Julia Dutton Haidlen, ASID, CID #5327

Founder / Principal Designer

Julia Dutton Haidlen started her career in interior design over 25 years ago, from her home in Oakdale, California. With the completion of successful design projects and enthusiastic reviews, she continued to expand her business. In 1987, Julia moved the firm to its current location, at 507 West F. Street.

Julia continued her design education at San Francisco State University, then went on to earn her CID Certificate (Certified Interior Designer) in 1993 and became a professional member of ASID (American Society of Interior Designers). These credentials demonstrate professional practices, ethics, and integrity in the interior design profession.

Julia has received many awards for her design work. In 1989, she earned Best Graphic Design and Signage for AIA, Best Custom Home in 1989, by the Building Industry Association of Central California, and Honorable Mention by Sunset Magazine in 2000, for the Western Residential Interior Design Awards. In addition to interior design work, she was also honored in 1994, by the Woman of Distinction. She also received Woman of the Year, by the American Business Woman's Association.

Throughout her career, Julia has taught interior design classes at Modesto Junior College, designed stage sets for television productions for Doctor's Medical Center, and designed the image/color branding for Stanislaus County. Julia has lead her design firm in new and exhilarating direction with an ever-increasing roster of award winning residential, commercial, and health care projects.

Julia Haidlen is widely recognized for her contributions to the community as an award-winning designer, a philanthropist, a churchwoman, and a businesswoman. She has a little saying that bears repeating: "Strangers become clients, clients become friends, and friends are worth giving the gifts of one's best efforts."

Gretchen Haidlen Arbini

Interior Designer / Project Manager

Gretchen Haidlen Arbini earned her Bachelor's of Science degree from Indiana University, and joined J. Haidlen Design Associates as Project Manager, in 2001. Her first project with the firm was designing and project managing a multi-million dollar commercial facility remodel. From there Gretchen found her passion was not only interior design but also project management. With her knowledge and ability to lead, Gretchen has proven her talent for commercial design with several established clients. These projects have shown the diversity she has in commercial design. Although the first nine years of Gretchen's career focused on commercial design, residential design is also a large part of her repertoire. She has completed projects ranging from home staging, holiday décor to home remodels. Since the mid 1990's Gretchen managed retail purchasing and display for multiple home accent stores. With the addition of her contractor's license she has taken these talents into the field as well.

In 2007, Gretchen earned her Class B Contractor's License and in March of 2008, started J. Haidlen Design Construction Services, Inc. JHDCS is a sister company to J. Haidlen Design Associates, that allows for turnkey services. In addition to the firm providing interior design; they now oversee all bidding, demo, construction, and implementation.

Gretchen's design philosophy centers on functional design. Not only is her goal on all projects to provide an aesthetic space, but a functional one for the end user.

Cindy Stafford

Interior Designer

Cindy has been a Designer at J. Haidlen Design Associates since 2001. Cindy grew up in the flower business and that is where her creativity sparked. Her flair for arrangements and eye for accessorizing is what kept her interested in the design, and became a passionate hobby while working in the financial world for Morgan Stanley.

The enthusiasm Cindy had to design overpowered her financial career, and soon she transitioned her career to Interior Design, where she became a freelance designer. She has kept a balance in financing with project management and implementing functional design in her design work.

Cindy has designed and managed many kitchen and bathroom remodels throughout California. She creates spaces ranging from contemporary design to traditional design. Her ability to keep an open mind to different design solutions translates into the unique interior design that each client deserves. Designing is her passion and she derives enormous satisfaction from seeing the joy that she brings to others through artful and creative design in both residential and commercial projects.