MEET THE VIRTUAL INTERIOR DESIGNER WHO CREATED design-chat

Interior design is lovely problem solving.

Looking to expand your design knowledge or need support for your natural sense of style? We're here to collaborate with you to create the perfect look and feel for your home.

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This image features Catherine Severson, founder of design-chat, an e-design interior design firm, smiling gently at the camera while resting her chin on her hand, wearing a white shirt and olive sweater wround her shoulders.

Virtual interior design solutions—precisely tailored to you.

You already know that your home must constantly evolve to accommodate new phases in your life. 

But you’re tired of wondering which material is best or whether that color is a timeless classic or a passing fad. And when you hit a roadblock, the whole project can come to a screeching halt.

You’re ready for that completed space you can live in, enjoy, and start sharing with your friends and family.

You don’t need a designer home fit for a glossy magazine. You need a creative partner to guide you quickly and confidently forward to a space that is uniquely YOU.

An overhead view of a workspace with architectural plans, color samples, drawing tools, a laptop, and a person's hands comparing color swatches. A picture of working with a virtual interior designer.

Your home should reflect your personal style—not our portfolio.

Your vision is our blueprint. Every client we work with has unique needs, tastes, and challenges. Our approach is collaborative and without agenda. 

We’re focused on enhancing your space in a way that fits your budget and lifestyle. 

We take time to listen and understand your vision so we can find the spark that will bring it to life. Then, we work WITH YOU to realize the potential of your space and create a home that supports your life and reflects your unique style.

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Hi, I'm Catherine Severson, creator of design-chat.

First –  and I can’t stress this enough – design-chat is not about me! It’s not about my personal style, my portfolio or my home…design-chat is about you! 

I created design-chat as a solution for people like YOU who need a bit of creative help but aren’t lucky enough to have a designer in the family.

How design-chat started… 

I have a degree in interior design and spent over twenty years working in large commercial design practices. 

While the big projects were interesting, I also had a passion for boutique work which led me to partner with an architect and start a small firm.

In 2016, my family had the opportunity to move to London and live the expat life – we couldn’t resist.

I left my design practice behind, and although I was able to help my new expat friends locally in London, friends and family began reaching out for guidance across the pond.

This was the turning point where my previous work in full-service design was transformed into virtual interior design collaborations. My clients were comfortable taking on their own projects but just wanted a bit of professional help along the way. 

And this is how design-chat was born!

A smiling person sits casually on a black director's chair, wearing a white shirt, green vest, blue jeans, and black shoes, against a white background.
The image shows a cozy, wood-paneled room with a circular table, modern chairs, a comfortable bench with pillows, artwork on the walls, and a window. A completed room design with virtual interior designer at design-chat.

Our client-focused virtual interior designers are here to help you create spaces that match your lifestyle and showcase your unique style and personality.

With design-chat, professional interior design advice is just a text away! 

Our chat-based support and virtual design services give you the help you need when you need it, so you can start enjoying your dream space now…not next year.

Our online interior design services are designed to be personal and collaborative.

We offer a range of virtual interior design options, from quick consultations to more comprehensive design solutions, such as floor plans, shopping lists for furnishings, and detailed explanations to help you decorate your space.

Learn more about our virtual interior design packages

The design-chat process is simple.

Here's how our online interior design services work:

An e-design interior design mood board featuring furniture, layout plans, and room photos. Includes sofas, tables, lighting, and textiles in a neutral palette.

+ add more detailed solutions when you need them!

We can offer you so much more than a friendly chat. 

Upgraded packages include* online interior design resources like:

  • Paint palettes
  • Space plans
  • Shoppable product lists
  • Design boards

*Varies by package

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Bright, elegant dining room with large windows, a wooden table, ornate chandelier, fresh yellow flowers, and a blue armchair. Sunlight filters through, illuminating the space of this e-design interior design outcome.

“I love design but was daunted by the scope of our renovation. The design-chat team helped prioritize the decisions and always had inspiring ideas that reflected our style.”

ELIZABETH B.
Chicago, IL

Catherine's Design Journey

Inspired by Life, Designed for You

I have design challenges, too.

We bought a house during the pandemic that is in the right location but isn’t a perfect fit. We’re trying to balance renovation costs with reasonable investment, and it’s a constant dance and a humbling design experience. I know that this is a common challenge for everyone as we are continually adjusting our homes to work with our ever-evolving lives.

