Alexia joined Pembrooke & Ives as an interior designer in 2013, working on projects that include the renovation of a Golf Club House in Long Island, the reading room at the Center for Jewish History and a 10,000 square foot office space on Madison Avenue. Since 2016, she has been the Director of Branding & Communications, bringing an increased awareness and fresh approach to the company founded by her father in 1987. Pembrooke & Ives is a 65-person award-winning, internationally acclaimed firm working with both residential and commercial clients across the country and the world. Â
Alexia’s passion for design has been inspired by the varied cultures and environments in which she has lived, studied and worked. She was born and raised in New York, studied in Greece, worked in Italy, attended university in the United Kingdom and received her masters degree back in New York in Interior Design from Parsons.Â
Q
Most adventurous thing you’ve done in your life?
A.
Moving to Athens as a 15 year old. I wanted a change and a new experience, so I found a school to accept me for a semester, wrote a letter to my school in New York requesting permission to leave and off I went. It was a transformative experience that set me on a path for many things in my life.​
Q
How did you get started in this field?
A.
I graduated university with a degree in Politics and Philosophy, moved back to New York and realized I needed to find a career path. I had never considered design as an option, perhaps because it was my family’s business and I wanted to build something of my own. However, it became quickly apparent that design was my real passion and came quite naturally to me – I had cultivated an understanding and an eye for design having grown up surrounded by it. My first job was at a furniture showroom in Soho, where I worked in conjunction with taking evening classes at FIT in interior design. I was able to build a portfolio with the coursework and applied for a Masters in Interior Design at Parsons. The rest is history. After completing my MFA, I joined by father’s firm, Pembrooke & Ives, six years ago. I am incredibly grateful to be able to now work alongside my father; he has been my greatest teacher in both design and business.
Q
Best way to take a rest/decompress?
A.
Q
What was the first project you worked on?
A.
I started at Pembrooke & Ives just as the company was going through major growth and needed to expand into a new office. Designing that space was my first project and arguably one of the hardest. The pressure of designing for designers (and new coworkers) is no easy feat.
Q
Three things you can’t live without?
A.
My passport, my computer and a good pen.
Q
What is your biggest fear in life?
A.
Having regrets for not trying or doing something I wanted to
Q
What is your favorite time of day?
A.
Early morning when the city is just waking up
Q
Who is your celebrity crush?
A.
Javier Bardem
Q
What is one Instagram account you can’t live without?
A.
@somewhereiwouldliketolive for endless travel and design envy
