The next chapter of Christian’s story begins in Washington, D.C. When he came to the United States for good, Christian felt as though he was finally coming home, and does not recall experiencing a moment of homesickness. Instead, he immediately felt that his work ethic and mentality were in harmony with American culture.
Early Career
Thankfully, one of Christian’s friends knew of someone living in D.C. who needed a roommate. Christian jumped on the opportunity and started his new life in the city. He initially worked in the kitchen at the Inter-American Development Bank but quickly built connections and advanced to the communications department.
After working at the bank, Christian entered the catering world. This he recalls being a more dog-eat-dog experience, where you had to step on others to get to the top. His proficiency in English helped him stand out, and he was promoted to captain. In this role, he led his own team, managed a truck, and became the face of the catering company, interacting with clients and serving as the primary point of contact. He credits much of his customer service expertise to his time in catering.
Christian kept in touch with Antonio Lopez, a good friend from the bank, who then introduced him to Brandon Green, a real estate agent who was looking for an assistant at the time.
The World of Real Estate
In 2004, Christian was hired as Brandon’s personal assistant. As Brandon’s success grew, they expanded their team. While Brandon focused on sales, Christian took charge of the entire back end of the business, handling everything from management and transactions to contract signing and closing. By 2007, Christian began exploring ways to add value to their listings. He started by bringing in some flowers, rugs, towels, pillows, and other accessories to elevate their business. This was when he began rediscovering his creative side, which had first emerged during his childhood.
From there, Christian taught himself to create a website on WIX to service other agents. It was at this point that Staging Design DC was created.
The Start of Staging Design DC
Christian fondly remembers his first staging experience, where he created a Japanese-inspired "zen" space for a client using pillows and orchids. This project made him realize his passion for crafting moments and spaces with a unique feeling. Initially, he stored foldable furniture—chairs, tables, futon couches—in his basement, transporting them to stagings in his hatchback. As the workload grew, he enlisted a friend's help and recalls many late-night trips to Walmart and IKEA looking for the perfect pieces for his staging the next day. Eventually, as his inventory and clientele expanded, he transitioned from a basement to multiple storage units, and ultimately to his own warehouse.
Stay tuned for part three…
ABOUT STAGING DESIGN DC:
We are Staging Design DC: a team of design and hospitality professionals. We transform spaces and places to evoke a feeling, create a personal connection, and elicit a memorable impression by marrying our talented team with our diverse and expansive inventory.
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