An interior by Alex Papachristidis is nothing if not glamorous. But his is a distinctly comfortable brand of allure. The New York-based designer blends elegant one-off details-custom sofas embellished with trims and tassels, carefully vetted antiques, glimmering hand-painted wallpapers-with a keen sense for how people actually want to live. "I love the rarefied and the unique, but it all has to be approachable," he says.
In a Papachristidis space, the velvet-covered cushions are plump, the Louis XVI chairs are arranged for conversation, and a gueridon to set a drink on is never far from reach. "It's called the living room because you're meant to live in it," he says. "I believe a house should be used." The dog lover is also fond of motifs from the natural world. His work has incorporated such details as crouching porcelain monkeys and exotic animal prints; bedrooms with fabric-covered walls teem with flowers, birds, and vines. "I take decorating very seriously, but I like there to be some whimsy."
Here, he shares his 3 secrets to achieving timeless style:
1. "Throw something sculptural and modern in with the antiques. If everything has a provenance, it can start to feel like your grandmother's house."
2. "Even if we're just eating takeout at home, we pull out the good silver, linens, and pretty dishes-and why shouldn't we? Beauty is good for the soul."
3. "More than anything else, your attitude defines your spaces. Think of those amazing English country houses where everything is unbelievably grand, but there are books and newspapers piled here and there and dogs all over the sofa. Grand doesn't have to feel grand."
Plus, his top picks for classic design:
1. MOTTAHEDEH BLUE LACE CHINA "As pretty as an antique." From $55, mottahedeh.com.
2. LIZ O'BRIEN FRANCES ARMCHAIR "Not too heavy, not too light, and completely comfortable." From $2,450, lizobrien.com.
3. WILLIAM YEOWARD CRYSTAL FERN GOBLET "It's a swimming pool-you fill the glass once and you're done." $290, williamyeowardcrystal.com.
4. BENJAMIN MOORE IVORY WHITE "A shade that picks up what's around it like a chameleon. It goes with anything." $52 a gallon, benjaminmoore.com.
5. GRACIE SEPIA GARDEN WALLPAPER "It brings the enchantment of nature into a room." To the trade, graciestudio.com.
6. CHRISTOPHER SPITZMILLER AURORA LAMP "Modern simplicity." $2,290, christopherspitzmiller.com.
7. MANUEL CANOVAS SALSA SATIN "The colors are just gorgeous. It's so chic on walls and curtains." To the trade, cowtan.com.
8. WATERWORKS BOULEVARD FITTINGS "Elegant, sophisticated, and versatile." $2,216, waterworks.com.
