alter.(ed) space

Hi, I’m Christiane
the creative behind Design Alter

I believe design has the ability to alter our state of being. 
Its purpose is to resonate with the human psyche. It’s visualising a future that excites and inspires, giving it form and leading us to create the lifestyle we desire.

As an Interior Architect, my work emerges from the intersection of architecture and interior design. Magic happens where these two disciplines meet and dissolve into a single holistic vision.

After graduating from the University of New South Wales with a Bachelor of Interior Architecture, where I later taught for some years, I worked for leading interior design and architecture firms in Sydney before starting to my own design practice in Europe.

In 2020 Covid bought me back to Australia. I returned to my hometown of Pambula and founded Design Alter to focus on projects of a personal scale. Ones that embody authenticity and individual expression, that tell a story and hold a feeling.

In truth, I was seeking a path that aligned with my values, one that didn’t fit in a box, but spilled out, into the everyday, into the way we live, build and dream. Creativity can’t be forced and I craved the kind of spaciousness required to be in flow state.

My passion is weaving the threads of form and essence, aesthetics and experience. Given the profound influence design has on human emotions and behaviour, I aim to create beautiful spaces that instil a sense of peace and joy.

I view spaces as the vessel to hold and nurture how we desire to live.

My approach blends conceptual thinking with technical know-how and meticulous detail. Thanks to over a decade of industry experience across multiple sectors including commercial, retail, hospitality and residential design both locally and internationally. Notable clients include Westpac, Suncorp, Apple, JLL, Equinix and Knight Frank.

I care deeply about helping people elevate their everyday spaces by creating environments that bring about positive change and support wellbeing.

I believe every time we build there is an opportunity to create something special, to foster connection, to nurture, for deep attunement, and to strengthen our relationship with the landscape. We’re not just designing for today, we’re planting seeds for a more beautiful tomorrow.