interiors having an extraordinary sensitivity to the harmony of things relationship, honesty, and design
Spaces that combine emotional depth with refined craftsmanship to celebrate individuality through interiors that feel curated, intelligent, and unmistakably one-of-a-kind.
a home has a story to tell
0.000, 10.060The first thing I'll do is stay in the room for a little while… take a moment with the home. I believe that a
10.060, 20.080 home has a story to tell and it usually downloads onto me when I hang out
20.080, 31.220 with the house for a while. I often will ask a client if I can sit with the home by myself.
31.220, 41.320 What colors come to mind? What floor planning would make the most sense? (To) create the magic in the space
41.320, 42.960 that isn't there yet.
The earthy way I was raised and soulfully nurtured shaped my artistry and is the core of my work. I was surrounded by the great classic works of the mid-century modern masters, as my parents were collectors of their furniture. Eames, Knoll, Baughman, Platner, and their groovy counterparts co-created the warmth of my childhood home, so from day one, I understood the importance of visual impact.
Art is, I think, what makes the world go round.
Visually,
I am always
creating for
artful homes.
“Gold woven grass wallpaper that shines at certain times of the day. Italian leather bed and vintage Moroccan rug cozy up the space and keep the palette elegant.”
Christina on Developing Her Signature Style -
0.000, 12.180 When I had my first home my Spanish home in the Hollywood Hills in Bronson Canyon and I needed to furnish it. I was in my 20s and it was this
12.180, 24.560 cool Spanish place really with barrel ceilings — really incredible. I furnished this really cool house and everyone wanted to be in it. That's when I realized the impact of design, the
24.560, 38.300 impact of what goes together. A well curated house doesn't have to be expensive. It has to be well curated and everything tells a story.
38.300, 52.020 What lamp is next to a set of books, next to an end table, next to a rounded cool vintage chair that has a pillow you love from your great aunt.
52.020, 64.300 It has a blend of love, life. Not a catalog. It's not a catalog. You can't do it from a catalog. It's quick and easy, sure, but that's why
64.300, 76.440 I have a job. Because I know how to gather. It's like a hunter and gatherer thing. You go out and you find it, and you place it, and then it harmonizes with the
76.440, 88.440 next thing that comes, and the sourcing, and the vibing. All of a sudden you're down a rabbit hole and you've found 10 things that all talk to one another that will go throughout all the different
88.440, 101.480 parts of the home in different rooms. And then starts the storytelling of how the house merges all the rooms together so it doesn't feel like each room has a theme.
101.480, 108.540 It’s almost like you're designing a home and all the rooms as just one big room that happen to have walls
no one likes to get out of bed
0.000, 5.380I find beds beautiful. I find bedrooms,
5.380, 11.040 if done well, the jewel of a home. This definitely reminds us what
11.040, 15.760 we're all yearning for… you know. First of all, no one likes to get out of bed and
15.760, 18.940 there’s nothing like hanging out with your lover in a bed.
my favorite
accents are
black…
…the blacks of a fireplace, the blacks of a table, table legs, of a candlestick in bronze which has all those blackened hues.
a love for one-of-a-kind vintage pieces
I specialize in one-of-a-kind vintage, high-end artistry and custom to create that unique environment.
I have long-standing relationships with factories, craftspeople and artisans, who allow us to create and curate whatever might be required, which is an amazing resource. This is the beauty of working in this field for almost two decades; if I can’t find it, I make it.
if it doesn’t sound
well, I don’t know
why you’re living
there.
how sounds and acoustics influence how I design a room… that's sort of everything to me. If it doesn't sound well, I don't know why you're living there.
I learned a great deal while working for MXM, particularly under the guidance of Vincent Van Haaff. He was one of the most influential sound experts for music studios and production homes. And he taught me how to listen to a room. Does sound bounce? Is it echoey? Does it give you a headache because the ceilings are too high and the sound is traveling everywhere?
He would tell me how to snap in a room, and if it echoes just this certain amount, it's going to eventually give you a headache and make you want to leave. If the acoustics aren't right, it doesn't matter. You don't want to be there.
“The atmosphere mixes California luxury with rock and roll wild child.”
"The result is a spirited and romantic space that has proven to be catnip to musicians and songwriters alike. “They can’t get enough of it,” Karras shares. “It’s booked months and months in advance. It’s become the place where they all want to work.” Moroccan rugs, swaths of Grammy gold and brass, Jimi Hendrix florals, and Rat Pack modern swirl together in a sumptuous sundae of musical references. “It was an explosive project,” Karras says. Just like true love.”
