‘Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful’, William Morris
My design philosophy is all about creating an interior that can work around your everyday life and evolve with your needs and personal style. My ethos is really grounded in investing in less, but better – prioritising simplicity, sustainability and design built to last. Instead of looking to the latest trends and changing fads, I prefer to focus on creating interiors that are simple and timeless – homes that are designed to be lived in, where the walls become a neutral backdrop for everything else to tell YOUR story.
I like to place an emphasis on how an interior feels to be in, so as to create spaces that connect on a deeper level beyond just aesthetics. Think of it like therapy for your home. Through an intimate, bespoke interior design service, I want to get to know you and your home so that I can help create a space that better reflects your personal values and how you want to live. I’ll help bring purpose and meaning to your home, and calm and clarity to the creative design process.
About me
I set up my interior design blog in 2011. Over the years I began sharing my own decoration projects and makeover stories – soon friends and family were asking for advice, and before long readers were requesting my help professionally too. Now, I work with like-minded clients to help bring their ideas, hope and visions to life with simple solutions, from full makeover projects to furniture sourcing and styling advice.
I studied architecture at The Bartlett, UCL, before working in practice on residential projects for two years. Following a Masters in architectural history, also at The Bartlett, I carved out a career as a design journalist, writing about architecture projects and new buildings for Building Design and Blueprint magazine. But my passion has always been for interiors – I’m fascinated by the ways in which our surroundings can uplift our mood and soothe our wellbeing.
Now, I combine my spatial planning skills from working in practice with the design knowledge gained from working as an interiors writer for the past nine years. I’ve built up my very own little black book of design retailers, artists, makers and favourite independent shops that you won’t find listed anywhere else.
![[Ad] Revealing the concept for my new bathroom, with VitrA Bathrooms](https://i0.wp.com/catesthill.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/catesthill-vitra-bathroom-5-1.jpg?resize=800%2C1029&ssl=1)
Interior Design Services
Whether you’re planning a big project or are looking to refresh an existing space, I’ll help you reconnect with your home and create a calming, thoughtfully-designed interior that can evolve with you everyday.
One-off consultations
A one-to-one consultation in person at your property, or via Skype if you’re outside London. For those who need help clarifying ideas and finding inspiration, but are confident in making most design decisions themselves. Includes one dedicated Pinterest board and a follow-up document with suggestions and my personal recommendations.
Design and sourcing service
A fully bespoke service for those who need help with all aspects of an interior project from initial ideas through to concept development and the sourcing of fixtures, finishes and furniture. I’m here to help make things as easy and stress-free as possible, guiding you through the design process step by step and helping you make considered decisions along the way.
Each project is unique and has its own complexities, so please get in touch to see how we can work together to create something that suits your home and your budget. Email me at catesthill@gmail.com to receive my brochure with more information on my interior design services.
Project examples
A cool urban garden terrace, east London
With a bespoke outdoor kitchen, sleek black paint and cosy built-in seating, this city centre terrace has been designed as a tranquil retreat for relaxing and entertaining. See the full tour here.
A chic, boutique hotel style bedroom, east London
The main bedroom of this loft apartment was transformed into a tranquil neutral sanctuary. With a show stopping dark feature wall and sculptural, art-inspired details, it feels effortlessly stylish and oozes understated luxury. See the full tour here.
A calm monochrome bedroom, Clapham, London
The top floor master bedroom in this elegant Victorian property was thoroughly redecorated to create a calm, tranquil, pared-back space with tactile, natural materials and monochrome accents. See the full tour here.
A minimalist ensuite bathroom, Clapham, London
This tiny, compact bathroom was completely gutted to create a space-saving wet room with a light, airy feel. Metro tiles draw your eye up and emphasise the ceiling height, while black details add a contemporary touch. See the full tour here.
A light and airy open-plan kitchen and living room, Clapham, London
Two small, dark spaces were knocked through to create one open-plan space – a calm, considered haven of Scandinavian design, utilitarian details and soothing grey tones. See the full tour here.
A cosy beige bedroom in a Shoreditch loft, London
The transformation and redecoration of two bedrooms in a converted warehouse apartment in east London. The industrial space has been softened with soothing beige tones and relaxed textiles, giving the feel of an understated yet luxurious boutique hotel room. See the full tour here. Image: Kasia Fiszer
A cool, contemporary home office, Shoreditch, London
An unloved spare bedroom was transformed into a stylish study with an eye-catching gallery wall. The look is fun and uplifting with clean, contemporary details, muted pink accents and a few playful, artistic touches. See the full tour here. Image: Kasia Fiszer
A soothing forest green bedroom, south London
A simple, botanical-inspired bedroom designed around wellbeing, with tranquil green tones and nature-inspired details. See the full tour here.
A grey, Scandi-inspired kitchen, south London
A compact, contemporary IKEA kitchen full of ideas for small space city living. This project was all about creating a stylish, minimalist space on a tight budget. See the full tour here.
Testimonials
‘Thank you SO much for the chat yesterday and for everything you’ve sent over. You’ve really helped us visualise how we want the house to work and given us some ideas we can start to put in place straight away. It’s made me feel much more excited about moving in when I was feeling very daunted about all the changes I wanted to make before!’ Emma, London (one-off design consultation)
‘Thank you very much for the session. I was feeling super overwhelmed and after one hour with you I feel hopeful and inspired. The session was even better than I expected,’ Sandi, Boston, USA (one-off design consultation)
‘Thank you so much for your time, and for everything you sent through! We found the session extremely helpful, and feel like we are all set to start decorating our home. Your tips really helped us get clarity on what we are looking for, and the pinterest board is a great way for us to visualise the design,’ Lee, South London (one-off design consultation)
‘Thank you so so much for your design ideas and the lists! You captured our style so well, and I’m really looking forward to getting all of the items. Your ideas exceeded all our expectations! The items you have suggested are not only beautiful, but also practical, too! ‘ Anna, West London (e-design)
‘I am so happy to have found Cate to help with a complete refurbishment of my flat. Her vision for the space has been invaluable and her style is impeccable. The mood boards Cate provided allowed us to see what’s possible for our space and to really get excited about the project. The shopping lists saved us so much time and headache, letting us make our choices and purchases with ease. Cate listened to our needs and brought her own beautiful aesthetic to the project. She gave us plenty of options, without us ever feeling overwhelmed. Cate is an absolute gem that made what could have been a stressful and daunting renovation into an exciting and pretty-much hassle-free adventure! I simply can’t recommend her highly enough,’ Debbie, Hampstead
‘I can not recommend Cate highly enough. I wish you could see “before” photos so that you might truly understand the scope of the job and the utter magic Cate accomplished. The space was challenging in parts but she was undaunted. She kept her head down and kept working until she solved the puzzle. I am so grateful for her good work. Thank you, Cate!!’ Darbi, Clapham
‘I absolutely loved working with Cate! She took the time to really listen and understand how we used the space and came thoroughly prepared to our meeting with some gorgeous ideas. I felt totally inspired and it really gave me more confidence when coming to make my own decisions around the house. No matter how small the project I would really recommend,’ Harri, Islington (one-off consultation)