suburb craftsmanship, they can act as a liaison among architects, artists, contractors, subcontractors, taxidermists, and specialists involved in building a space. But regardless of who else is on the job, the Julians’ custom woodwork always sets a space’s tone and never dominates the visual conversation.
In partnership with Julian & Sons, we’ve provided six pieces of advice about custom woodwork and designing a room for sportsmen.
Motifs Make Sense
When designing a study, gun room, or trophy room, first figure out what you would like to showcase (wood types, art work, particular hunts) and then find ways to incorporate and repeat these themes throughout a space. A central motif—such as your African safaris or alpine adventures—will help a room feel cohesive and well planned. Likewise, top-tier woodworking will further accentuate these concepts, add texture to a room, and complement taxidermy and collectibles.
Tell a Story
Each firearm, trophy, or piece of art is a small chapter in your life as a sportsman. Include items from your various adventures so your story comes through each time visitors cross the threshold. And remember, sometimes the smallest details are the most telling.
It’s Your Home, Not a Museum
It’s a common and understandable mistake to cram mounts onto a wall or throw guns in a case and neglect to give a room function, but a lack of purpose will leave a space feeling sterile and uninviting to friends and guests. A bar, sitting area, entertainment center, pool table, or book collection will help a room feel alive and not as a place only for viewing mounts or admiring your gun collection.
Size Matters
When hanging mounts, account for a trophy’s size in relation to the wall and distance to the floor. A Cape buffalo mount might demand more space or need to be hung higher to keep a room from feeling claustrophobic. Likewise, whitetails might fit comfortably in smaller spaces but leave larger walls feeling empty and unsatisfying. It comes down to perspective—don’t crowd small spaces and don’t leave big ones empty. Tom suggests 12- to 16-foot-high walls for large game, while 10-foot walls can accommodate smaller mounts.
Shine a Light
A well-planned lighting system can be the most-effective way to feature your collectibles, firearms, and trophies without them seeming obtrusive or decadent. Lighting should be functional and utilize accent, perimeter, and overhead fixtures to fully illuminate a room. Shadowy trophies can seem garish, so thoroughly brighten each wall, mount, and sitting area.
It’s All About Taste
How does one quantify taste? Luckily Tom has three simple and foolproof guidelines that will keep your game or gun room looking classy: 1.) Less is more is often a surefire approach, as is favoring restraint and nuance. 2.) Good design and excellent craftsmanship don’t need to be dressed up—quality woodwork will speak for itself. 3.) If your personality is woven into a room, it should feel like an extension of your life and time hunting and fishing.
For more advice about building a one-of-a-kind space, contact Julian & Sons here.
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Images provided by Julian & Sons