International Interior Designer Super Star Christopher Guy Harrison
A personal tribute by fellow Miami designer, serial creative entrepreneur Christi Tasker
There’s nothing quite like meeting legendary people at work. In the design and marketing world interesting people are the talk of the town. I am incredibly fortunate to cross paths with some of the most influential people in the world—especially in the spheres of design, architecture, and product development. These are the minds who shape the spaces we live in, the hotels we escape to, and the buildings we walk through every day.
When I lived and worked in Las Vegas, I had the privilege not just of meeting, but of truly knowing one of those legends: international interior design superstar Christopher Guy Harrison. His work changed the global design landscape. His friendship and advice changed me.
How I Met Christopher Guy: A Night at Wynn Las Vegas
I first met Christopher at a design event in Las Vegas, hosted at Wynn Las Vegas, featuring famed hotelier Steve Wynn, Bob Maricich (CEO of IMC – International Market Centers), and Wynn’s iconic designer Roger Thomas, who represented the design world during Las Vegas Market.
At that time, my company PuTTin OuT had helped IMC dramatically increase market attendance using social media between 2013–2015. It was a transformative time—designers were starting to understand the power of digital, content, and early AI-driven tools.
I happened to be at this VIP event with a few of my favorite clients:
- Donna Moss of HGTV
- Dann Foley of NBC Show American Dream Builders
- Jill Abelman, Las Vegas’s luxury penthouse interior designer.
As the evening wrapped up, we were leaving for dinner when Christopher turned to me and asked:
“Where are you going?”
I told him we were heading to Piero’s Italian restaurant. Without hesitation, he decided to join us—with his infamous videographer in tow.
The Ride in “Dottie” & Dinner at Piero’s
The Wynn hotel valet knew my polka-dotted Hummer—affectionately named Dottie—very well. We were frequent guests of the Wynn, and many of our clients stayed there. Dottie was hard to miss and had become part of our Vegas calling card.
So when Christopher and his videographer jumped into Dottie for the ride down the Vegas Strip, it felt like a scene out of a documentary: an international furniture icon, a dot-covered Hummer, bright Vegas lights, and a car full of designers headed to dinner.
We rolled into Piero’s planning to eat in the legendary A-room. But since there were too many of us, Freddie, the owner of Piero’s, graciously gave us the private dining room off the Monkey Bar instead.
That night was full of laughter, stories, and deep conversation. Christopher picked up the check—pure gentleman—and invited us to his showroom for breakfast the next morning. He wanted my opinion on his technology platform because, like me, he was a designer who believed in the fusion of design, social media, AI, and e-commerce.
From that moment on, the rest was history.
Breakfast in the Showroom & a Tour of His “Paradise of Products”
The next morning, I was dressed and ready—early, in fact—and I beat Christopher to his own showroom at the Las Vegas Design Center. That alone should tell you how excited I was.
We explored some of the incredible projects Christopher and his team were working on across the globe. One that especially caught my attention was the recently completed Georgian Restaurant inside Harrods of London.
On the showroom walls, I saw a stunning mosaic tile “painting” that Christopher told me adorns the walls of The Georgian. The idea that someone could bring a piece of Harrods’ Georgian restaurant into their own home thrilled me—especially as someone who loves mosaics and large-scale art.
He also pointed to a particular statue, telling me it was featured front and center in The Georgian.
I believed him, of course—but I’m also a designer. I have to see some things for myself.
Flying to London to See The Georgian at Harrods
Because the designers I work with made such a big deal over The Georgian, and Architectural Digest’s tiny feature just wasn’t enough for me, I booked a trip to London to see it in person.
Even the photos you see here barely capture the experience. The in-person design is spectacular—elevated, graceful, and undeniably “Christopher.”
For a beautiful overview of his work on The Georgian, you can also read this Forbes feature:
Designer Christopher Guy Harrison Redefines Beauty With The Georgian at Harrods in London
Who Is Christopher Guy? The “Guy” of the Hour, the Century
Christopher Guy is the “Guy” of the minute, the hour, the century. An Englishman by birth, he created a global brand revered by architects, interior designers, hoteliers, and luxury homeowners worldwide.
He started with a mirror collection, and his brother Richard created a more classic furniture line. Even when Richard’s classic collection outsold him early on, Christopher refused to give up his more avant-garde leanings. He did learn something powerful from that phase, though: furniture can’t be so “out there” that it’s uncomfortable or unlivable.
From there, he developed what would become one of the most iconic design signatures in the furniture world: the Chris-X® (criss-cross) back chair, often referred to as the “Chris-Cross” back. That sculptural X-leg and curved back silhouette has shown up in projects across the globe and remains one of the quickest ways to recognize his work.
You can explore his world of mirrors, seating, tables, cabinets, beds, and more at
ChristopherGuy.com.
A Tech-Savvy Visionary in a Traditionally Slow Industry
One of the things I admired most about Christopher wasn’t just his impeccable taste—it was his mind for technology and systems. He understood that the biggest challenge in the furniture world wasn’t just design; it was distribution and the ability to meet demand globally.