— Abigail Stone, read the full article
“Christina Karras transformed this West Hollywood home, formerly owned by Frank Sinatra, into an ultra-cool recording studio for one of the world’s top music producers. Each space exudes a vibrant sumptuous-ness meant to spur creativity for the artists that work here. And, in a nod to the home’s history, Karras has retained quite a few of the furnishings from its original designer, the legendary Tony Duquette.”
0.900, 2.680 Powder rooms have got to be
2.680, 7.760 some of my most favorite rooms to design. I did one at that
7.760, 9.920 recording studio where I did a black and
9.920, 15.520 white striped wall and a floral ceiling… and
15.520, 20.840 the floral had a little bit of Vivienne Westwood punk to it.
20.840, 25.940 And I think that was my nod to her. And the marble in
25.940, 31.200 the bathroom was burnt orange with gold
31.200, 36.420 lion legs - actual lion faces. It was a vintage piece.
36.420, 40.940 And custom little lampshades with
40.940, 44.380 green ferns.
44.380, 49.480 So yeah, powder rooms are a great spot to go visually crazy
49.480, 53.040 and just pick up the volume.
it's sort of like a painting…
I know a room is done because it feels right inside. I can just sit and sigh and go, “yes, okay, onward”. When it has enough layering, it has good flow — It slows you down in areas so you'll sit and contemplate your life or have a conversation. It has enough curves to match the lines. There are so many angles and straight lines in homes; it's good to bring curves in.
It just feels right. You want to let the room embrace you, embrace the moment, and inspire whatever comes next.
How do you feel when you're sitting on it and lying on it… and dreaming on it? Does it inspire you?
0.000, 10.520I am super influenced by fashion. I think due to the fact that those greats that I look up to - like John Galliano,
10.520, 21.560 Alexander McQueen, Jean Paul Gautier, Halston, Vivienne Westwood, and Rick Owens. I think the
21.560, 31.580 commitment to art form and avant garde and breaking the rules and pushing the boundaries are really done in fashion.
32.540, 42.620 I don't think it's done as much in furniture, and it's not done as much in architecture. It's against the idea of catalog furniture,
42.620, 52.620 catalog fashion, fast fashion, fast furniture. It's the opposite. What I'm inspired by is thought, expertise,
53.620, 63.900 vision. How do you feel when you're walking and wearing it? How do you feel when you're sitting on it and lying on it… and dreaming on it? Does it inspire you?
64.200, 69.900 We're all looking to inspire each other. I think… in one way or another. Right?
Colors and textures are what unite the concepts. I am considered amongst my colleagues and my clients, and my peers to be a colorist. And it's probably - next to my sensory ability - one of my specialties. And one of my greatest joys is to create a color scheme for a home. It is either taking what I want the space to be if I'm building it for a new development or a hotel, or what the client feels in, and what moods they want to lean into. And those will be the colors that I lean into.
With soaring ceilings and treetop views unfolding throughout this home, the design was composed to immerse you in nature rather than feel adjacent to it.
A nuanced green wash, carried throughout the home, became an anchor — enveloping your soul with a sense of nature — expansive, grounded, and alive.
Nature and the environment surrounding a home often foreshadow the design direction of the interior. Whether it’s a rich green canopy or a sun-washed desert, exploring the external perspectives is essential for cultivating and amplifying what’s already beautifully resonant.
Capabilities and Credentials
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design specialties
Full-scope residential and commercial interiors
Custom furniture & textile design
Boutique hotel & hospitality design
Music studio & acoustic design
Spatial planning with emotional and sensory intention
Turnkey project delivery from concept to installation
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emotionally-attuned design
Designs intuitively attuned to how clients feel, move, and think
Focus on emotional resonance, spatial sensitivity, and layered sensory experiences
Special attention to flow, lighting, acoustics, and tactility — particularly supportive to highly attuned and creative minds
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ever-evolving connections
Global network of expert craftspeople and “pickers” across Morocco, France, Greece, London, NY, SF, LA, Palm Springs, and Dallas
Longstanding relationships with weavers, metalworkers, upholsterers, wallpaper artists, lighting designers, potters, framers, and artisans.
Known for sourcing rare vintage and one-of-a-kind pieces for every project.
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operational intelligence
Management of 5+ concurrent large-scale projects
Coordination of 30+ person teams on builds up to $5M+
Deep experience with budget management, production oversight, shipping, and custom manufacturing logistics
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