Catherine Milner

Catherine Milner has been acquiring, renovating and designing exclusive and prestigious properties in London’s Belgravia, Knightsbridge and Chelsea for the past ten years.

Catherine Milner’s design aesthetic is distinctive, beautiful and intimate. Each individual client and project receives Catherine’s undivided attention. The design is achieved from concept to completion by re-configuring the existing spaces to optimum effect, to create clear structures, with balanced proportions and by achieving a strong sense of light, unity and harmony throughout. Classical architectural finishes are intertwined with sumptuous, seductive and luxurious fabrics and materials. Collaborating creatively with highly skilled artisans and artists to create exquisitely beautiful bespoke pieces.

Catherine focuses on blending a mix of styles in a highly effective way, with strong classical influences juxtaposed with sleek and sculptural contemporary furniture by the most sought after designers of our time, all of whom share the same passion and a keen sense of producing the truly exceptional. The results are memorable interiors with a timeless elegance.

Catherine is passionate about every project worked on, as each concept is unique. Catherine aims to make it the perfect collaboration with each design reflecting the client’s own personal history and lifestyle.

A career in fashion

Catherine’s first career as an international photographic and catwalk model (and favourite of top couturiers including Dior’s Marc Bohan) meant that she was often exposed to the meticulous luxury of the couture houses. She was fascinated by the intricate detail of every element of the design, where each piece is a carefully considered work of art.

The extensive travel demands of an international fashion model also meant that Catherine spent time in cities all over the world, from Paris to Japan. In between photo-shoots and catwalk shows she would often be found scouring antiques markets and fairs or delighting in visiting historical monuments and buildings, the influences of which can be seen throughout her work.

The transition from fashion model to interior designer was seamless as those who had come to know and admire her taste wished to see how she would apply that style to their homes.

Influence

Catherine is inspired by the world of art, landscape and civilisation – as an avid reader of the classics, and a supporter of the arts, Catherine cites Palladio, Inigo Jones and the ancient Roman aesthetic as particularly influential upon her designs. They symbolise a purity of form which needs no embellishment to create a striking effect. It is both sculptural and simultaneously functional.

Catherine is also a great admirer of the Art Deco period, particularly the French interiors of the 1920’s (including those of Ruhlmann and Andre Groult).

Her love of history, literature and philosophy inspired her daughter to study history at Oxford University. When her daughter graduated, they travelled to Rome and around Italy – from Ostia to Pompei – where no column, villa or garden was left unexplored, leaving them with a wealth of ideas and inspiration.

Catherine has always had a long-standing appreciation for architectural form and structure and places balance, proportion and a classical aesthetic at the centre of her design philosophy.

Experience

The sum of these experiences and influences means that Catherine Milner Interiors can provide clients with:

• Renovations and interiors founded on strong architectural principles and high-end finishes.
• The ability to maximise their property’s investment potential.
• Interiors which perfectly reflect the client’s history, lifestyle and aspirations.