From a young age, Christine Blanchet Aitkins was captivated by design and architecture. Christine fondly remembers riding around Berkeley with her parents, eagerly selecting her favorite houses as she toured the town. This became a cherished pastime, and many of those childhood favorites still hold a special place in her heart.

Christine's appreciation for aesthetics was also evident during her time at the Madeleine, a Catholic school, where she looked forward to free dress days to showcase her personal style. One memorable outfit featured burgundy corduroy knickers, knee-high socks, and a white shirt with a curved collar. As an adult, her interest in design continued to flourish, highlighted by designing a petticoat for San Francisco’s Black & White Ball in the 2000s. With her mother as my seamstress, they created a black tulle petticoat, edged with black and white polka-dotted ribbon—a unique detail revealed when lifting the black crinoline skirt.

Christine's passion for design led to a career in marketing, branding, and advertising after completing her MBA at The Anderson School at UCLA. At Charles Schwab, she played a key role in implementing brand standards across branches nationwide, including the design of Schwab’s booth environment for IMPACT—the largest event for independent financial advisors in the U.S., televised on CNBC. Balancing aesthetics with functionality was crucial, as branch managers sought designs to attract retail clients while brand leadership prioritized consistency. The event booth embodied this balance, featuring a suspended circular Charles Schwab logo visible from every direction and booth pods that facilitated conversations, ultimately driving sales.

In addition to extensive experience in branding and marketing, Christine is a Certified Residential Interior Designer—having completed UNH’s Professional Development and Training—and a licensed real estate salesperson in California. She has considerable experience in real estate in the San Francisco Bay Area, having managed a rental property since 2012 and invested in two residential properties over the past 20 years.

In 2003, Christine began her first interior design project with her twin sister: they purchased a “fixer” in San Francisco’s Haight Ashbury district, a Queen Anne Victorian likely built in the 1890s. The home featured original softwood floors upstairs, a beautiful entryway with its original staircase and railings, and much of the original crown molding and ceiling pendants. Working within a tight budget, they refinished both soft and hardwood floors, installed central heat, repaired lathe and plaster walls, and replaced some original molding with replicas. This hands-on experience deepened her respect for the enduring craftsmanship of the redwood Queen Anne Victorian, whose brick foundation had survived for more than one hundred years.

Currently, Christine is restoring an English cottage in the North Berkeley Hills, which offers views of the San Francisco Bay. Built in 1928, the house is notably solid and was reportedly constructed by a quasi-famous architect. Over the past five years, her focus has been on modernizing the home while honoring its architectural character and historical era.