He shared ideas about merging design with digital tools, online visualization, e-commerce, and intelligent systems long before the rest of the industry was ready. We bonded over this because I was actively working at the intersection of design, marketing, and digital innovation with PuTTin OuT, Tasker Agency, and other projects.
The Las Vegas Showroom: The Last Glimpse Before a New Era
The January 2015 Las Vegas Market attendees were the last people to see Christopher’s showroom in its original layout.
As most designers tend to be their own worst critics, he confided that he actually despised the setup of the showroom. He wanted to redesign the space to give buyers what they truly expected when purchasing Christopher Guy luxury products. That meant a larger stage for his silhouettes and stories.
Even in his critique, there was never self-doubt—only an insatiable desire to keep evolving.
Christopher as Entrepreneur: In the League of Branson & Ahrendts
I’ve learned so much from working with and listening to visionary CEOs. Christopher was very much in that league. I often compared his entrepreneurial instincts to those of Richard Branson in his early days or Angela Ahrendts when she reshaped brands with clarity and boldness.
Christopher wasn’t simply designing furniture; he was building a global, tech-forward luxury brand with a clear identity and vision. He was one of the first in our world to see that design, technology, and storytelling weren’t separate lanes—they were the same highway.
Where His Legacy Lives Now: Kisa Harrison & the Hollywood Beauty Awards
Christopher left behind more than a global brand and iconic projects. He left behind a beautiful family and a living legacy in the hands of his wife, Kisa Harrison, and their children.
One of the most poetic examples of his legacy continuing is through the Hollywood Beauty Awards (HBAs). The HBAs honor the architects of beauty in entertainment—the unseen heroes behind the scenes in hair, makeup, styling, photography, and more.
In a recent Hollywood Beauty Awards moment, Michele Elyzabeth, CEO & Founder of the HBAs, said:
“I want to give a special thanks to Kisa Harrison, wife of the late Christopher Guy, who brilliantly designed our HBA award.”
The award itself—the Holly statuette—is a beautiful extension of the Christopher Guy design language: sculptural, elegant, timeless. You can see more of this in the official Christopher Guy Instagram reel below:
View this post on Instagram
Kisa not only honors Christopher’s memory through design but also leads and nurtures his legacy in a way that continues to inspire the design, film, and beauty industries alike.
Christopher’s Global Impact
Christopher’s work has furnished some of the most extravagant and respected properties in the world, including:
- The iconic Savoy Hotel in London
- The Georgian Restaurant at Harrods, London
- Wynn Resorts in Las Vegas and Macau
- The Ritz Carlton in Tokyo
- The Presidential Suite at the Beverly Hills Hotel
He was the recipient of numerous international honors, including:
- The British Interior Design Association’s Outstanding Design Award
- The Las Vegas Design Center’s Design Icon Award
- An honorary doctorate in Los Angeles in May 2014
He also launched his own eponymous line of furnishings—Christopher Guy—and leaves behind two wonderful sons, a loving wife, and an incredible legacy of luxury decorative design.
How Christopher Inspired Me Personally: Furniture, Rugs & Mosaics
Christopher’s impact on the design world is undeniable. But for me, his influence goes far beyond the public projects and awards. He inspired me to:
- Continue designing furniture that tells stories
- Develop rug and wallcoverings collections with bold pattern and soul
- Embrace my love of mosaics and use my artistic talents in more expressive, architectural ways without worrying about the price or audience.
Chris’s build it and they will eventually come attitude encouraged me to think beyond the expected and to keep creating—even when the industry was shifting, even when life got complicated, even when it felt easier to focus only on business.
He reminded me that design isn’t just about objects—it’s about emotion, memory, and the experiences you leave people with.
His Passing & the Weight of Losing a Legend
Christopher Guy Harrison passed away at the age of 59. His passing was a shock to the design community that adored him and to those of us who were lucky enough to call him a friend.
He leaves behind his wife Kisa, their two sons, and a global family of artisans, clients, and admirers. His legacy lives on in every piece created under the Christopher Guy name, in every space warmed by his silhouettes, and in every designer he inspired to think bigger, bolder, and more beautifully.
A Final Note to Christopher
Christopher,
Thank you for your friendship, your brilliance, your fearlessness, and your kindness. Thank you for the ride in Dottie, the dinner at Piero’s, the early-morning showroom tours, the private previews, answering my calls and emails, tapping me for your tech talk conversations, and the quiet moments of honest advice.
Thank you for letting me straighten your collars and tell you when your shirt was buttoned, staggered. (Btw, that’s in style now and as usual – you were ahead of the curve.)
You were a magician when it came to understanding people—how they would react, and how they’d live in your creations. You were always ten steps ahead, with plenty up your sleeve.
I’ve got you down to the baseboards, and you’re right! Even Harrod’s got some of it all wrong!
Your work changed the world of design, influence and elevated others who tried to keep up with that GUY!
Your words and belief in me, changed me.
Thank you for not letting your ego get bigger than your brand.
Until we meet again, my friend.
