MY STORY

Lifestyle, fashion, music and design has always been my interest. When visiting Finland in the summer of 1998, the year of the Alvar Aalto centenary, my partner and I decided to create a lifestyle brand featuring the classics of Scandinavian design. The aim was to promote Scandinavian design by telling its versatile story through a retail concept we named Skandium. The first store in Marylebone, central London, was soon to be followed by a concession in Selfridges and subsequently a few more stores. I held the role of creative director, overseeing initially all visual aspects of the business, from buying to store display, advertising, building PR relationships, branding identity and very soon catering for interior design which I enjoyed immensely.

We communicated merchandise content by telling the story of each product. Amongst other, we created the Iittala tabletop and kitchen concept, bringing together products from as early as the 1920’s to current time, presenting each item with a short introduction. This, to mark their significance of how our present day has been shaped by these products and the philosophies behind them. Often it was impossible to see the birthdate of an item, old and current designs created a seamless flow, emphasising their timeless value of thoughtful shape and function. Iittala, the manufacturer, later adapted and built their international lifestyle concept on this concept.

To further communicate our products and their history I developed and published two in-house magazines:

https://issuu.com/skandium/docs/skandium_newsprint__1

https://issuu.com/skandium/docs/skandium_newsprint__2

Our Skandium journey lasted eighteen years before my co-founder and I left the business at the end of 2016. Since then, I have championed my own interior design business naming it ‘Scandinavian Dialogue by Christinas Interiors’. The Scandinavian stories will always be the backbone of my work and life philosophy, but now no longer representing specific brands only, I am free to add ideas and designs from all around the world. Mixing different cultures and time frames and keeping a clear, clean visual language is my ambition at all times.

One of my favourite styles is the harmonious simplicity found in Eastern cultures. It never seizes to mesmerise how well executed simplicity always trumps. The movement of Modernism in the West promoted simple solutions, elements we perceive today as good standards of everyday living, something I much advocate. I am inspired by light and space and to find just the perfect visual tone for each project. A room should never overflow but be able to breathe and hold space for the people using it. Every house has its innate personality to be communicated in an individual, innovative way. When listening to the building and what it asks for, it is not just a protector against the elements but makes it a strong, supportive partner in life. 

I now advise on a full range of interior design services for private and corporate clients as well as public spaces. Through the use of carefully selected materials and a precise colour palette to suit the required project, my aim is to create simple, yet exceptional spaces to be enjoyed by all who are using it.

I much admire good craftsmanship, diversity of cultures, innovative viewpoints, all to promote a life well-lived. The way we live shall be reflected in our choices of life at large, keeping health and wellbeing at the forefront, everything is everything.

I have co-authored two books published by Ryland Peter & Small, Scandinavian Modern and Scandinavian Country, the first translated into 11 languages.

Scandinavian design through its purity and integrity is a natural companion to a wide range of cultural influences and a variety of styles. The design ethos and production quality of the Scandinavian tradition have deeply influenced not just my style preference but also my ethos of what good quality living emphasises. It is easily mixed with both antique and ethnic pieces and so a good companion to create a wide variety of visual stories. Story telling is a very strong aspect in all projects I undertake. Everyone has a story and finding ways to express these is an adventure I help to visualise. Through stories we define who we are, building a foundation, expressing our identity.

Good interior execution enhances the quality of our everyday. By carefully choosing materials, colours, proportions, art and objects, we strengthen our pace and thereby support ourselves.

Product development is an additional area that interests me much. It’s exciting to explore the possibilities and varieties at hand to birth a new product. Sourcing materials, connecting with makers and crafts people, exploring a journey together, is thrilling.

Let’s create spaces that help bring out the best in us.

Books

Published Works