You may not yet know the name Christian P. Arkay-Leliever, Founder and Creative Director of his namesake Fairfield-based design firm, Arkay-Leliever, LLC. Still, you’ve seen his incredible work around town and beyond. Christian is the design force that created gorgeous spaces such as Henry C. Reid, Geronimo, BE Chocolat, and one of his latest wow designs - Esh Modern Mediterranean. Although he’s typically behind the scenes, it was a pleasure to have the chance to discuss his creativity and the large-scale projects he produces.
Q: What an impressive portfolio. Your talent and excitement translates within the walls of all your projects. Is that what makes you unique in this industry?
A: I live and breathe hospitality. I love the culinary arts and am passionate about creating environments and brand experiences for people.
Q: Where do you draw inspiration from? How do you access that creativity and how do keep it flowing?
A: Every day, I draw inspiration from my experiences, people, and talents I admire, such as chefs, architects, and even other designers. The places, the conversations, and the visual stimulation one receives daily are significant. My travels impact me the most. I’ve been fortunate to experience other countries, cultures, cuisines, environments, architecture, and design. However, even a simple commute to NYC for business or pleasure always helps to maintain the flow. It’s all in the moments. I make a great effort to pay attention to the details surrounding me on an ongoing basis.
Q: How would you describe your overall aesthetic and does it evolve with each project?
A: It’s not so much my aesthetic that is developed but an “aesthetic” that is derived and influenced by the brand itself and what ownership looks to create for the end user. For me, fashion, art, cultural inspiration, materiality, craft, and technology are all influences, and the aesthetic inherently changes with time and, therefore, with each project. However, I sometimes carry signature elements that I truly love through projects with enough adaption to make them unique for that particular client.
Q: Can you share some of those signature elements?
A: Again, they change over time, but one material that I’ve grown to appreciate is that of woven metals and chain loop. I’ve been able to source woven metals to use as room dividers, for instance, captured within a blackened custom steel frame that we design and fabricate or the back of a soffit bottle shelf where one may typically use glass. I’ve used a woven spiral metal product as curtains for an architectural detail up to 18’ tall, which, to one’s surprise, actually does soften the visual of a static or otherwise nondescript backdrop. Lastly and most recently, I had the opportunity at the new H Salon to custom print their new logo on a hanging chain loop product, which was the solution for three challenges we faced - branding, some form of privacy, and crafting a soft, spacial separation and acting as a wall/corridor for the guest.
Q: There must be a lot of very specific necessities that need to be considered when designing for a business - the needs of a hair salon, the requirements of a restaurant. Does form typically follow function for most projects?
A: Yes, function is ultimately the key consideration when starting any project; however, I work hard to ensure the design is not compromised when creating solutions. Starting a new project is more about starting a relationship with the client and creating a design dialogue. This is a study into the client’s culture and the brand and reviewing the project's main objectives.
Q: Because of those inherent parameters what has been a lesson learned during these huge undertakings?
A: Communication and relationships are the most critical aspects of any project. The lesson I have learned over and over is to trust my gut. In the business of design, listening and being honest about expectations from the very start and throughout the project is absolutely crucial to success. Responsibilities, budgets, and third-party expectations must be made clear and agreed upon by all involved. Ownership must be well-informed and sometimes guided by the designer, vendors, and trades to truly understand the impact of various elements on a project. This is true for all parties involved in crafting any successful product or project. This includes me as the creative director, the client, the general contractor, and every trade and vendor related to the build-out. The outcome is a culmination of good communication and understanding of the client’s needs, desires of quality levels, and, of course, the end-user experience.
Q: Can you tell us about some notable projects?
A: For Esh, we created a landscape that truly brings the outside in. We lined the center of the restaurant with natural birch trees surrounded by real stone - emphasized by thoughtfully designed lighting. At BE Chocolat, the movable glass and steel walls, mobile furniture, and even movable power are the inherent assets of the space that offer ownership of multiple solutions for a host of venue needs and desires. Creating Geronimo was through thoughtful attention to materials such as hand-crafted tile, lighting, and artifacts, paired with a custom-crafted bar and adobe wood-burning fireplace to finally, an unexpected and entertaining live scorpion table.
Q: Even though commercial design is drastically different than residential do you have any advice that our readers could incorporate into their homes when starting a big project?
A: Make sure you have a clear understanding of your needs vs desires, then focus on creating a plan that addresses the space and functional requirements within your budget first. You can add from there and build a contingency for unexpected costs and delays. Be prepared for “scope creep,” where the list of additional implemented desires during construction can cause surprising budget and schedule overages.
Q: Can you discuss any upcoming projects or collaborations that you are particularly excited about?
A: I just finished the new H Salon in Greenfield Hill and am completing a brewery/restaurant, The Haven Beer Co., in Hamden. In addition to a few ongoing projects in other states, I am starting three new restaurants here in Connecticut: one in a local casino, one in Newtown, and another here in town with Fairfield’s own RGR Hospitality Group.
Q: What do you find most rewarding about your work?
A: It’s great for me when a client refers me to a new client or invites me back for another project. I also enjoy hearing from friends and acquaintances who have visited a space I designed and share that they had an amazing experience. However, the most rewarding and fulfilling aspect of my work is when a client becomes a good friend.
arkay-leliever.com @cparkayleliever
