ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE
A home you will love to live in Want to create the home of your dreams? You could already be living in it and just need a little expert interior design help from Catherine Harhalakis
A home that’s beautiful, stylish and functional – the holy grail for any discerning homeowner, whatever your postcode. “My typical clients are busy people who care about having a well- designed home,” says Catherine Harhalakis, an interior designer trained at KLC School of Design in London. “They want a home that reflects who they are and how they live – something they can be proud of – and that’s where I come in.”
Catherine has lived in locations around the world, settling in Cambridge ten years ago with her husband, their three boys and two Hungarian Vizslas. “I think there’s a belief that using an interior designer results in a home that doesn’t look or feel like your own,” she says. “My approach is to listen to my clients’ needs so they can feel heard and understood. Then I collaborate with them to design a home that’s intimate to them and the way they live their life, so they can focus on other things knowing that I’m taking care of the details. “There can be a lack of transparency in the industry around how much it will all cost, but it’s important to have an idea of the budget and costs from the outset. I also offer smaller project packages, such as my Rooms Reimagined package.” Clients come to Catherine for three main reasons: a sense of overwhelm or fear of making expensive mistakes; lack of access to good tradespeople they can trust; and a lack of knowledge about where to source good-quality, beautiful and unusual products from reputable suppliers. “I can help clients feel more confident about all the decisions they make,” assures Catherine. “I also have a network of trusted contractors so clients can be reassured of a high standard of work, and I’ll source gorgeous fabrics, beautiful furniture, lighting and decorative objects so they can have a home with personality and flair.”
BRINGING STYLE TO THE TABLE Catherine has lived in far-reaching locations such as South Africa, Singapore and Athens, among other places. She set up Catherine Harhalakis Interiors in 2022 Mood boards are a really simple way to get a good feel for how things will look together. “It’s an important tool to help clients visualise combinations of colours, materials, fabrics and furnishing items,” says Catherine. “A floor plan is another essential tool to ensure the correct space and position is given to all the items in the room. Elevations and sketches are useful and sometimes essential depending on the job. I also offer 3D visuals for clients who want to see an almost exact replica of what it will look like.” Working with Catherine Harhalakis as your interior designer is sure to make you inspired, confident and well-informed every step of the way.
CLICK HERE TO BOOK A CALL OR ASK A QUESTION
Book a 30-minute phone consultation or ask Catherine a question at the website: catherineharhalakisinteriors.com/contact
DESIGNER Q&A Q. Do I have to get rid of all my furniture when redesigning a space? Not at all. It’s important to me that we work with what you have – as long as you still love it. For instance, if you’re only keeping Aunt Sally’s Victorian dresser because you think you should, I will probably challenge you to consider why.
Q. Can you help me create more storage? Absolutely! One of my favourite things is to first de- clutter, then think up beautiful and practical storage solutions. Q. I don’t use my sitting room, what’s going wrong? It’s most likely because it doesn’t function well, and it doesn’t bring you joy to be in. It might be dark and gloomy or too bright – lighting is so important – or the furniture is
uncomfortable. This is a classic case of holding onto something because it was expensive and punishing ourselves every day by being reminded of what a bad decision it was! Q. I need a home office that’s away from the telly. It depends on the house, space and budget. Sometimes, it is possible to divide up a room and create a small study, make a discreet workspace in the bedroom or kitchen, or build a
home office in the garden. I’ll help you examine the options. Q. What can I do to get more natural light? Look at your treatment of windows: some blinds and curtains block too much of the window. When renovating or starting a new build, skylights are brilliant for bringing in more natural light. We have one above our shower and it brightens the space even on a dark day.
Powered by FlippingBook