Noor Charchafchi established Celine Interior Design in 2014 – a world leading and award winning luxury interior design practice designing the most exclusive portfolio of homes across the UK and globally. We had the honour of finding out what makes Noor tick and what that morning playlist looks like.
Okay, lay it on us, 3 songs your morning playlist must contain.
What morning playlist!
My morning ‘music’ contains listening to a podcast about successful entrepreneurs and then I listen to myself reading out my daily gratitude list.
Okay, now pleasantries: tell us a bit about yourself and what you do?
I am a mum of three and an interior designer and a wife. I love design and I love business so luckily I run a design business. I am passionate about making a difference in the lives of others and there are so many ways to do this I hope I can always contribute more and more from that perspective.
What did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be a lawyer, badly, I could see it as clear as day, and then it happened and I loved every moment of it. I then moved on and having always been very creative and loving beauty wherever I could find it, I ended up running a design company I love. I feel very blessed to have had the luxury of working in two professions I love.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? and the worst?
Best piece of advice was never give up and honestly I don’t think I’ve ever had bad advice, everyone has a different lens to look through and a different perspective to offer and I like to listen to everything everyone has to offer because it might come in handy one day.
What is your favourite creative outlet to get the juices flowing?
Honestly I just grab my hot strong coffee a little dark chocolate and get myself going, I love design so much that I really don’t need a push I am ready all the time.
Jump in the Tardis and fast forward 5 years – where are you and what are you up to?
I am doing exactly what I’m doing now and growing.
What’s one thing other people may not know about you?
I sing, I used to sing for the English National opera and I was a backing singer for lots of well known pop bands. I am also fully Iraqi and I feel my background has been an incredible asset to my business because we deal with many Middle Eastern clients who of course know that I understand them and their homes in a way that would be difficult if I was from any other background.
What resource would help you in your work that you don’t have right now? That one thing that would save so much time and stress.
I think probably a CRM type technology management system that really considers Interior Designers and Design business and takes it all in. There are lots of CRM systems and programs but I haven’t used anything yet that I feel fully considers our profession or at least not in a fully adequate way.
Who or what are some of your influences? Are there any peers or creatives that you admire or draw inspiration from?
I am honestly inspired by everything I see, there are so many designers who are doing wonderful things and it’s such a pleasure to watch them design and develop and grow.
What are your main sources of inspiration? Are there any outlets you reference regularly?
I love visiting art galleries and museums, I love the V&A museum and the Saatchi Gallery and I love visiting the British museum but I also love the shows that we have here so PAD Art Fair and Frieze but I’m also inspired when I am visiting France or Italy and all of the Middle East which is just breathtaking.
Complete this sentence. Life is about…
….Love and growth, love everything you do and you will be inspired to grow and develop all the time.