The Genesis of Caroline Burke Designs
Though the accomplished designer regularly works with familiar names in architecture, such as Louis Tomaro, Doug Leach and Pritzkat & Johnson, her understanding of the power and utility of good design means she’s up for tackling small spaces, such as a new bathroom or kitchen remodel, all in the name of helping people reap its rewards.
“I’m just as excited to work on one room as I am to work on an entire home,” says Caroline Burke. “Or perhaps a client wants me to refresh a master bedroom or family room,” she muses. “I really like it.”
Understanding energy, feng shui and how people live is part of her design consciousness—that, and furniture that feels great and is good for one’s body. This last point prompted her to create a line of custom furnishings, from sofas to kitchen tables, which she sources from local craftspeople, and that figure largely in her projects.
“I’m in the field all of the time,” Caroline Burke points out, “and I wasn’t finding the quality that I wanted, at the price point I wanted.”
In 17 years, not one piece has been rejected or sent back from a client.
“That’s huge,” she exclaims.
Caroline’s aesthetic is premised in classic beauty, the long-term kind, which is overlaid with influences that are personal to each client. A recent Palos Verdes Estates project, seen via these pages, finds her creating such a symphony.
“The homeowner has a little bit of flair for mid-century modern furniture, and enjoys that style,” she remarks.
“We work with a client’s taste, but it’s our job to pull it all together so it’s beautiful. We’re known for classic elegance, so in 10 to 15 years from now a space will still look great.”
A niche of Caroline’s firm involves collaborating with real estate agents to work with clients on just-purchased homes, the idea being that redecoration or a bit of a refresh, is usually de rigeur to make a house feel like a home to its new owner. Another growing area of her business is in-home consultations, which last an hour and are ideal for the growing number of DIY interior design enthusiasts out there.
“It’s very important to be put on the right track, even if you want to do the legwork yourself,” she says.
“I start by learning what clients are thinking, then I tell them what I would do, where I would start, and how I would start. I love doing consultations because I love teaching people.”
That, and making sure one’s home reflects the very best of her clients, notes Caroline, pointing out, however, that the key to a well-designed space is for it to not look designed at all.
“It should just look like you want to sit in the room, relax in the room, have a cocktail in the room,” she adds. And her reward, after many years in this business, is achieving this goal for as many as possible.
“Our biggest satisfaction is at the end of every project, when the client calls and says, ‘I can’t believe this is my house. I love my house,’” says the designer.
“We hear that over and over again.”
Caroline Burke Design & Associates
310.546.6862 | carolineburkedesigns.com
Photographs: Courtesy Of Caroline Burke Designs & Associates