About Decoratives Specialists, Inc
A journey of art, restoration, and timeless design expertise.
Who is Behind All This?
Julie Cravens is a highly skilled custom artist specializing in decorative painting and restoration, with a diverse range of expertise that encompasses faux furniture, murals, furniture refinishing, architectural restoration, and decorative painting. Her artistic journey began in the realm of art restoration at a gallery in Florida, where she honed her skills and passion for preserving and enhancing the beauty of various art forms.
A Lifetime Devoted to Decorative Excellence
With an illustrious career spanning over 30 years, Julie Cravens stands as a seasoned expert in the field of restoration and decorative painting. Her journey began in a gallery in Florida, and over the years, she has evolved into a sought-after artisan, collaborating with designers, builders, architects, fellow artists, restorers, and conservators alike.
Julie's artistic prowess and dedication to her craft propelled her to seek new challenges and opportunities. Her journey took her to prominent artistic hubs such as Boston, New York, and Washington, D.C., where she refined her abilities to transform surfaces into stunning illusions. With a remarkable ability to mimic the appearance of metals, marbles, woods, and Venetian plaster, Julie can make anything look like a work of art.
Julie's collaborative spirit has led her to work with designers, builders, architects, and fellow artists on projects of all scales and complexities. From custom murals and commissions to gold leafing, furniture refinishing, and frame repairs, she has left her artistic mark on a multitude of spaces and objects.
Her reputation for excellence is not confined to traditional restoration; Julie has been entrusted with unique projects, such as blending stained concrete flooring seamlessly and transforming resin outdoor sculptures into convincing bronze masterpieces. Through her artistry and technical prowess, she has become a trusted partner in breathing new life into a variety of environments.
One of Julie's distinctive talents lies in the creation of custom murals, commissions, gold leafing, furniture refinishing, and frame repairs. She has become a sought-after expert in building conservation and art conservation, contributing to the preservation of both historic and contemporary pieces. Her skills extend beyond traditional restoration, as she has been entrusted with projects such as blending stained concrete flooring seamlessly and transforming a resin outdoor sculpture into a convincing bronze masterpiece.
Versatility defines Julie's work, and she is capable of creating murals of all kinds to breathe life into any room. Her ability to envision and execute artistic transformations is evident in her capacity to revitalize residential and commercial spaces through furniture refinishing. This includes repainting cabinets, rejuvenating light fixtures, refinishing countertops, and employing various painting and finishing techniques to bring a new aesthetic to any environment.
Julie Cravens continues to leave her artistic imprint on spaces across the country, blending creativity, technical expertise, and a passion for preservation. Through her unique combination of skills, she has become a trusted artist in the realm of decorative painting and restoration, bringing artistry and life to surfaces that others might overlook.
“I have been a restoration artist for the past 30 years. I have worked with designers, builders, architects, artists, restorers, and conservators for all kinds of projects. Have had my business since 1999. I love being creative and having the ability to share my talents with clients. I really enjoy what I do and put my heart and soul into each project. My goal is to have a satisfied client and to meet the needs of each project.”
Julie Cravens
John Canning Company
Worked at the Michigan State Capitol from October 2023 until January 2024. Worked on the Rotunda restoration/conservation project.
May 3, 2024
To Whom it may concern,
Julie Cravens and I have known each other for about 17 years.
In 2017, Julie came to work with Building Arts & Conservation on a project at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Wyandotte, MI. She has her own studio and was able to accommodate work on ten paintings of the saints and medallions on canvas (6ft x 3ft). She recreated the medallions from photographic images and matched colors from samples of original painting colors. The saints were cleaned, restored, re-touched and varnished before being reinstalled on the ceiling of the church.
August 14th, 2020.
To whom it may concern,
Julie Cravens has worked as a freelance conservation technician at the Art Conservation Laboratory of Michigan since 2018. During all this time, she has participated in numerous and diverse conservation projects involving the conservation of paper, ceramics, and paintings among others. Through these years I have learned to know Julie from a professional and a personal level and I can speak highly of her.
Throughout these years, Ms. Craves has demonstrated a strict work ethic as well as great ability to complete the treatments that she has been assigned to. While collaborating with us, she has consolidated paintings and artifacts. She has also performed cleaning treatments and retouching processes with great success. When given the description and specifications of a treatment, she is able carry the process all the way to completion. During her work as a freelance conservation technician, she has proved an exceptional manual dexterity and visual ability which she has used to perform and complete treatments that have been assigned to her. She has the ability to work independently and is a positive collaborator.
Ms. Cravens has high standards and will always do whatever is needed to accomplish the utmost results. In addition to her technical abilities, she is also a very reliable, punctual and hardworking person. Julie is extremely resourceful and organized. She is also a great team player. She will certainly be a great asset to any team. We have enjoyed working with her and are going to miss her. Shall she interested in participating with our laboratory in the future, we would be delighted to have her in the team. On the other hand, we support her in her new endeavors and we are sure she will succeed in any field she chooses to pursue.
Shall you have further questions about Ms. Cravens, please feel free to call our offices at (734) 882-8116 or email me at cberenfeld@artconlab.com.
Sincerely,
Celina Contreras Berenfeld
Senior Paintings Conservator and Head Conservator The Art Conservation Laboratory, LLC.
3947 Steamboat Ct. Ann Arbor, MI 48108
www.artconlab.com
(734) 882-8116
Julie worked with Evergreene Architectural Arts, contributing to the restoration efforts of the Robert E. Lee house at Arlington Cemetery. Her involvement in this high-profile project showcased her ability to work on historically significant structures with precision and expertise.
As the lead production manager at The Valley Craftsmen LTD for many years, Julie played a pivotal role in overseeing and managing various aspects of the production process. Her leadership skills were instrumental in ensuring the successful execution of projects undertaken by the company.
Julie's journey in the restoration field began at Pavo Real Gallery, where she not only fixed broken artworks but also demonstrated a keen ability to match colors seamlessly. Her roles expanded to include sales, management, and buying responsibilities. Julie's dedication and skills saw her relocate with the company, contributing to its success in Florida, Boston, New York, and Washington DC.
Julie's recent endeavors have included significant transformations within her own living spaces. During the Covid period, she undertook ambitious projects such as completely revamping her daughter and son's room, engaging in furniture restoration, renovating her living room, and adding a bathroom to her art studio. These projects involved a wide range of skills, including welding, woodworking, and painting. She also delved into the realm of drawings and portrait paintings, showcasing her multifaceted artistic talents.
Vase Repair
From: To :
Lanny Littlejohn, MD Prospective Clients
SUBJ:
LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION FOR THE INCREDIBLY TALENTED JULIE KAUFMAN-CRAVENS To whom it may concern,
This letter of recommendation is written to highlight the outstanding work of an incredibly talented restoration artist, par-excellence.
In the spring of 2022 our family had a significant challenge on hand. We were renting a furnished apartment in Encinitas, CA and a rambunctious 4 year old boy (our son)was left alone in a room with a four foot tall, hand-crafted, large scale terra cotta vase that we had heard was valued at over $10K.
Sculpture Restoration
Julie Cravens' team of experts can expertly restore and conserve your valuable sculptures, no matter the size or material. They employ a range of techniques to restore sculptures to their original glory and ensure their longevity.
Letters of Recommendation
