Today we will enjoy the work of a talented designer who lived an entirely different life professionally before her creative pivot. Don’t you love a perfectly profound poppin’ pivot!?! Cari Giannoulias Interview: Layered, Livable, Lovely Luxe will tour some of my favorite spaces imagined by the Chicago interior designer as well as provide the inside scoop on her approach to beautiful design.
Cari Giannoulias Interview: Layered, Livable, Lovely Luxe
Before interior design became her full-time passion in Chicago, creative dynamo Cari Giannoulias lived in LA and worked for a stretch within the music division of Jersey Films and Records (Danny Devito* and Stacey Sher were at the helm). Later, she oversaw the creative between big brands, talent, the film, and the studio for Universal Pictures in the Motion Picture Marketing Department.
When Giannoulias relocated to Chicago with her husband to build their first home, she ultimately hired herself for the design job (shazam!) and nailed it. The rest is history.
Cari Giannoulias Interview
Tell us about your creative process.
My creative process is an organic one. I spend a lot of time in the initial meetings getting to know the client–showing them images and seeing what they gravitate towards. Asking questions about their lifestyle and how they spend time in their home is key. This is most important because making a room look gorgeous is one thing, but making it functional as well is much more difficult.
I think most of my clients would say to you that they really do live in every space of their home.
Tranquil Interior Design Inspiration
How do you provide each client with a truly custom design?
It’s a balancing act to make each project unique through the pairing of precious and conventional.
I always stay true to my aesthetic which I deem as “understated sophistication.” I feel every room must have personal elements, antiquities, and then a mixing of periods, styles, scales and textures to make it interesting.
Where does your inspiration come from?
It sounds like such a cliché, but I do find inspiration everywhere. I’m constantly taking photos and figuring out ways to reinterpret what I’ve seen into my designs.
How do you score those perfect pieces for your clients?
Once I get to know the person, the rest flows pretty naturally. I am in a constant state of search–always looking for that perfect piece.
Every time I find something I love I hold onto it. When I find the perfect client for it, I match the two up. I have piles and piles of interesting furniture, lighting, art, etc. From there, I plug and play for months on making everything come together.
Lofty & Lovely
Any favorite sources for antiques?
Some of the best ideas come from perusing antique sites such as Decaso, Pamono, and Kairos Collective. These sites are well-curated and can sometimes spark an idea for a modern reinterpretation.
Elegant and Pretty
Cari Giannoulias: Layered, Livable, Lovely Luxe
Old World & Italy Inspired Bedroom
The Designer’s Favorite Paint Colors!
For paint colors, a tried and true neutral for me is BENJAMIN MOORE Collingwood. It changes with every room but can waver between Modern and Traditional.
Another wonderful color is FARROW & BALL Dead Salmon. It has a handsome rosy hue if that’s even possible.
I also love FARROW & BALL Parma Gray. It’s the perfect blue grey that makes a big impact on walls.
A City Bedroom
*My grown sons have no interest in interior design and are difficult to impress. However, I can now (welllll, sort of) boast just one degree of separation between me and Danny Devito…they are both fans of Danny in It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
MERCI BEAUCOUP, Cari Giannoulias! For both boosting mama’s cool factor and sharing your expertise with Hello Lovely!
If you missed these recent stories, do take ’em for a spin too.
I independently selected products in this post—if you buy from one of my links, I may earn a commission.
Peace to you right where you are.
-michele
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Lovely and inspiring! I love her entire design esthetic.
It doesn’t surprise me that she started in a music field and went into design. Many people who are creative in one genre are also creative in another field of art. I started in music & theatre (got a music degree), studied interior decorating & had a business for awhile, and am now again back into music more. Along the way, a stint in marketing was part of my story too.
Often one area of art teaches us to be more cognizant of all the other areas too because of their wonderful interaction in our world. And oftens artists of all genres have had to learn to market our own ‘wares’ so you’ll find very creative people have also had to learn that field too. They’re all so amazingly connected.
All the lovely facets of the world of beauty at our feet to share. mmmm…….. 🙂
Mmmmmmmmm. Yes. I am nodding. It can be a seamless transition when your heart is that of an artist. For me, baking bread, styling a vignette in a room, painting a picture, and writing a song at the piano are all very natural expressions flowing from the same source. Artists are always the best designers and architects! Happy weekend, beautiful soul.
Bravo Cari! What talent on display here. I love the little dolls in the bedroom windows!! And the powder room, so unexpected in its finishes and simplicity. Love her style!
xo
Holly
Lovely and inspiring! I love her entire design esthetic.
It doesn’t surprise me that she started in a music field and went into design. Many people who are creative in one genre are also creative in another field of art. I started in music & theatre (got a music degree), studied interior decorating & had a business for awhile, and am now again back into music more. Along the way, a stint in marketing was part of my story too.
Often one area of art teaches us to be more cognizant of all the other areas too because of their wonderful interaction in our world. And oftens artists of all genres have had to learn to market our own ‘wares’ so you’ll find very creative people have also had to learn that field too. They’re all so amazingly connected.
All the lovely facets of the world of beauty at our feet to share. mmmm…….. 🙂
Your post has inspired me today! Thank you. 🙂
Author
Mmmmmmmmm. Yes. I am nodding. It can be a seamless transition when your heart is that of an artist. For me, baking bread, styling a vignette in a room, painting a picture, and writing a song at the piano are all very natural expressions flowing from the same source. Artists are always the best designers and architects! Happy weekend, beautiful soul.
Bravo Cari! What talent on display here. I love the little dolls in the bedroom windows!! And the powder room, so unexpected in its finishes and simplicity. Love her style!
xo
Holly
Author
Wasn’t that a whimsical and clever move? Thanks for reading, friend. Happy new week to you.