Do you have a specific interior design style?

While Katy Carter Interiors does not have a specific style imprinted on each project, we do have aesthetic tendencies that thread across our portfolio. We are both pragmatic and eclectic — we prefer high-investment pieces to have longevity, so aim for timelessness in larger furnishings — but we also create each project to communicate the personality of the client, so add unique and vintage pieces as accents so spaces are curated & distinctive. We lean more toward a layered Scandinavian aesthetic, versus very traditional or minimalistic.

In what locations do you work?

We are based in Cambridge, MA, and focus on projects in the nearby towns of Arlington, Somerville, Lexington, and Belmont, but have completed projects in other greater Boston towns like Wakefield, Melrose, and Brookline. In general we currently take projects that are within a 30-minute drive from Cambridge.

What types of projects do you take on?

We mostly work on multi-room decor projects such as living and dining room refreshes, including custom millwork design and minor renovations, with all new furnishings and textiles. We also work with clients on kitchen and bath redesigns, partnering with local cabinet showrooms.

Can you help us with an awkward space?

We love the challenge of an awkward space! New England homes are full of odd floor plans, necessary radiators, and attic rooms — it’s a very rewarding challenge to look at a space with odd angles or unique obstacles and brainstorm the best way to make it work for our clients’ needs. Custom millwork often works wonders, but if that is not in our client’s budget, we maximize solutions with space planning, creative use of color, and considered scale in furnishings.

I’ve never worked with a designer. What is the process?

Most of our clients have never worked with a designer, so you would be in good company! Our process starts with a Design Consultation (read more about that here), where we get to know your project and start a plan based on your level of investment and how much you’d like us to handle (from space-planning-only to please-do-it-all!). We are a client-driven design studio, meaning our goal is to create spaces that feel like an extension of our clients’ preferences and personalities, presented in a way that is cohesive, layered, and livable.

We have small children. Should we hire a designer?

The short answer is Yes! We work with many families, and have raised children in our own homes. Everyone living in your home — pets included — becomes part of your design narrative, and we make decisions based on the unique needs in a home where safety of kids and resiliency of furnishings and textiles is a larger part of the conversation. We love thinking ahead, too — considering where the current plan might be edited in a few years as the kids grow.

Do you use AI in your studio?

We use AI tools sparingly for tasks such as project data organization, design board renderings (for instance, creating an image of a specified textile on a selected chair in order for the client to visualize the final result), and creating in-house tools like project timelines. We never use AI for design, because AI generates images based on patterns which results in overly-trendy, flat solutions. This goes against the heart of our design philosophy.

I’ve been creating AI images of my home. Can I share these with you during my project?

We consider all inspiration images collected by our clients at the beginning of a project. This is data that helps us understand our clients’ preferences and what spaces they are drawn to. However, it is important to understand that AI image generators do not consider accurate scale, realistic site limitations, or accurate sourcing inventory when creating images. We have found that continuing to return to these images can actually stifle the design process and limit creativity, and believe the most successful projects are designed by real people!

How can I learn more?

Schedule a complementary Discovery Call — this 20-minute call will give us a chance to discuss your specific needs, and answer additional questions about how we work.