This week’s spotlight is on Christie Leu, of Christie Leu Interiors out of Maryland. Christie has been a member of DesignerInc’s since the beginning and we’re so thrilled to share her insights and showcase her stunning designs with the rest of our community!
What is your favorite part about being a designer?
Changing people’s lives with functional and beautiful designs!
Who or what would you cite as your most important influence?
So many people! Are we talking about business, design, architecture??? I love Barbara Barry, Luann Nigara, Kimberley Seldon, I.M. Pei, Frank Geary and many local talents in our industry!
Can you tell us about your personal brand?
We transform homes into sanctuaries for successful professionals and their families in Northwest DC, suburban Maryland and Virginia with the help of our A-team of architects, contractors and designers. Our attention to detail and expert processes ensure happiness during construction and for many years to come. We merge classical architecture with a contemporary aesthetic and adaptations for a modern lifestyle.
What is your favorite color palette to work with?
I love color! Either as an accent or all over! As a former artist for 15 years, I play with all color to create different moods: soothing to energetic!
If you could travel back, what advice would you give yourself as you start this career?
Be patient! With time, hard work and experience, you will be successful soon.
Please give us an overview of the more personal side of your business, how did it come to be, any interesting stories about the origin you can share?
Christie Leu is an artist – turned interior designer who has triplets +2 AND a triplet mom design assistant! For 15 years, Christie made original, functional, fine crafts. After completing several major renovations to a series of her own homes, she was accused of being a serial remodeler by her contractor. She turned her expertise with color, composition and organization into an Associate Degree of Applied Sciences in Interior Design with a specialization in Kitchen & Bath Design. She is now honored and excited to help others through the sometimes daunting and complicated process of home improvements. Christie grew up in Shaker Heights, Ohio where she developed an appreciation for wonderful architecture and design.
Do you have anything you can share about how you and/or your firm have been affected by COVID-19, and any tips for other designers on how to navigate and cope?
We are continuing to serve our current clients and spend time most days refining and documenting our precesses for the onslaught of business when we are released ;). We also prepared our marketing for the next 4 months.
What do you like most about DesignerInc?
I love the DI search engine. The ability to search by vendor, size, color… is amazing!
What do you most want to do in your business?
I want to keep creating and innovating on a bigger and bigger scale.
