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Exquisite Spaces by Celine Interior Design
In this edition of Love Happens’ Design Questionnaire, join us for a peek into the creative mind of Noor Charchafchi, founder & CEO of Celine Interior Design. Internationally renowned for its exquisite spaces of exceptional quality, Noor started the UK-based firm in 2014. After a successful career in aviation law, the talented designer decided to follow her passion and bring her professionalism to the world of interiors.
Through a series of prestigious London-based projects and work in Asia and the Middle East, Celine Interior Design’s love for design shines. Additionally, Noor is the co-founder of the luxury textile brand Smith & Noor and a strong believer in the fact that the spaces we inhabit profoundly impact our well-being. Read on and be inspired!
Meet Noor Charchafchi of Celine Interior Design in the Lh Design Questionnaire
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Perfect happiness to me is love—I feel at my happiest when I am with my children, my husband, my friends. And when I am loving and enjoying my work, seeing my aspirations and drive for achievement come to fruition.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Rather than one single achievement, I would say it is my overall resilience. I don’t give up on anything I undertake, no matter how challenging. I will always persevere and get there in the end.
What profession does your alter ego have?
I have always had an innate passion for design, not just in interiors but in art, photography, and fashion. So I would say in another life I may have been a fashion designer. I am drawn to beautifully made clothes and have a deep appreciation for materiality and craftsmanship in fashion. I also love to sing, so perhaps also a singer if I could have two professions as my alter ego-self.
The project you will never forget.
I’ll never forget a project in London where the client was very taken with gold and wanted to use it extensively across their home. We had to work together with the client to ensure that the final aesthetic had enough gold to make them happy but used in such a way that the spaces still felt sophisticated, artistic, and also homely. The end result was stunning, and I think we surpassed the client’s expectations, which is always our goal.
Your favorite business tool or resource.
My team—without their dedication, creativity, and hard work, I wouldn’t be able to take on such incredible projects. They inspire me on a daily basis, and hopefully, I also inspire them to excel in this industry.
The most timeless design.
Timeless design is in the eye of the beholder and can mean very different things to different people. I don’t follow trends in my work as I want to ensure the spaces we create have longevity and will be appreciated as much in ten or twenty years’ time as they are now.
The biggest design faux pas.
There are too many to mention, but I think the worst design faux pas is a space that is based solely on looks and aesthetic, without consideration for the lifestyle of the people living in or using that space. A well-designed room needs to respond to and enhance the lifestyle of the client; achieving this is the ultimate measure of success.
Your design motto.
Knowing the rules is a good tool to have as a designer but having the courage to break them to do better is the only rule you must follow.
Our publisher KOKET makes statement décor; if you were to design a room around one KOKET piece, which would it be, and why?
I would choose the Spellbound nightstand because it evokes a sense of nature but also glamour.
Love Happens when…
When you push yourself to grow. I think love is also found in moments of gratitude and in the moments where you have no expectation.
