Jules Leleu was born in Bologne-sur-Mer, France and at age 26 succeeded his father in the family painting business. With his brother he began work in the Decorating field. After World War I, Leleu specialized in furniture making. He opened a Paris gallery in 1924 and exhibited at the 1925 Exposition Industrielle et Arts Decoratifs. Leleu designed the Grand Salon of the Ambassadors at the Society of Nations in Geneva and the French Embassies of several nations. He contributed furnishings for numerous steamships in the 1930's.