Episode 374: Alex Papachristidis

Million Dollar Decorating

The work of interior decorator Alex Papachristidis has been described as thoughtful, personal, sophisticated and eclectic. Having mastered the skill of fusing modern and traditional elements, editors, designers and clients’ alike use the word “fresh” to define his elegant approach, color palette, and the delightful details that make even a small room sizzle with style. Mario Buatta calls Alex Papachristidis “one of today’s eminent tastemakers. Known for arresting, elegant interiors that meld classical motifs with a modern perspective and sophisticated details.” Born and raised in New York City, Papachristidis got his first big commission—a large Manhattan apartment—while a student at Parsons School of Design. This quickly led to a second project, a townhouse, for a couple he met at a dinner party in the South of France. “Once I started,” says Alex, “I never looked back. I established my own firm in 1987. Even now, I find decorating the most fulfilling career. I can’t imagine doing anything else. Growing up, I traveled widely and saw many beautiful homes in Europe and America, which helped cultivate my eye. And I was born to shop!” Today, Papachristidis’ interiors can be found all over the world from Manhattan, the Hamptons, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Florida, Texas and Colorado—to London and Saudi Arabia. Recent projects include the dining room of the 2016 Kips Bay Decorator Show House, a sophisticated and luxurious beach house in the Hamptons, and a large Greenwich Village apartment featuring a mix of Mid-Century furniture and Bohemian accents. Papachristidis is currently finishing a unique Los Angeles residence with beautiful gardens and a spectacular view, as well as a modern take on a classic Philadelphia Main Line residence for sophisticated clients. For a Manhattan couple, he redecorated a grand classic Park Avenue apartment, creating serene and elegant interiors, which showcase the clients’ important collection of Contemporary Art. Unlike some designers, Papachristidis welcomes his clients’ ideas. “Often the most interesting projects are the ones in which a savvy client is intimately involved,” he says. A perfectionist, he likes to see a project through to its smallest details—from hand painted dishes, to custom made linens, blotters and couture tissue holders. “The greatest pleasure for me,” says Papachristidis, “is when clients tell me that we’ve made their home into ‘an exquisite backdrop,’ a place to live, enjoy, and entertain.” Papachristidis believes that a great interior should be beautiful and usable, and each room in a home created for living. Alex Papachristidis’ work has been featured in Architectural Digest, Elle Décor, House Beautiful, House & Garden, Southern Accents, InStyle and The New York Times. He has also been featured in a number of publications, most recently including Rooms To Inspire In The City (2010), Living with What You Love: Decorating with Family Photos, Cherished Heirlooms, and Collectibles (2010), Room for Children (2010), Be Your Own Decorator (2012) and Designers at Home: Personal Reflections on Stylish Living (2013). In 2012, his own book The Age of Elegance: Interiors by Alex Papachristidis was published by Rizzoli, garnering praise from readers and critics alike and now in its third printing. TheSocietyDiaries.com called it an “extraordinary book on how you too can obtain [Papachristidis’] one of a kind ‘look,’” and Tribune Media Services praised the book’s "sophisticated interiors that highlight antiques from all eras,” and its “solid tips written in the author's voice making the haute interiors seem doable.” The book is co-authored by Dan Shaw with a Foreword by Mario Buatta and Photographs by Tria Giovan. Papachristidis has been a guest of the “Today Show” numerous times, and has also appeared on “This Old House”, CNN and WSJ “Lunch Break”. For several years,