Designer Next Door: Getting to Know Burkle Creative

Taking the design scene by storm, Javier Burkle and his team at Burkle Creative are beloved around town (and across the country!) for their enthusiastic, talented approach to creating turnkey designs and breathtaking, bespoke spaces, from sprawling Texas ranches and in-town traditional-style homes to commercial and fashion retail projects. We sat down with him to learn more about how he helps advise his clients as they seek to turn their house into a personalized place that they love to be — especially if they’re in the market for a new address to call home.

Q: What is your design background? What inspired you to pursue design?

A. I’m originally from Mexico City, where I grew up in a family of creatives, and I’ve been inspired by the arts and design from a young age. (I started collecting issues of Architectural Digest at the age of 5!) I founded Burkle Creative six years ago after working closely with Ralph Lauren Home and other nationally recognized brands.

Q. What is your approach to design?

A. My design philosophy is rooted in balance and beauty. I believe in creating inviting,
beautiful spaces that are functional, useful, livable, and exude sophistication and timeless elegance.

Q. If your clients are in the market for a new house, what do you advise them to look for in a home?

A. Remember that you need your home to really work. As simple as this sounds, I love to encourage my clients to really think through the rhythms of their lifestyle and the personality of their family as they consider certain floorplans and styles. More and more — especially post-pandemic — we’re seeing an increase in the demand for distinctly used spaces, rather than undefined, airy, open rooms. Intimate, specific, and smaller rooms are the perfect place to create curated, layered looks, from home offices to small, cozy living spaces.

The good news is that we can change a lot! I love to remind my clients to choose the location they love and a home that has good architecture — and we can do the rest!

Q. Neighborhood you call home?

A. West Highland Park. I love everything about this little corner of the Park Cities — we have a rich sense of community with our neighbors and a shared adoration for the area’s well-preserved, historic homes.

Q. Best advice at the beginning of a home renovation project?

A. Trust your designer — you hired them for a reason! Spend some time thinking through the flow and floorplan of your home. Decide what details you love, what needs to go, and what’s missing. Determine the purpose, functionality, and feel you want for each room — whether for entertaining, work, family life, or just to look pretty!

Q. Room you encourage your clients to focus on first?

A. The dining room! The dining room plays center stage for some of the most memorable moments in your home that you’ll share with friends and family—from holiday soirees to weeknight dinners at home. I love to work with my clients to design a space that’s inviting, cozy, and intimate (and always with a wow factor).

Q. Biggest moment for you in the past year?

A. Being named a designer for the 2021 Kips Bay Decorator Show Houe in Dallas was an incredible experience — I am so honored to have had the opportunity to participate with such a great organization as well as work alongside many of the designers I’ve idolized throughout my career.