Something Old, Something New: How Ellie Christopher Makes Antiques Feel Fresh
To Birmingham interior designer Ellie Christopher, an antique is more than a piece of furniture — it's a piece of history with a story to tell. Image: Holland Williams
Southerners love a good story, and designer Ellie Christopher is no exception. The founder of the Birmingham-based Ellie Christopher Interior Design grew up in Georgia in a home filled with beautiful antiques, each with its own rich history. That was the beginning of a lifelong love affair with the storied pasts and quality craftsmanship that accompany a unique antique find.
Today, Ellie helps her clients marry past and present, seamlessly blending family heirlooms and timeless treasures with modern elements. The result is a layered, collected look that not only reflects the homeowner’s style but also tells their story.
Your path to interior design is an unexpected one. Can you share that origin story?
The homes I grew up in were all decorated by interior designers, and my aunt is an interior designer, but it never occurred to me that I could do it, too. I’ve always been creative, and as a kid, I took every art class I could. My parents were supportive of my creative talents, but I thought I needed to do something else.
I decided I wanted to become a plastic surgeon and fix cleft palates on babies in Africa. I started as a biology major with a minor in genetics at the University of Georgia, but I had a full-blown panic attack during my sophomore year and (at my roommate’s urging) switched paths.
I started studying interior design, and I got to do all the things I loved again, like coloring and drawing. I studied abroad in Italy, where I learned bookbinding, ceramics, and figure drawing, and I knew I had found my path.
I worked in the design industry in Atlanta for four years before moving to Birmingham to work for Tammy Conner. That experience was wonderful. I learned how to use color to its full advantage, and I learned how to manage a business. She made me a better designer.
Eventually, I got burnt out on the workload, so I started doing jobs on my own and working part-time with a couple of local designers while I built up my own business.
How would you define your design philosophy?
Your home should be a reflection of who you are as a person — not of what everyone else is doing. I try to help clients tell their own story. My perspective is that it is my job to elevate the client’s personal style. I don’t walk in and tell them to get rid of everything. I enjoy taking on different projects and people. It’s like changing clothes. One day I want to be Ralph Lauren’s daughter, and the next day I want to be a bohemian princess.
You’re known for incorporating antiques. What misconceptions do people have about decorating with antiques?
I grew up around antiques. The way I was raised and the houses I grew up in [shaped my] perspective on living well and my appreciation for old things. The only piece of furniture in my house that is new is my bed; everything else is old. Antiques have a sentimental quality because they were gifted or I bought them on a trip. There’s a story behind them.
People can be scared to use antiques because they think they are too delicate or too precious. I consider antiques to be anything made in the 1800s or earlier, and if something has survived that long, it’s because it’s a quality, crafted piece. Also, the older that wood gets, the more durable it is. It should not be thought of as something you can’t touch or live with.
Obviously, take some precautions (like using a coaster), but remember: sometimes a blemish adds interest because you know there’s a story there. I like to know the backstory of a piece. Who did it live with before me? What stories would it tell? That’s the best part about antiques.
Where are your favorite places for sourcing antiques?
In Birmingham, I love Henhouse Antiques and Lolo French Antiques.
For antique rugs, my go-to is Paige Albright Orientals. An old rug can really ground a space.
Online, Chairish is a great resource.
What is the one project you are the most proud of, and why?
My mom followed me to Birmingham, and her house has been one of my favorite projects. It’s not the fanciest, but getting to decorate her home felt like coming full circle. I could push her in ways that I probably wouldn’t be able to push another client.
The dining room in her home is a special space because my mom has always wanted me to paint a large-scale mural on her wall, but I never had the time. During COVID, I suddenly had lots of time, so I painted her dining room walls with trees inspired by a park in her neighborhood.
How would you define your personal style?
I love antiques, color, and anything quirky. I like anything shaped like an animal. For example, I have weenie dog knife holders and a leather lion footstool. I am also obsessed with snails and have a large one under a guest room side table.
I’m a quirky individual, and my house is probably weirder than most clients would want.
What is the biggest design mistake you see people make?
Scale and proportion are where most people go wrong. Some designers tend to overdecorate, and while I love playing with different patterns, you also have to play with scale, and the colors have to work together. Those mistakes can be expensive. Most people don’t know why a room doesn’t feel right to them, but it’s usually because scale and proportions are off.
What is your favorite current design trend?
I try to stay away from design trends because they are pushed on people. But I do love that the world is more in tune with color and out of the gray box. For clients who beg for a light refresh, we can add some wallpaper, fun pillows, or change out a plain lampshade for something with a great print.
The fact that old school things are coming back into fashion is exciting because people are realizing that quality pieces never go out of style. If the shape and lines on a piece are great but the fabric doesn’t work, recover it! I tend to veer towards less “trendy” and prefer a more traditional, transitional, and colorful world. It’s a “collected” style.
What is one design trend that you wish would go away?
The modern farmhouse. Period.
What is one simple thing someone can do to elevate a room or make it look more put-together?
Make sure the rugs in the room are appropriately scaled. I love for rugs to be about a foot away from each wall. If the rug fills the space, you can always put another one on top of it to help ground it.
If you could design your dream space with no budget or design restrictions, what would it look like?
I love a scenic wallpaper, and I would have it on every surface — walls, ceilings, etc. I would also have wood walls, plaster walls, or wallpaper only — no drywall at all!
I would use only high-end finishes for door hardware, and I’d have fancy faucets. Timely, expensive little ‘house jewelry’ pieces make a difference. The things you touch every day should be more expensive than Home Depot stuff.
To sum it up — describe your design philosophy in three words.
Elevated. Curated. Colorful.
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Bonny Osterhage
Bonny Osterhage is a professional journalist with more than 25 years of experience in both print and digital media. An avid fitness fanatic, when she isn't exploring the next trending topic, Bonny can be found cycling, running, and leading classes at SolidCore. Find more of her work at Mind Body Green, The List, Business Insider, and more.