Ten Questions in Ten Minutes: With Linda Christensen

Linda Christensen is a director/design consultant at Kitchens by Design, an Auckland based design practice specialising in designing kitchens and lifestyle spaces for more than 30 years.

Business to Business - What inspired you to start up your business?
Linda Christensen - On returning to NZ after living overseas and working in design I was surprised to see the limitations on design we had here in NZ. There was no professional body and still many DIY’s. So over the next 18 years I lived in 5 houses, that I renovated, and built 2 to fulfill my design aspirations!
I became more frustrated at what the market offered and the product limitations, but I also honed my many skills as a DIY! I was pushing boundaries and found my creativity stifled.
So I decided to start up my own company offering great design solutions and backed it up with selected suppliers, products and manufacturing bases that I had gathered along my journey those I knew would perform to the high standards I was looking for.
Then in 1989 I decided to specialise in kitchens and joined forces with Lesley Waite to form Kitchens by Design and the wonderful team of suppliers came with us.

BtoB - What and who has influenced you professionally?
LC - I am still influenced by International design, I find European design more creative and influential for the NZ market and try to travel to Europe every two years to ensure I am challenged and always extended to better design.
I am also influenced by some of our top architects in NZ – they are truly inspirational and some of the world’s best, and I am continually amazed at their solutions for their clients and the environment.

BtoB - How would you describe yourself as a business person?