Having worked in conflict zones around the world throughout her career, humanitarian Christina Byrn has always turned to interior design as a way of decompressing. Now, she’s embarking on a brand new adventure, growing her love for decor into a new challenge – setting up her own interior design company

It’s not surprising that St Leonards has, for many, become a place to escape and retreat. Overlooking the seaside, the town is filled with an array of large, architecturally interesting Victorian buildings and accompanying leafy gardens, all scattered across its undulating hills. It was this sense of calm and space that attracted humanitarian-turned-interior designer Christina Byrn to the seaside location, choosing it as her very own escape hatch.

With a career spanning nearly three decades working in war zones for international humanitarian organisations, Christina has carved her very own serene retreat, creating a sanctuary far away from the intensity of life on the frontlines. Her ground-floor apartment is filled with daylight from the original windows and enveloped by lush green gardens, packed with tropical planting.

Christina has chosen to keep the apartment’s walls painted a clean, calming white. “I always tend to work with the same base colours of white and black, I think it gives some depth and contrast, and then I can add pops of colour with the objects or the artwork,” she says.
Christina has chosen to keep the apartment’s walls painted a clean, calming white. “I always tend to work with the same base colours of white and black, I think it gives some depth and contrast, and then I can add pops of colour with the objects or the artwork,” she says.

It is a testament to the art of creating balance – both between natural textures, soft colours and meaningful objects (collected from years of travel in conflict zones across Africa and Asia) as much as creating a dividing line between her need for a quieter home life and the hectic and unyielding schedule of her work life.

“My home has always been my safe haven. My flat in Paris served that purpose for many years until I purchased this extraordinary place. These spaces are also backdrops for all the many items that I’ve collected in different contexts on my travels. It’s about marrying them together to create a harmonious space,” says Christina.

A huge abstract painting from Graze in St Leonards dominates the far wall of the sitting and dining space
A huge abstract painting from Graze in St Leonards dominates the far wall of the sitting and dining space

Her apartment is an homage to her travels. “These items are not just decor,” she explains. “They are part of my life and my journey.” Now, as she moves into a different phase, Christina has decided to follow her dream of interior design, pursuing it as a second string to her bow, giving her a much-needed creative outlet.

Christina first came to Hastings in 2002 with her ex-husband who had family in the town. It wasn’t until 2016 that she decided to settle here and purchase the ground floor flat. “The flat was in a pretty bad state,” she recalls. “Nobody wanted it. It was in need of extensive renovation and I am so pleased that it has regained its past glory.”

In the kitchen, Christina chose to invest in quality oak carcassing, opting for vintage storage solutions in the form of wine boxes and Danish bread baskets
In the kitchen, Christina chose to invest in quality oak carcassing, opting for vintage storage solutions in the form of wine boxes and Danish bread baskets

Christina has chosen to keep the apartment’s walls painted a clean, calming white – a deliberate choice for someone whose professional life has been anything but peaceful. “I need that sense of calm. White walls create a blank canvas for me, I always tend to work with the same base colours of white and black, I think it gives some depth and contrast, and then I can add pops of colour with the objects or the artwork. In the living room it’s an orangey brown and in the bedroom it’s more of a pop of gold,” Christina explains. The minimalist backdrop allows her collection of artifacts to stand out. “For me, it’s not about following trends or styles. It’s more about the quality of the object and the patina, the history and narrative behind it,” she says.

One striking example is the Buddha statue she bought in Myanmar in 2005, which sits on her bedside table. A Chinese scroll from a market in Bangkok graces the wall, and nearby, two abstract paintings sourced from a small Parisian gallery add a touch of modernity to the space. “I love the texture of these pieces,” she notes. “Depending on the light, they change, almost like they’re different paintings.” Texture plays a key role in Christina’s design choices. Woven baskets, soft textiles, and intricate metal accents are layered to create a space that is as tactile as it is visually appealing. “I don’t just decorate with things I like the look of,” she explains. “I make sure that everything here has a multi-purpose. The pouffe stools in the living room, for example, also double as seating in the garden.

