10 Questions for Dream Home Design Manager Julie Watros

Dream Home Design, 301 No. Santa Cruz Ave., was opened in November of 2010 and specializes in importing fine, hand-made furniture, antiques, hand-woven rugs, and accessories from several countries around the world. While the warehouse is located in San Leandro, the business' only showroom is found in Los Gatos. Open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 12 noon-5 p.m. Sundays, the furniture store is managed by Julie Watros and the other employee is her son Wesley Watros. Dream Home Design has been importing furniture for more than 30 years and prides itself on the uniqueness and quality of our merchandise. Many times a year, owners Abdul and Ferozan Ibrahimi travel to Africa, India, Nepal, China, Peru, Brazil, Pakistan, Tibet, and Afghanistan to hand pick our furniture. The business carries a large reclaimed wood collection, which displays beautiful natural colors, stability, durability, hardness, and texture. Details: 408-827-4171.

Los Gatos Patch: What did you dream of being as a kid?

Julie Watros: A doctor. I actually did graduate from medical school and have a medical degree.

Patch: How does your personality play into your business?

Watros: I love working with people. We're a furniture store, but I have a design background. If people need that we offer that, too. 

Patch: At what moment did you decide to open a business?

Watros: The showroom opened in November of 2010.

Patch: What inspired you?

Watros: We're a wholesale company and we decided that we wanted to sell to the public as well. We opened the Los Gatos store, which is our only retail location.

Patch: Describe the biggest challenge of owning a business in the town of Los Gatos?

Watros: Not having enough furniture in the store.

Patch: Describe the best thing about owning a business in the town of Los Gatos?

Watros: The people here are incredible. I've been in the furniture business for 25 years and these are the nicest people I've ever worked with anywhere.

Patch: What is one thing you would never change about your business?

Watros: The uniqueness of our business. We have so many pieces that are one-of-a-kind and even though I get a lot of frustrated people because they come back and something has sold, It's really a neat thing to be able to offer our customers those unique pieces.

Patch: What is your business' greatest asset?

Watros: The quality of our merchandise because people know they can rely on it. We buy from all over the world, but the owners handpick everything themselves.

Patch: What is your favorite spot in town?

Watros: I can't even go there because I live an hour away from Los Gatos and I commute home and commute to work.

Patch: What's one thing the community should know about you?

Watros: We just want people to know that we're here for them. If they're hunting for something specific, we will do everything that we can to find it for them.