On a smaller scale, my daily challenge is that one of our pets seems to hate textiles as much as I love them!

We want you to feel confident styling your home. It’s about personalized help for real people with crazy, busy lives, kids, pets, and budgets.

My style & philosophy

My personal style is eclectic. I love the challenge of mixing old, new, and different design styles. But I also have a soft spot for Modernism. Once you understand the principles of Modernism, you can appreciate well-designed spaces and objects from all genres.

I’ve always felt that Louis Sullivan’s “form follows function” is a good starting place for any design challenge. It’s especially true of our homes now as they need to be highly functional, flexible and fabulous to accommodate not just our busy lives but often our work lives, too.

This functional + fabulous perspective is deeply embedded into the work we do for you at design-chat.

I draw design inspiration from…

Repurposing

I’m very inspired by the environmental movement based on the 5-R's (Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose and Recycle). The design industry has been leading the way in minimizing waste, but the first step should always be to consider reuse and repurposing.

I love to start a project by looking at what a client already has and figuring out how to adapt those items to a new plan.

Experience

The French architect Philippe Starck had a significant impact on my approach to design. I was fortunate to stay in the much-hyped “new concept” Delano Hotel on South Beach shortly after it opened. From that point, I saw the tools of interior design as an opportunity to create an experience for the users

The conversation with clients was no longer about how they wanted the space to look but rather about what they wanted people who interacted with it to experience.

Travel

I’ve been lucky to travel all over the world and experience fabulous architecture and design firsthand. I love a historic house tour and can spend an entire day lost at a vintage market. My favorite is the Paris Marche aux Puces de la Porte de Vanves. While reading about history is interesting, seeing how people lived and getting a glimpse of the everyday objects surrounding them provides context.

Experiencing the rich history of different cultures never fails to invigorate my creative side. It gives me a diverse perspective on helping clients create spaces that are meaningful to them.

Treasures

The objects I’ve collected while traveling are my favorites as they instantly transport me to another place and experience. Among them are a collection of small vessels on my desk that harken to Zanzibar, Brazil, and China and the first piece of furniture I ever bought (at age 15)—an antique armoire with pressed molding, still in need of a bit of attention from a woodworker

I appreciate these cherished items, so I encourage clients to infuse their spaces with unique personal touches that tell a story.

Architecture

The original Design Museum on the South Bank of the Thames in London has always inspired me. Terence Conran's repurposed banana warehouse struck the perfect balance of functional, understated, and fabulous. Another architectural marvel that deeply influences my work is Notre-Dame du Haut, Le Corbusier’s chapel in Ronchamp, France.

These iconic spaces remind me that great design marries functionality with beauty and I draw on these principles to help you create spaces that are both practical and stunning.
IT ALL STARTS WITH MODERNISM!
This image features a graphic design with abstract geometric shapes in primary colors and black on a beige background, labeled "BAUHAUS 1919."
NOTRE-DAME DU HAUT
An architectural structure with a unique wavelike roof, set against a cloudy sky, sits atop a grassy hill. Its modern design exhibits organic forms.
DELANO HOTEL
A minimalist corridor featuring tall cylindrical columns, white sheer curtains, dark wood flooring, and a solitary mint green armchair to the left foreground.
PARIS MARKET
The image shows a signpost that reads "Marché aux Puces (Paris-Porte de Vanves)" against a background of green tree leaves and a clear blue sky.
RECYCLE, REUSE, & REPURPOSE!
An outdoor flea market scene with various items displayed, including chairs, tables, and decorative objects. People browse in the background under a clear sky. Part of a collection of inspirational images from Catherine Severson, the virtual interior designer who created design-chat.
OUR LONDON BOLTHOLE
An archway with ornate stone balusters leads to a garden with greenery. A stone bench is integrated into the wall beside the archway.
PHILIPPE STARCK WHIMSEY
A green apple is perched on a metallic door handle attached to a white wall, creating a quirky and unconventional visual juxtaposition.
THE FORMER LONDON DESIGN MUSEUM
This image shows the former london design museum building's corner with orange lines creating a pattern stretching over a white background. A banner reads "Designed to Win." Part of a collection of inspirational images from Catherine Severson, the virtual interior designer who created design-chat.
We encourage you to embrace your enthusiasm for design and create a home that supports your life and reflects your unique style, with a bit of guidance and inspiration from us along the way.
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