Cristina Cleveland’s work will change how you see your home

Cristina Cleveland, a designer based in New York, has carved her niche at the crossroads of innovation and interiors. Her mission is crystal clear: to provide people with the clarity and confidence to cohesively express their personal style in their living spaces. Amidst her bustling career in interior design, one aspect truly sets Cristina apart as an interior design visionary—her groundbreaking Style Quiz, conceived in 2021 after numerous encounters with clients who found themselves overwhelmed by their overflowing Pinterest boards.

As we celebrate the launch of our latest collection curated by Cristina herself and inspired by one of her signature styles, Pottery Studio, we take you behind the scenes for an exclusive interview with the Brooklyn-based interior designer. Join us on this creative journey as we delve into the mind of Cristina whose innovative ideas and articulation of design continue to redefine the art of interior transformation.

Hey Cristina! Where are we finding you today?
I’m at home in my Brooklyn apartment, my dog Katsu is sleep-barking beside me, and I’m enjoying some tea in one of my cups from my vintage collection.

Is this where you spend most of your time?
This is my daily routine. You can find me here almost all of the time.

The work that you did for your Style Quiz is clearly so inspired. How did you synthesize all this knowledge and manage to break it down to five core styles?
It took me 8 months to create! It was important to me that the results were comprehensive and accessible to everyone, whether they hire me or they’re DIY-ing it. Style quizzes I’ve taken usually feel like they’re trying to sell me something, but rather than linking to products or encouraging people to buy more stuff, my quiz results are educational and packed with information on how to edit and create a home that serves you better.

Can you tell our readers a bit more about each style on your quiz?
There are 5 styles on my quiz. I wanted to give them names that you could immediately picture in your mind’s eye. 

The Pottery Studio home is a calming cocoon where over-stimulated minds can recharge and create. It’s inspired by wabi-sabi design and the slopes and arches of Adobe homes, Mediterranean and Spanish revival architecture. 

People who get Museum Bookstore on the quiz are collectors who feel most at home in museum gift shops. Their design influences are Mid-Century modern, Scandinavian, and Japanese design with graphic accent pieces. 

I named Vintage Salon after the art salons of the 1800s. Think Haussmannian Paris, Art Deco, and a well-rounded mix of antiques contrasted with modern accents. 

If you’re Curated Loft then you feel most inspired by artists’ studios, antique shops, and galleries. Think Italian, 1970s, sculptural, Art Deco, with Brutalist geometric accents.

If you’re Pop Arcade, you use your home to express your unconventional personality. You’re drawn to the bold Memphis design school of the 1980s, and 1960s Italian design. 

How would you describe your personal interior style?
I think I’m most closely aligned with Curated Loft, but it’s truly a mix of all of the styles on my quiz. These are the styles that I’m most inspired by and work to create in my own design business. 

What’s something special about your apartment?
When I first saw the exposed brick wall while visiting this apartment, I was sold. It has been such a fun backdrop to design my home against. It also comes with unique challenges, so I’ve had to come up with creative ways to work with it. The brick tends to absorb light, so I hung my giant Akari light in front of it and use floor-to-ceiling tensioned bookshelves to bring light and contrast back into my space.  

How is Brooklyn an influence in your design process and aesthetic?
Every day I see people and places that are so uniquely them, free from judgment or rules. It’s given me the confidence to just go for it. Rather than aspiring to anyone else’s idea of style, the ultimate goal is to reflect on what makes me feel most myself, and then figure out how to express that. That’s also what I work to do for my clients. 

Here’s a special one for our readers: what are the best spots in New York for design inspiration?
You can’t go wrong with the Noguchi Museum. I recommend taking their free guided tour which is really open-ended and thought provoking. They also have wonderful programming like live music and dance performances. And their gift shop cannot be beat! That’s where I got my Akari light. After going to the Noguchi Museum, I like to stop by Little Flower Cafe for their Afghan-inspired firni donut - it’s made with pistachios, cardamom and rosewater. While you’re in Astoria, check out Abuqir for the best Egyptian seafood. My design spots turned into food spots, but this is what makes New York so inspiring! You can go on a whole international trip in one day. 

Can you give us your three tips for transforming any space in our home?
I always start with function, so first define how you (and the people/pets you live with) need this room to function for you. Then think about the way you want to feel in the room, whether it’s calm, energized, creative, focused, comforted. Once you know how you need it to function and how you want to feel, then you’re really making design decisions based on yourself, rather than external influences like trends or sales. I think many people start with trends and sales, but this makes it really difficult to form a personal style that lasts past this season. I think this approach is more sustainable for the environment, and for your wallet. 

How did design change your life?
Design is a second career for me, I worked in digital publishing for ten years before studying and working in design. To me it represents betting on myself. Taking a risk and feeling confident that I am capable of doing what I set my mind to. This creative confidence is also what I’m working to cultivate in my clients. Beyond designing a room for them to live in today, I also want to give them the confidence to make future furniture and decor decisions in whatever home they live in.  

You can take Cristina’s quiz to find out your style by clicking here.

• Interview by

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    Hristo Lachezarov

    Further exploring his love for design, Hristo joined PAMONO in 2020 and is currently our B2B Growth Manager, which allows him to work with many amazing architects and interior designers on curating stories like the one you just read.