By Donna Cornelius
When Alex Papachristidis arrives for this year’s Antiques at the Gardens show, it will be the noted designer’s first visit to Birmingham. But chances are he’ll feel right at home.
“I think that I was Southern in another life,” he said. “I have lots of friends who are Southerners, and they all have a wonderful sense of hospitality and are so welcoming. I even start to pick up a bit of a Southern drawl when I’m around them.”
Papachristidis qualifies as an honorary Southerner with his own gift of putting people at ease. He also fulfills another requirement: He loves barbecue.
His warmth and graciousness express themselves even through a phone conversation and are likely to light up the room during his Oct. 1 talk at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens’ annual antiques show.
A large Manhattan apartment was his first big commission when he was a student at Parsons School of Design. Today, his creations are making houses across the world beautiful. His work has appeared in prestigious publications, including Architectural Digest, Elle Décor, House Beautiful, House and Garden, Southern Accents, InStyle and the New York Times. A 2017 Veranda magazine cover story called his Kips Bay Decorator Show House dining room an “ethereal space” and said the room had created a social media frenzy.
Papachristidis has been named to some pretty impressive honor rolls: the 2016 AD 100 List, Elle Décor’s A-List of 25 Interior Designers and, several times, to the New York Spaces’ Top 50 Designer List.
It’s an impressive resume – but it doesn’t capture the magical quality of the man himself. That shines through in the elegant yet user-friendly interiors he creates as well as in his endearing personality. His sophisticated, eclectic rooms are meant to be lived in, not just admired.
“Use your best things – use everything you have,” he said. “Things are more beautiful when you use them. It’s called a living room because you’re supposed to live in it.
“If you can’t be comfortable, that’s not a home – that’s a museum.”
The concept of “home” has long been dear to Papachristidis’ heart. He and his partner love their stunning apartment in New York City and the home his large, close family shares in the Hamptons. But experiencing the comfort of home recently came into even sharper focus.
“During COVID, we all realized how important ‘home’ is,” he said.
Pets and Kids Welcome
Some families for whom he’s designing spaces include little ones – pets as well as children. Papachristidis doesn’t see that as a reason to tone down style.
“Teach kids and dogs manners – how to live with beautiful things,” he said.
He’s an animal lover, especially of dogs, and often incorporates animal motifs into his designs. He also serves on the board of an animal rescue organization.
“My mother had an Afghan hound,” he said. “I’ve had a German shepherd, Lhasa apso, bichon frisé, a Yorkie and now a Norwich terrier – a redhead. I never have the same breed twice because I don’t want to compare one dog with another.”
While his illustrious career might lead you to think that he was destined to be a designer from childhood, that wasn’t the case.
“It wasn’t even my idea,” he said. “I was 23 years old and was working in my Greek family’s shipping business. I considered working in a flower shop, restaurants, fashion design. I felt very lost.”
That changed when a dear friend complimented his sense of taste and suggested a life in design.
“It hit me like a lightning bolt,” Papachristidis said. “I signed up for Parsons School of Design, but I didn’t stay long there. I had no interest in learning about the practical side of design.”
He laughed as he said: “If someone starts explaining how something works, I say, ‘Don’t tell me the details of your personal life.’”
Papachristidis doesn’t assume the role of dictator when he’s working with clients.
“I love getting to know them and creating something they couldn’t do on their own,” he said. “Very rarely do I say no to a client’s request.”
What if he thinks something just won’t work?
“I say, let’s solve the problem together,” he said. “I tell them that I’m the custodian to whom they’ve given the responsibility to make it all work. We may disagree, but we’ll find a solution.”
Modern Beside Traditional
He’s skilled at creating happy relationships not just between himself and his clients but also between modern and traditional elements.
“Contemporary can be high style,” he said. “But I don’t like a house filled with all new things; I insist on using vintage pieces. And I encourage my clients in the art of collections.
He pointed out that antiques fit into today’s world because they’re “actually green” – a way of using existing items rather than manufacturing new ones. “There’s great value in antiques right now, too,” he said.
The designer is the author of “The Age of Elegance: Interiors by Alex Papachristidis” and a new book, “The Elegant Life: Rooms That Welcome and Inspire.” He also has a tabletop business called Everyday Elegance on Instagram.
“I always use the word ‘elegant,’” he said. “I aspire to elegance constantly.”
He’s inspired by history and by his love of travel. On his bucket list of places to visit is Russia and its imperial palaces.
“I’m always drawn to the scale and proportion of the 18th century,” he said. “I’m a big Francophile and love the English decorative arts, too.”
Some of his most satisfying moments happen not through the press’ praise but when his clients let him know that he’s fulfilled their dreams for their homes.
“When a client says, ‘I’m so happy! I love my house so much,’ then that’s the best compliment,” he said. “What are we here for? To give other people joy. I’m blessed because I love what I do.”
There’s another element to his career that makes it especially enjoyable.
“What’s more fun than shopping?” he said.
