Meet the Designer: Cristina Repeti
Introducing Meet the Designer, a closer look at the people behind Hare + Klein. First up,
Associate Director Cristina Repeti, in our Meet the Designer video we explored her design aesthetic,
her sources of inspiration, her proudest work and the project she dreams of one day creating.
Below, we asked her one more question the Reel didn’t have time for: how it all began.
How did you get your start in interior design?
Before joining Hare + Klein, Cristina worked part-time for a designer, an experience that gave her a first taste of the industry. Her first full-time role took her into designing commercial interiors and along the way she even spent time in TV work on Selling Houses Australia. “It was loads of fun and I learned so much,” she says. “But it made me realise I was really missing designing.”
That realisation led her to Hare + Klein, where she started off as “Baby Klein”, the newest member of the studio and eager to learn. She has spent over a decade at Hare + Klein building her craft and bringing her own distinct eye to every project she works on.
“Eleven years later, I’m proud to be the Associate Director, working alongside my biggest mentor, Meryl.”
Describe your personal design style and aesthetic. And how has it evolved over time?
Cristina’s style is “a little eccentric” heavily influenced by her upbringing where she was surrounded by creativity. Over the years her approach has matured beyond her own tastes. “While I have my own aesthetic, my design approach is always guided by the client’s brief and what feels right to bring their vision of a home to life.”
Where do you find inspiration?
Inspiration is everywhere for Cristina. “I think inspiration is something we’re constantly exposed to in everyday life.”
Is there a project you’ve worked on that you’re particularly proud of?
Saddle House is the project Cristina’s proudest of, a minimalist, materials-led design that’s notoriously hard to get right in a country home. As she puts it, “the initial concepts is exactly what was built in the end.”
Do you have a dream project on your career bucket list?
Absolutely, Cristina is waiting on a villa in Italy.
