Designer: Christa Pirl of Christa Pirl Interiors
Client: me!
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah

The home of designer Christ Pirl reflects her years of traveling and living abroad — it's a sophisticated and refreshing mix of color, texture and design eras:

After years of roaming, my husband and I have settled (for now) in Salt Lake City, Utah. Its a bit of a change from NYC, Auckland and Honolulu. This small, inexpensive city allowed me a heretofore forbidden pleasure — namely the ability to purchase and design my own apartment (i.e. in absolute contradistinction to my options in Manhattan). As a nomad sans furniture and with the family heirlooms in the firm grip of my very healthy parents, I started tabula rasa. Designing high-end properties for well capitalized clients is an entirely different experience from designing one’s own abode. Even as a designer it is hard to know where to start.
After weeks of repainting, installing wood flooring, and a few other basics, I knew I needed one true gem; one piece that would steal the show. In spite of the decidedly contemporary tone of the space I wanted something unique and old. Surprisingly, the piece was quickly found. My first trip to a local antiques shop yielded the sofa. I knew the American Empire piece (circa 1840) would work, and purchased it on the spot. It only needed a facelift; a bold classical print to bring it back to life. It is important to me to patronize local suppliers, and all major items were purchased around Salt Lake City.
After that first anchor piece, everything came together. Mixing old and new pieces created a truly contemporary space which comfortably houses furniture over a century old. A plexi coffee table stands in front of Georgian antique chairs, a custom alter base table is complimented by Bellini chairs and a Victorian Renaissance Revival ‘throne’ chair. My limited budget allowed for some knock-out signature pieces mixed with more economical objects from the likes of Hive Modern and CB2. In the end it was a happy marriage.

Thanks Christa!

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