Boston Interior Designer Christina Oliver, ASID, Wins Two Interior Design Awards

NEWTON, Mass., Nov. 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Newton interior designer Christina Oliver, founder and president of Oliver Interiors, LLC, recently won two awards from prestigious interior design associations.

The honors include:

• American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) New England's 2011 Annual Design Competition Award's First Place for her Residential Kitchen entry.  
• Boston Architectural College (BAC) has honored Christina Oliver with the 2010 Alumni in Practice Award for Interior Design.

Additionally, she is a national spokesperson for ASID and is President of Massachusetts Interior Design Coalition.

One of Oliver's specialties is residential interior design for families in transition: recreating spaces for adults whose children are leaving the nest, or whose needs within the home have changed due to the addition of family members, young or old.    

"Some of the most rewarding work I do is with empty nesters in Newton, Brookline and Cambridge who are looking for modern home interior design. I love working with people who want to transform their houses or condos into unique living environments. I understand this time of life: the desire to explore new concepts and new ideas, to literally open up the door to fresh influences."

She was honored by her colleagues and peers recently, when she was awarded First Place in the ASID New England's 2011 Annual Design Competition Award for her Residential Kitchen entry.  

The award-winning kitchen was challenged for space and seating, and created difficulty in the simplest tasks by its design for a left-handed cook; the new owner was right-handed. A series of doors and a poorly designed island made the kitchen difficult to use. For pictures, go to http://oliverinteriors.com/asid_kitchen_award

Ms. Oliver selected a theme of earth and water, defining the neutral color scheme with the elegant use of natural materials. New blonde wood floors met creamy walls, accented by smoky blue iridescent granite and tile. Old cabinetry and appliances were donated for re-use, and a new floor plan and shifting a doorway achieved optimal seating and storage.

The curve of the island and the Blue Astral countertop added eye-catching focal points, and specially lit display boxes above the cabinets worked with the high ceilings to recreate the space as a warm, functional kitchen.

The Boston Architectural College has honored her with the 2010 Alumni in Practice Award for Interior Design for her distinguished work in the Interior Design profession.

"For 20 years, Christina has been a prominent figure in the Boston Interior Design Community," said Felice Silverman. BAC '92, IIDA, President and Principal at Silverman Trykowski Associates. "She has demonstrated her commitment to the profession as a designer in her own successful practice, as an educator and as a mentor, and as a leader in professional associations and initiatives."

Alumni who receive this award are considered to be those who bring honor to their professions and provide exemplary service in the fields of Architecture and Interior Design.

Christina earned a certificate in Interior Design from the BAC in 1990 after an accomplished career in social work. "Design and social work are actually closely connected," said Christina. "In fact, my husband is fond of saying that as a social worker I used to help people work on their interior interiors, but now as an interior designer I help them work on their exterior interiors."

She is the daughter of renowned architect, educator, writer and critic Peter Blake. He was chair of the BAC, America's oldest design school. He was editor of Architectural Forum. He wrote many books, including: "Master Builders: Le Corbusier, Mies van der Rohe, and Frank Lloyd Wright," "Form Follows Fiasco: Why Modern Architecture Hasn't Worked," and "God's Own Junkyard: The Planned Deterioration of America's Landscape."

About Christina Oliver

Ms. Oliver earned a certificate in Interior Design in 1990 from the Boston Architectural College (BAC). The expertise she developed early in life to create a highly collaborative environment has become the signature of her practice. She believes that one of her roles as a designer is to help her clients find a personal voice in the design process. Her close working relationships with architects and artisans result in stylish, functional spaces that reflect clients' tastes and needs.

She has also emerged as a leader in a variety of professional organizations, including the International Interior Design Association (New England Chapter) Business Leaders Forum, ASID New England, and the Massachusetts Interior Design Coalition (MIDC). She has also dedicated her time and expertise to the BAC as a Thesis Representative, a member of the Interior Design Advisory Board, and as a mentor to students at the BAC and at the Wentworth Institute of Technology.  

To learn more about Oliver Interiors and the firm's award-winning projects, visit http://www.oliverinteriors.com.  

Contact:  

Lisa Clair
[email protected]
203-256-0802

SOURCE Christina Oliver