We had the good fortune of connecting with Christina Rougerie and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Christina, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
Absolutely! Interior design impacts everyone’s life through their environment. Whether it be home or office, the design has a positive or a negative influence on their emotional and psychological behavior. For example, to increase productivity we use design elements such as color, acoustics, lighting, materials, and space planning, to create a specific emotional reaction. Another aspect of how my business impacts the environment is the conscious use of sustainable solutions when designing. For example, reutilizing preloved pieces and materials giving them a continued life through the new design while telling a story. For instance, turning a vintage workbench into a bathroom sink cabinet.

What should our readers know about your business?
I would like the readers to know the new direction I am taking my design firm into. The decision to focus more on sustainable and biophilic design is for the greater good of the planet and ourselves. I am most excited about the continuation of increasing my knowledge in these subjects. As a collective, we are becoming more conscious of how we have an impact on mother earth and how our surroundings impact us. For instance, utilizing sustainable products helps our planet and implementing biophilic design to create spaces we inhabit to have a positive influence on our emotional behavior. Since moving my home base studio to France, I have a calling to join other businesses reducing our ecological footprint. The challenge was first learning how to live on less consumption personally, and then apply these fundamentals into my design work. For example, practicing sustainability on a renovation project, when replacing kitchen cabinet, you would want to consider reusing them in another part of the house, presenting to the client recycled materials instead of buying new, as well as, utilizing low VOC paints which are water-based and colored with 100% natural pigment. Concerning biophilic design, the goal is to create a space that connects us back to nature, such as, using artwork, textiles, and metal to emulate botanical patterns. Like adding more natural light while not creating glare issues. In addition, having oval and circular shapes in furniture and accessories which are natural forms and remind us of nature, as well as calm the mind. With these new practices in my design work, my mission is to create sustainable wellbeing spaces for my client’s environment to have a positive influence on their emotional behavior which leaves them feeling their best selves. This gives me the greatest joy!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Houston has so many great spots! For starters, we are staying at the Post Oak hotel. The Texas shape pool is must-see. Then, Sunday brunch at Toulouse Café & Bar for the upbeat ambiance. Another great hot spot is the Traveler’s Table for lunch or dinner. The food is amazing and unique not to mention the cocktails are so delicious and attractive. For us design lovers, we are visiting Maison Maison’s antique shop located in upper Kirby. Suzanne’s shop is set up in this cute cottage where you can check out all her amazing European finds. In addition, stopping at Wilbanks MacKay showroom to see more of LeTricia and Selena’s style addictions. There is so much to see and explore to seduce your senses. Now time to relax as we enjoy a spa day for holistic wellness at Milk and honey in River Oaks. For some market shopping, we are stopping by River Oaks Farmer’s Market to pick up many jars of Mary Ann’s spaghetti sauce which is a family recipe of hers! Now time for happy hour at 13 Celsius to enjoy the patio weather with friends and laughs.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I truly cannot thank enough the people that played a role in my success. Starting with my husband for his unwavering support when I went back to school to obtain my interior design degree. The incredibly talented interior designer, Suzanne Duin, for being my mentor and friend throughout my career. Finally, The American Society of Interior Designers (ASID): Texas Gulf Coast organization for giving me numerous opportunities to grow as an interior designer through their membership program.

Website: www.christinarougerie.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christina.rougerie/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinarougerie/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/crougerieis

Image Credits
The profile picture was taken by Katy Anderson

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