Studio 34 Furniture & Design was established in January 2019. However, it’s owners, Marilyn, Christopher, and Kate Petry, have a long-rooted history in the furniture industry spanning three generations.

Marilyn Petry was born in Germany to parents Helga and Walter Loesche, who started a family furniture store in Newnan in 1987 (locals may have known it as Juliana’s Furniture Galleries) due to a devastating house fire.

In earlier years, Marilyn received her accounting degree from Florida Southern College, a campus designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, giving her a slight premonition that design was in her future. There she met her husband, Richard, an Army Officer who was soon stationed in Italy for two years. While abroad, she had her first-born son, Christopher, who also had a passion instilled in him for beautiful furniture at a young age.

In 1996, they relocated to Newnan, Georgia so Marilyn could become an integral part of the family furniture store. She has now started her very own furniture store, Studio 34 Furniture & Design, with her son, Christopher, and daughter-in-law, Kate.

In her spare time, Marilyn enjoys spending time with her three children, two grandchildren and repairing and refinishing antique furniture.

Christopher Petry was born in Italy to parents Marilyn and Richard while they were stationed abroad. When the Petry’s relocated to Newnan, Georgia in 1996 for Marilyn to head the family furniture store, Christopher spent his afternoons after school helping with deliveries.

In 2004, shortly after graduating high school, he felt a calling to join the United States Marine Corps to fight for his country after the 9/11 attacks. During his enlistment, he went on three deployments: first, a Mediterranean float; second, Fallujah, Iraq; lastly, Ramadi, Iraq. After completing his last deployment, Christopher took advantage of the GI Bill and attended the University of North Florida where he later met his wife, Kate. There he studied Political Science, but realized furniture and design was where his heart lies.

He moved back to Newnan and started working at the family furniture store again in 2011. When he came back, it wasn’t what he remembered it being. The recession hit hard and the store needed a major update. Christopher and his mother, Marilyn, decided to partner together and revive Juliana’s. Now, nine years later, after successfully reviving the business, he has started his own furniture store with his mother and wife.

When he isn’t working, Christopher enjoys spending time with his wife and their two pups, Ramsey and Oliver.

Kate Petry was born in Boynton Beach, Florida to parents Rudy and Dawn Nath. She grew up half of her childhood there in South Florida and the other in Michigan. She enjoyed experiencing the very different lifestyles of coastal city living and country farm life.

After graduating high school, Kate attended the University of North Florida and in 2011 earned her Bachelors of Business Administration degree with a concentration in Finance and Investments. She graduated Summa Cum Laude and received the “Finance Senior of the Year” award.

Kate started working for a Retirement Plan Services company immediately after graduating. During her ladder climb, she relocated to Newnan, Georgia and married her husband, Christopher. The newlyweds bought their first home and after decorating, Kate was hooked. Furniture and design was where she belonged. So, she worked in Finance for three more years before deciding to follow her heart.

In October 2018, Kate joined the family at Juliana’s. There she has helped with the website, social media and sales. It was clear immediately that she, Marilyn and Christopher made an excellent team, so she joined them in starting their own store, Studio 34 Furniture & Design.

When Kate isn’t designing, she enjoys cooking, baking and spending time with her husband and two pups.