From Visual Merchandising to Interior Design
Before founding Burkle Creative, Javier Burkle was immersed in the world of retail and fashion. His career began at Neiman Marcus and eventually led him to Ralph Lauren, where he worked closely with visual teams and the home department. It was a manager at Ralph Lauren who first pushed him toward design, encouraging him to take on a project from start to finish. The experience became a turning point.
“After that project, I decided to leave retail and start my own thing,” Javier shared. That decision led to the creation of Burkle Creative, a studio that brings together his background in fashion, his love of interiors, and a deep appreciation for layered, collected spaces.
Long before launching his studio, Javier had a natural instinct for interiors. Even while working in retail, he found himself drawn to the home department, styling spaces, and watching how environments shaped experiences. This early curiosity became the seed that would grow into his future business.
A Distinctive Point of View
Burkle Creative has a recognizable aesthetic, masculine, curated, and layered with both vintage and modern elements. “We have a point of view. And it’s not for everyone. And that’s kind of what I like,” he explained. Clients are often drawn to the studio’s ability to mix antiques with contemporary design and deliver spaces that feel richly textured and personal.
“Some of my favorite pieces when we do an installation are always those pieces that are one of a kind and that have a little bit of story,” he added. Whether it’s a piece sourced during travel or something meaningful that a client already owns, these details help bring each room to life.
Javier places high value on client relationships built on mutual trust. “When they give you that trust, it’s where we’ve done our best work,” he said. That openness creates room for creativity and deeper storytelling in the final design.
Burkle Creative does not aim to please everyone. This unapologetic stance has helped define the studio’s aesthetic and attract clients who are aligned with that perspective.
The Return of Petite Projects
While Burkle Creative works on large-scale renovations and full-home designs, Javier has reintroduced a format he calls petite projects. These smaller, quicker design engagements allow his team to tackle focused spaces like powder rooms or single-room refreshes.
“It just gives you a different type of satisfaction,” he said. “You put a great little powder room together in one afternoon and you walk away and you’re like, that was a win.” The shorter timelines and simpler scopes offer a welcome contrast to multi-year builds, keeping the team creatively energized.
Despite a packed schedule, Javier keeps his workload intentionally limited. “I don’t have the capacity to be on five full builds,” he admitted. That focus ensures that every project receives his full attention and maintains the level of quality his studio is known for.
Finding Creative Fuel in Travel
Despite a full project calendar, Javier makes space for travel, which he describes as a creative necessity. “Traveling feeds my soul,” he said. Even while away from the studio, his design brain stays active. “I’m never not thinking of a project. Even if I’m supposed to be at the beach and not doing a thing, that is not me. I’m always thinking about something.”
These experiences abroad often translate into the studio’s work, from color palettes and textures to spatial layouts inspired by boutique hotels and global destinations.
Looking Ahead
As Burkle Creative continues to evolve, Javier remains open to new opportunities and creative challenges. One dream he has is designing a boutique hotel. “I like saying it out loud,” he noted, hoping to one day bring his studio’s refined, layered aesthetic to a hospitality project.
Looking ahead, Javier is open to wherever the path leads. Whether it’s a boutique hotel or another type of creative endeavor, he’s focused on staying inspired and growing with intention.
Wherever the next chapter leads, it’s clear that Javier’s journey from visual merchandising to design studio founder has been guided by passion, intuition, and an eye for the kinds of details that make a space unforgettable.
