By honoring the spark in you that loves to create and following your truth, you give others the courage to do the same. Tying together traditional Southern moments from her training in New Orleans and her coastal travels, Heidi Caillier is a Seattle based interior designer that keeps at it — doing the best that she knows how to do. For her full-service interior design firm this means curating a lovely mix of the old and the new, designing custom furniture, cabinetry, space planning and more. Not only does she know beautiful spaces but she cultivates them in such a way that will make you want to cozy up on the couch with a cup of matcha tea and call them home.
Whether it’s a full-blown remodel or a short and sweet room refresh, Heidi integrates color and texture alongside layered pieces to give every room a feeling that it has its own history — one which can be built on for years to come. With a love for pattern (hello Zak and Fox), vintage and raw materials that feel natural her work oozes an effortless and free flowing comfort. Unique spaces crafted especially for clients with the design philosophy that a home should always be lived in and comfortable. Her aesthetic gives attention to imperfections, as she believes it’s these stains and scuffs that will tell your story.
Photo: ©Haris Kenner
While it may not be the easiest, waiting for the right piece to come will yield the most beauty...We should all live life this way — the way Heidi approaches interior design. If you love it, she can make it work. It’s this laid-back living and “stick to your vision” attitude which makes me so excited to be championing this creative mother!
Alyssa Rosenheck: Tell us about yourself…
Heidi Caillier: I’m an interior designer based in Seattle, WA. I specialize in residential interior design. I’ve got 2 year-old twins and my husband also owns his own business, North End Social Club in Tacoma, WA. We moved here from San Francisco almost three years ago and love the PNW. We recently bought a home on Anderson Island as a weekend house — which we are renovating currently.
AR: How are you modernizing / updating southern style when you design?
HC: I love to mix styles and I think southern style is all about this mentality. Putting things together that may not seem like a natural fit but somehow work. If you love it, you can make it work.
Photo: ©Haris Kenner
Photos: ©Haris Kenner
AR: What innovative trends are you seeing with Southern design across the country?
HC: I am seeing a shift back towards pieces with more traditional shapes mixed with modern fabrics and finishes. The effect is anything but stuffy. It also brings in some history and can tell a story, which I think southern design really embraces.
AR: What are your favorite hometown design boutiques?
HC: I love Totokaelo so much. They have a perfectly curated mix. I also like Stock + Pantry, Red Ticking and Maison Luxe.
AR: Favorite shade of white and black paint color?
HC: Benjamin Moore Simply White + Farrow and Ball Off-Black.
Photo: ©Haris Kenner
Photo: ©Haris Kenner
AR: The key to making a house a home? What does a home need more of and less of?
HC: It has to be comfortable! And filled with the things you love. I’m all for a beautiful room with perfect details but a home needs to be a place you create memories and live life so you can’t be scared to get a stain on the sofa. To me, the imperfections are what tell the story of your life. A ding on the dining table or etch on the marble countertops are normal and what makes a house a home.
AR: Life advice you’ve gotten that made all the difference?
HC: “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” I am a perfectionist and also incredibly hard on myself which can make for a rough combination. I constantly remind myself of this quote from Maya Angelou. As long as you are doing the best you know how, that’s all you can do. We are always learning and as long as you take the lessons with you I think you are in good shape.
Photos: ©Haris Kenner
AR: Design advice you’ve gotten that made all the difference?
HC: Good design takes time. So many times clients come to us and they are in a rush to furnish everything and make all of the decisions as quickly as possible. I used to buy into this but have found that I am so much happier with the end results when I let myself wait for the right piece to come. It’s not always the easiest approach but it yields the most beauty.
Photo: ©Haris Kenner
Photo: © Haris Kenner
AR: What’s the best piece of business advice you could provide for creative entrepreneurs starting out?
HC: Work hard. It is honestly that simple. I live and breathe my business. It is the consistency of keeping your head down and working hard that brings success. There are so many trips and stumbles along the way that can be discouraging but you just have to keep at it. Also – stick to your vision and remember why you started.
AR: Who are some of your favorite artists/makers? What do you love about their work?
HC: I love Jessica Helgerson, Nickey Kehoe and Commune. They are putting out original work with such incredible attention to detail. You can tell that every little detail is so well thought out. It is so inspiring.
