The Story
Home Design inspired by Nature, Art, & Movement.
This story is inspired by nature, art and movement, my three passions that
I discovered through my life. All of the projects I deliver are inspired by these crucial elements.
It has all started long time ago in a beautiful city of Poland, Krakow. The city of great history, architecture and art. At an early age,my Mum Lucy, would take me to dancing classes and ballet which become pretty much everything to me. The unexplained desire to dance has never stopped. Even now in my free time I provide Body Balance classes at Les Mills centres where I teach adults how movement and breath can contribute to their physical and mental wellbeing.
The unfortunate choice of studying tourism management made me realise that I took a
wrong path even though I achieved Master’s degree with honours. This however opened other doors which allowed me to discover my love for travel and the great outdoors. Following over 20 years in Poland, I moved to a beautiful West Coast of Ireland where nature can be observed at its best. Struggling with finding the right career path, I had decided to move to another outstanding part of the World, New Forest National Park in South of England. This was where I settled, set up a family, and what I still call home. I embraced new work opportunities becoming a design coordinator and later quantity surveyor on the large scale commercial projects. Experience of over 10 years in construction
industry was particularly helpful once I eventually found my calling.
It dawned on me that in-fact, the final stages of the building process is where I belonged. I could find my place in the realms of interior design. It took three residential projects to design and renovate, three years to study interior design and taking professional curtains, blinds, pelmets, cushions and upholstery courses, and a whole lot of intensive practice until I gained enough confidence, experience and skills to label myself a professional interior designer. Then things started to get really exciting. I set up New Forest Designs in 2017 and never looked back. I followed my heart and found where my passion was. The business grew and expanded to the point of working in close business relationship with the skilled team of partners. We were recognised as one of the best local businesses specialising in Home Interior Design and Project Management.
Then at the beginning of 2022, my husband Neil, was offered a job on the South Island in Dunedin! We actually came to New Zealand on our honeymoon back in 2006. We fell in love with the country and promised each other that if one day we had opportunity to move here then we would take it. The decision of moving to New Zealand wasn’t easy, as we and our 12 year old daughter Siobhan consider England home, and we love England. Leaving family and friends behind, modern way of living but also missing New Forest was tough. But on the other hand we got what we have really yearned for which is so much more life balance – time for walks, family time, watching nature and planning new work projects!
This is where Catherine Brennan Design starts its journey. Hopefully my story allows you to understand what makes my interior design company different than many others. I can’t wait to hear from you to be given opportunity to design your house so that an impersonal space becomes your beloved home, and one you love to share with your family and friends.
I call it Home Design.