Today we’d like to introduce you to Julie Charrison.
Hi Julie, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My career has been guided by one core belief: the space we live in—and the environment we move through— shape who we are and who we become. I didn’t start out in real estate. I began in finance for companies who make and sell products like Pepsi, Harley Davidson motorcycles and billiard tables, and medical equipment. I built a Pilates studio rooted in education, and trust. That work taught me how deeply I need to value people, clarity, and calm. I value and I believe others value someone who can steady the process when things feel overwhelming- and that’s now me. I love giving information and sharing ideas, it’s what inspires me to continue.
Real estate became a natural evolution of that mindset. And, to tell you the truth, I have a husband who has been doing home building, development, residential and commercial real estate and auctioneering is whole life over in England so it was inevitable I would be doing this kind of work at some point in my life. We work perfectly together and our skills support each other both at home and at work.
I think of it like this….Homes, like Bodies, require thoughtful attention. They respond to intention, balance, and design—and when approached well, they support people through some of the most meaningful transitions of their lives. Alongside my husband, we have built Charrison Real Estate with the philosophy that buying or selling a home isn’t just a transaction; it’s an opportunity to realign how someone lives. I love that!
Interior design bridges those worlds for me. It’s where function meets feeling. Whether I’m preparing a home for market or advising a client on how to reimagine a space, I’m focused on revealing potential—showing people what’s possible when a space truly works for them.
Today, my work sits at the intersection of real estate, design, and wellness. In each, the role is the same: to guide, to refine, and to create environments—physical and emotional—where people feel grounded and confident moving forward. That through-line is what ties every chapter of my story together.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No—it’s been anything but smooth, and that’s precisely what shaped the way I work today. I’ve lived through multiple international moves, from the United States to Germany, then Germany to England, and eventually to North Carolina. Each move came with its own set of challenges—logistics, uncertainty, cultural adjustment, and the emotional weight of starting over in a new place.
In England alone, I moved seven times in seven years. That means seven times, I had a billiard table with 3 pieces of heavy slate broken down and put back up in another house. And when I moved internationally, I brought my Harley Davidson in the container, and I had to consider every electronic item and its voltage that I owned from a heated blanket to a toaster. That experience gives you a very real education in what a move actually feels like—not just on paper, but in your body and your family life. You learn how disruptive and exhausting it can be, even when the move is chosen and positive. You also learn what makes a house feel like a home quickly, and what mistakes to avoid.
Those experiences are why I deeply understand clients who are relocating, downsizing, upsizing, or making a move to improve their quality of life. I don’t see real estate as a series of boxes to check—I see it as a transition that deserves care, foresight, and calm leadership. Having navigated moves across countries, cultures, and seasons of life, I know how important it is to feel anchored during change.
The road hasn’t been smooth—but it’s made me exceptionally steady and I now use that to help others.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Charrison Real Estate and Pilates at Studio 8?
Charrison Real Estate and Pilates at Studio 8 were built on the same principle: smaller, more thoughtful, and deeply intentional work produces better outcomes. We are proudly boutique—not high-volume—and that choice allows us to focus on quality, strategy, and relationships rather than scale for its own sake.
At Charrison Real Estate, we specialize in residential properties, relocations, and homes where design, lifestyle, and long-term value matter. We are known for approaching real estate with a trained eye—combining market knowledge, interior design, and strategic presentation to reveal a home’s full potential. From pricing and staging to marketing and negotiation, every decision is deliberate. We don’t chase transactions; we curate outcomes.
Pilates at Studio 8 reflects that same mindset. It’s a small, precision-based studio focused on intelligent movement, longevity, and strength—particularly for women navigating midlife transitions. The studio emphasizes education, breath, and form, creating an environment where clients feel grounded, capable, and supported. And we have a laugh while doing it.
What sets both brands apart is the way they treat people in moments of transition. Whether someone is preparing to sell a home, relocating across the country, or rebuilding strength in their body, the process can feel overwhelming. Our team at each company and my role is to bring clarity, steadiness, and confidence to those moments.
Brand-wise, what I’m most proud of is trust. Both businesses have grown through referrals and long-term relationships, not volume marketing. Clients know they will be listened to, advised honestly, and guided with care. I want readers to know that behind both brands have the same promise: thoughtful leadership through a process like home buying and pilates exercise, then refined strategy for each person or family, and then reviewing environments—homes or bodies—that truly support the life being lived inside them.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
One of my favorite childhood memories is sitting in the church fellowship hall with my mother after Sunday services or during her Bible study, me reading a book quietly in the corner so she can attend the different functions at church. I am the last of 6 children so I had to just “fit in”. In my memory, I’m eating banana bread, drinking tea and holding a book, at every church function from probably 6 years old and up. It was simple and unremarkable at the time, but it’s a memory rooted in warmth of the ladies at church who cared about me, rhythm or what you might call habit of attending the events, and the smiles and joys of togetherness and a shared existence with my family. I grew up Methodist, and those quiet moments in church—community, conversation, and care—left a lasting impression on me.
It’s funny how life circles back. I’m now married to a British man who jokes that he married me for the way I make my tea, and my children have learned to bake banana bread the same way I did. Watching them carry those small traditions forward makes me incredibly proud and also just content. What once felt ordinary has become something meaningful—a reminder that the simplest rituals are often the ones that stay with us the longest.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.charrisonrealestate.com and www.pilatesatstudio8.com
