Designer Spotlight: Christina Wikman

We are so pleased to welcome Christina Wikman to our Designer Spotlight series! Christina brings an authentic love of design to her work that brings out the best in both her clients and their spaces. Get to know a little more about Christina Wikman.

What inspired you to enter the world of interior design?

 In grade school I loved my art classes and anything that involved being creative. As a kid, I always had an opinion when it came to my bedroom decor and loved to rearrange my mother’s living room accessories for fun. During my senior year of high school while thinking through what I might want to study in college my mother suggested interior design and I knew immediately that I wanted to pursue it. I attended a liberal arts college and enrolled as an interior design major with a studio art minor in a four year program. I knew early on that I wanted to focus on residential design and currently working in residences in and around Boston is what makes up the vast majority of my business.

Tell us about your journey to get where you are. 

After design school I landed a job in the Design Center working for Dalia Kitchen Design as a CAD technician. I learned a lot about kitchen design, cabinetry construction, appliances, and finish materials. I worked at DKD a little less than 2 years. Once the recession hit in 2009 many of us were laid off and I was one of the employees let go. I always knew at some point I wanted to run my own business and offer full service interior design so when I was laid off it seemed a good a time as any to get started. Since I never had the opportunity to work for a full-service design firm before starting out on my own, I had a lot to learn – especially from a business standpoint.

One thing I have never lacked is confidence, and at times it has certainly been helpful but over the past ten years, there has definitely been a learning curve involved in how to structure my business, how to bill for services, which vendors to work with, how to manage client expectations and many other details that go into running a design business. Over the years I have made many mistakes (and sometimes still do!) but I always use those mistakes as learning tools and continue moving forward having more knowledge than before.

I have been blessed to work with many wonderful clients who have put their trust in me and allowed me to create wonderful spaces for them to enjoy. I work with a talented team of vendors, craftsmen, and subcontractors and because of their skill and attention to detail, I am able to bring my vision to life in a client’s home. In 2018 my husband and I joined our businesses – his being landscape design, and today we offer interior design, landscape design, and architectural services – a one-stop-shop for a homeowner looking to build, renovate, or simply decorate their home. 

How do you define your personal style?

 I love history and draw inspiration from classic design. I tend to avoid trends especially in kitchens and baths and instead look to the past for timeless materials. I love to look at a room and first assess its architectural detail – I often add molding or built-ins or bookshelves to rooms before actually decorating them.

I love old homes and draw a lot of inspiration from elements often seen in them, natural materials, stone mantles, butler’s pantries, beautiful built-ins, and woodwork. In New England creating a classic basis really works and then I will often layer in some modern elements to keep a design interesting or bring some drama through an oversized light fixture, bold paint color, or other elements. I tend toward a sophisticated style while still keeping it modern, approachable, and livable for families with pets and children.

I like a room to incorporate my client’s pieces – inherited antiques, collected objects from travel, artwork that’s been handed down. A room should really be all about the client and I draw a lot of inspiration from my client’s needs and background. I love a room to feel collected by them rather than staged by me.

Top 3 Kitchen Design Elements

Functionality is always foremost in a kitchen. When we start a new kitchen design we assess everything that a client owns and assign a home for each item that makes sense for the way they will use their kitchen. I like kitchen countertops to be mostly clutter-free so thinking through where each item will live beforehand is very important to achieve that. 

Appliances are a huge consideration for a kitchen not only because of budget but also because of aesthetics and functionality. Appliances are one of the first elements we establish and are often used as a jumping-off point for the overall look we are trying to achieve. If the client would like a beautiful La Cornue range than that will create a large visual impact in the room and often dictate other finish decisions.

Countertops are also a very important selection as there is a huge range of available styles and materials and provide a large visual element in a kitchen. Narrowing down the client’s needs for how they would like their countertops to perform over time is an important first step in landing on the right countertop for their kitchen. Considering how a countertop functions (heat resistance, staining, etching, durability, etc) also helps to narrow the field of countertops to choose from and helps direct us to the right one.

What is your favorite part of the design process?

I’m a people person and I love the beginning stages of starting a new project with a client and sitting down and finding out about them, their background, and their dreams for their space. I love seeing how other people live or want to live and helping them achieve those goals is hugely rewarding for me. 

If you were moving to a yurt in the woods and could only take one kitchen gadget – what would it be?

 A really sharp knife. Simple but oh so useful.

You can find more information about Christina, her beautiful work, and her offerings on her personal website and Christina and Ryan’s landscape and interiors website.

Also stay informed on Christina’s new work and favorites on her social media, Facebook and Instagram