Christopher Michiels of Christopher Michiels Interiors
Estero christophermichielsinteriors.com
TOTI Media: Signature style? Christopher Michiels: “A dynamic, unique and inspired take on luxurious, graceful and inviting modern interiors bathed in warm light, nature-inspired texture, cool and fresh serene colors, all while paying tribute to both the architecture of the home and the furnishings. I focus greatly on highlighting or creating architectural interest to the space first.”
TM: Born or made? CM: “Hands down, this boy was born to design and create spectacular interiors! Little doubt remains in my mind that most designers are born with the talent, some just discover later or following a different path. It was also my mother’s amazing design tutelage and my love of artistic and beautiful things that started laying those yellow bricks down the exciting interior design road.”
TM: Inspiration? CM: “Everywhere, literally everywhere. The beach here, Saint Basil’s Cathedral [Moscow], scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef, or the favelas in Medellín [Colombia]; travel is key to my creativity. Find something that moves you like I do; unexpected and small things become your design muse.”
TM: Clients’ needs and communicating that? CM: “Capturing my clients’ personality, lifestyle and budget consciousness is a gift of mine that I am very proud of. While stunning and inspired interiors are the fundamental base requirements for a project of mine, it is expressing their essence that makes it their home. A majority of our clients either travel quite a bit or have a home elsewhere, so it essential that they trust our ability to see each and every project of ours, big or small, from concept to completion, implicitly.”
TM: Favorite colors, patterns and textures? CM: “Like a shaved-ice snow cone on a sweltering-hot Florida day, think cool and refreshing, brisk blues, grays, roses and lavenders balanced with their warm and sultry darker counterparts sparked with gold and copper metals, gray woods, textured glass and quartz wallcovering so breathtaking you can’t help but want to reach out and touch it.”
TM: Banished looks? CM: “Please, please, please [yes, I’m begging] … oversized, overstuffed, over-carved, overdesigned and ‘lead blanket feeling’ colors and furnishings of the ‘Tuscan era’ overwhelm me and make my eyes bleed!”