Christina is the founder of Loftwhite, styling weddings and events across two of the most striking backdrops in the world: Dubai and Greece. But before candles, moodboards and bridal moments, her career was built in hospitality and finance.
We asked Christina, an Interior Design Online graduate, to take us behind the beauty of Loftwhite: why she chose to study with us, how she turned a passion into a business, and what it really takes to build a career styling some of the most important days in people’s lives.
Why did you study styling?
Styling and decor have actually been a passion of mine since I was a child. I was always rearranging things, decorating spaces and thinking about how different elements worked together. As I got older, I was constantly styling my own home and helping friends, simply because I loved creating beautiful spaces. I just never imagined at the time that it could become a career.
For a long time, I thought my path through hospitality and finance had taken me away from that passion. Looking back now, I realise it actually prepared me for it. My hospitality background taught me how to anticipate people’s needs, create experiences, remain calm under pressure and adapt quickly when things don’t go according to plan. These are all skills I use constantly when working on weddings and events. No matter what is happening behind the scenes, the client should always feel that everything is under control.
My finance background has also been incredibly valuable. Running a creative business isn’t just about the creative side. There are budgets, contracts, supplier negotiations, timelines and a lot of decision-making involved. I now realise that my previous careers weren’t a detour at all. They gave me the foundation and skill set to build Loftwhite into the business it is today.
Why did you choose Interior Design Online?
I did look at a few different course providers, but Interior Design Online stood out to me. I also had a close friend, Ryan, who recommended it, which gave me even more confidence that it would be the right fit. At the time, I was still working full-time, so I needed something flexible that I could fit around my schedule. I also liked that the course focused on the fundamentals of styling and design rather than simply decorating. It felt practical and professional, but also approachable, and most importantly, it gave me the confidence to take that first step into a completely new career.
What did you love most about the course?
I actually started with interior design styling, which is something I still do today. The course gave me a strong foundation in understanding how to create balanced and beautiful spaces, and I loved learning about the principles behind why certain spaces work. As my business developed, I naturally moved further into event styling because it combines two things I absolutely love: working with people and being creative.
The fundamentals I learnt through the course, proportion, colour, texture, composition and how people experience a space, translate perfectly into events. Whether I’m styling an interior or designing a wedding, I’m ultimately creating an environment that makes people feel something. I think that’s what I love most about event styling. You aren’t just creating something beautiful to look at; you’re creating an experience and being part of some of people’s most important moments.
How would you describe the Loftwhite look?
I would describe the Loftwhite aesthetic as simplicity expressed as art. I’ve always believed that less is more. I’d rather have fewer, really beautiful and intentional elements that stand out than fill a space with too much information. Every detail should have a purpose and contribute to the overall feeling of the space.
My aesthetic is very much a reflection of the two worlds I’ve lived in. Growing up in Greece gave me an appreciation for natural materials, beautiful architecture, earthy tones and the simplicity of Mediterranean living. Dubai, on the other hand, has exposed me to incredible scale, contemporary architecture, hospitality and design from all over the world. I think Loftwhite naturally sits between these influences, combining the warmth and simplicity of my Greek roots with a more contemporary and globally inspired perspective.
What does the final hour before a wedding feel like?
The final hour is probably my favourite moment of the entire wedding day. After months of planning, everything is finally in place. The flowers are arranged, the candles are lit, every detail has been checked, and the space is finally still before the guests arrive.
It’s an incredibly emotional moment for me. I genuinely sometimes feel like crying, from the emotions, but also simply from the love of what I’m seeing. There’s something very special about seeing an idea that existed for months in moodboards, sketches and conversations finally become real.
Watching a bride see her wedding for the first time is one of the most rewarding parts of my job. Seeing her reaction, especially when she becomes emotional or tells you that it is exactly what she imagined, is something I don’t think I’ll ever get used to. Those moments remind me why I do what I do.
What’s the reality behind the beautiful photos?
The final photographs show the beautiful result, but they don’t show the early mornings, late nights, heavy lifting, last-minute changes, supplier issues, weather concerns and hundreds of small decisions that happen behind the scenes. Styling is both creative and incredibly hands-on. There are days when you’re on your feet from before sunrise until well after midnight.
I think one of the hardest parts, especially when you’re starting out, is learning that something will almost always go wrong. A supplier may be late, the weather may change, something may arrive differently than expected or a detail may need to be changed at the last minute.
I’ve learnt that you can’t control everything, but you can control how you respond to it. Staying calm, thinking quickly and finding a solution without allowing the client to feel the stress behind the scenes is one of the most important skills I’ve developed. Over time, I’ve realised that the ability to stay calm is just as important as the creative side of the job.
What advice would you give someone dreaming of a pivot?
I wish someone had told me that you don’t need to have everything figured out before you begin. It’s very easy to wait until you feel completely ready, but I think confidence usually comes after taking the first step, not before it.
A course can give you the knowledge and foundation, but building a creative career also takes persistence, curiosity, consistency and a willingness to learn as you go. For me, the biggest leap was simply allowing myself to take something that had always been a passion and believe that it could become a career.
Looking back, changing careers was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. It hasn’t always been easy, but being able to create beautiful experiences for people through Loftwhite has been incredibly rewarding, and I’m so grateful I had the courage to take that first step.
Ready to take your first step?
Christina’s story is proof that the skills you’ve already built, wherever they come from, are rarely wasted. If you’re sitting in a career that no longer feels like the whole picture, our Interior and Property Styling short course could be the foundation for something entirely new. Ready to go deeper? Our Certificate IV in Design builds on those same fundamentals for anyone ready to take their styling career even further.
Visit the Loftwhite website or be inspired on Instagram.
