Rita Chraibi

Photo Credit: Juan Pablo Castro

Rita recently discussed her design background with Haute Design and explained how it affects her approach with high-end clients.

Haute Design: How has your rich design background influenced your career?

Rita Chraibi: When I was young, my dream was to become a fashion designer. Life has steered me toward the world of interior design. I had the chance to study in a world-renowned prestigious architecture and design schools in Paris, École Camondo, but I kept this love and passion for the world of creation and fashion design. This is why in my creations I always incorporate major fabric brands such as Christian Lacroix, Jean-Paul Gauthier, Hermès, Missoni, etc. The thought process is that they 'dress' my interiors the same way a fashion designer would dress a unique top model on fashion runways. I think, in the luxury spectrum, this touch humanizes the spaces and adds a chic and simultaneously 'haute couture' signature.

Haute Design: As we know, the process of interior design depends not only on the designer but the client as well. How do you share enough about the client but also control the design narrative all at once?

Rita Chraibi: I believe the role of an interior designer is to tell the story of an interior. This interior has to be as unique as its story. I always listen very closely to my clients' expectations in order to create and design up to the standard of expectations of their dreams. It is from those dreams that I tell a story - a unique story: the story of the interior. To me, this is the most important role an interior designer must play at the beginning of each adventure in order to determine what a project can represent.

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Christian Siriano

Photo Credit: Shutter Stock

Christian Siriano, winner of season four of Project Runway, has pivoted from fashion to interior design by launching his debut furniture collection.

The 35-year-old designer partnered with e-commerce market place, 1st Dibs to offer an eclectic and impressive debut furniture collection. According to a report from L'Officiel, Siriano's collection includes sculptural stools, coffee tables, settees and everything in between.

Siriano first burst onto the scene when he became the youngest champion of Project Runway in 2007. Since then, he has gone onto design looks for Michelle Obama, Lady Gaga, Amy Adams, Angelina Jolie and more. He nearly broke the internet along with Billy Porter after the actor debuted an exclusive Siriano-designed look to the 2019 Oscars.

Billy Porter at 2019 Oscars

Photo Credit: Shutter Stock

Multiple pieces from Siriano's debut furniture collection continue to be available on 1st Dibs. Whether it's a stool, chair or ottoman you're looking for, this impressive collection has something to offer for any need.

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Just recently, though, an opportunity emerged for Gunn to espouse home decor professionally. He teamed up with Command Brand, the maker of the adhesive picture-hanging strips, to translate his fashion aptitude to interior-design advice with a series of wall-decorating projects that require no nails. Last week, Gunn, Command and Gilt hosted the “From the Runway to the Hallway” pop-up shop, where fashion, art and decor intuitively coalesced.

Haute Residence caught up with Gunn to learn more about his partnership with Command, his appreciation for the arts and his decor tenets.

How did your partnership with Command Brand come to be?

I am approached by brands with some frequency. I am very, very, very particular about the decisions I make about which brands I would even want to work with. As a wonderful happenstance, I am a huge Command fan and I have used it forever. So, when they approached me, I said, "Good Heaven, you are all over my apartment. I would love to have a conversation about what we can do together."

I find that decision-making about interiors and decision-making about fashion have so many correlations. People are really afraid that they get paralyzed by the decisions they have to make and they do not know what to do. With Command, because it does not have to be a permanent place, you can move things around, you are not making that commitment that a nail in the wall makes. It means that you can play, you can try it as opposed to, "Oh, I am making a lifetime commitment to this particular painting or drawing or photograph being on this particular wall." Command is just completely and utterly liberating. It is interesting - as I first began to use them, it was about, "Well, let me experiment. Let me try." But then, because they are so long-lasting, there is no reason to take the Command strips down and put a nail. It is quite fantastic. I am involved because I am a huge fan of the product.

Photo credit: Command Brand

Is this your first venture into home decor?

Yes, absolutely. I have to say, in my heart, if I were not in fashion, I would be in interiors. I think in particular living in New York, our home environment is so important to us because it is our safe haven that it is accentuated, I think, even more here. So, we really care about coming home and feeling that we are in a place that we love.

Living in New York can often mean a compromise in square feet. How can interior design make the best of the available space?

I believe that decorating our homes follows the same principles that are important in getting our fashion right. It is not about the particulars of what you have. It is about the relationships among them. I say it is about silhouette, proportion and fit. With homes, scale is very important. I do not mean that you live in a tiny apartment that everything should be of a small scale but you need to look into the relationships among those objects. I always say, do not go to a store and buy a whole apartment full of furniture there and have it delivered to you. Start with one or two pieces and then let it grow. Feel the space. Think about what proportionately and also practically you need and want, and what will fit.

I believe that decorating our walls gives us another dimension to the living space but until the furniture is places, it is not a very good idea to do that because of the proportional relationships. That goes back to the fantastic partner we all have in Command, because it does give us that freedom of latitude and that agility and ability to make changes quickly and with no damage.

Photo credit: Command Brand

When it comes to art on the walls, what artists do you admire? Are there any contemporary ones you follow?

I studied art in the 1970s and art history. So, a lot of my personal taste is more into that. I would not say I am a huge fan of a lot of contemporary art that is happening right now, but Richard Diebenkorn, Josef Albers – they are so many artists of the 20th century whose work I truly love. In terms of my home, I am more of a classicist and most of what I have is more traditional. They are just images I like living with – a lot of portraits that are 18th- and 19th-century but very affordable. I care about things that have a history and a story.

Photo credit: Michael Simon, StarTraks

What is your favorite piece of art?

My only trouble is that I have so many. If someone was to say, "Your apartment is on fire, you can only take one thing with you," I think I would rather stay and get burnt. I do not think I can run out with just one thing.

What trends in terms of decor and fashion you see converging and shaping up for the upcoming summer season?

We have four trends – and they are trends in fashion and trends in interiors as well. Stripes are big; glitter, glamour, shiny surfaces are very, very big. As are also surfaces that are textured. We are calling them trends, but they all have staying power. These are not things that are only relevant today. I am happy that they are prevalent but they will be with us forever. So, depending on your taste and point of view, there is something there for you.

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