Christina’s bedroom and bathroom are home to more attractive storage solutions – hat boxes, stacked baskets, vintage finds and old trunks
Christina’s bedroom and bathroom are home to more attractive storage solutions – hat boxes, stacked baskets, vintage finds and old trunks

The vintage hat boxes and old suitcase in the bedroom are used for storage. The fact that they have functions give them new life and it is pleasing to the eye.”
The connection between indoor and outdoor living is something that Christina has perfected. Original double height wooden casement windows (with their original shutters) and French doors open onto a lush garden, where tropical plants – some gifted by a neighbour – create an atmosphere more reminiscent of Africa or Asia than East Sussex.

“It wasn’t intentional, but people always say it feels tropical here,” Christina laughs. “Maybe it’s my subconscious, drawing on the years I spent in hotter climates.”
Despite her deep connection to her travels, Christina has also drawn inspiration from the local area. “I’ve sourced a lot of items from antique shops locally,” she says. “There’s a wonderful antique dealer called Robert Amstad at the Hastings Antique Centre on Norman Road, who has been such a support to me over the years.

Christina’s bedroom and bathroom are home to more attractive storage solutions – hat boxes, stacked baskets, vintage finds and old trunks

Alongside curating the perfect place to source quality items, he encouraged me to pursue my interest in interior design.” Christina is also lucky to have discovered a period building where she has been able to save so many of the original Decimus Burton features, the architect of much of St Leonards, whose father once owned the property. High ceilings, original cornicing and restored shutters all contribute to the apartment’s serene atmosphere. “I was lucky to find that the original shutters were still here, though they were completely stuck when I moved in,” Christina recalls. “We managed to restore them all, and now they add so much to all the rooms. I can keep the window areas open and use the shutters as they were intended.”

The kitchen, like the bedroom and living room also reveals Christina’s confidence as a designer. “Most people buy cheap carcasses and then spend the money on the doors, I did it the other way. I spent the money on getting good oak frames made and then I opted for vintage storage that looked good and had patina and history. There are wine boxes and Danish bread baskets that my mother, who is also very into interior design and collecting, gave me.” Christina has opted for industrial style lighting to reflect the stainless-steel appliances and a metal dining table and chairs, with slate as the other main material. It is a kitchen that is practical and yet instinctively inhabited by someone who loves to cook: pans, woks, sieves and baskets all reflect the different flavours of Christina’s life from Hastings to Asia and Africa and also Paris, which is her second home.

One of the most stunning rooms in the apartment, one that immediately drew in Christina when she first saw the place, is the light drenched living room. A huge abstract painting from Graze in St Leonards dominates the far wall, beneath which sit a sofa and chairs that Christina has amassed from Denmark, from Paris and from Hastings. A 19th century bow fronted chest sets the colour palette, which bounces from the flecks of orange in the painting and on to the other objects including baskets and curios that she has placed around the room. Sheep and goat skin throws give yet more layers of texture and interest, adding cosiness to the bolder white of the walls. A set of gallery shelves shows off pieces from Spain, Thailand, Cambodia, Paris, India – a diary, if you like, of Christina’s global travels.

Christina’s professional life has shifted in recent years. Where once she would spend years in conflict zones, she now works as a consultant, allowing her to spend more time at home with the head space to develop new ideas. “I still go on missions, but much less frequently. Now, I only need a few drops of that adrenaline rush, rather than the full cocktail!” she says with a smile. This shift has allowed her to focus more on her passion for interior design, which she views as an essential part of her wellbeing. “I’ve seen so much horror in my career, and this – this space and designing others – is how I stay sane. It’s my way of disconnecting and finding peace.”

This instinctive love for design has formed the basis of Christina’s new venture, launching an interior styling business, Kyrr Interiors, that focuses on creating calm, inviting spaces for clients (Kyrr is an old Norse word that means calm and peaceful). “It’s about optimising the space people already have, and helping them to see the potential in it,” she explains. “I think we all need a little more calm in our lives.”

Whether it’s the soothing palette of whites and natural materials, or the thoughtful curation of pieces from the four corners of the world, Christina’s apartment is a testament to the power of design to reflect and support a life well-lived. “I’ve worked in some of the toughest places in the world, and coming home to this – this calm, beautiful space – is essential for me,” she reflects. “It’s my sanctuary, my escape, and it’s where I can breathe.”

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Find out more about Kyrr Interiors
at kyrrinteriors.com


  • words:
  • pictures: David Merewether
  • location: St Leonards

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