Catherine M. Austin

Cathy Austin is best known for her curated and colorful style that blends her love of art with a thoughtful approach to design. Each project is highly individualized based on the personality of the client. Cathy specializes in working with collectors to design their spaces around their works of art. She helps her clients to find their own style and translates their tastes into elegant, inviting and inspiring interiors.

After growing up in Atlanta, Georgia, Cathy graduated from Washington and Lee University in Virginia with degrees in English and French and a concentration in Art History. Following graduation, she worked for Sotheby’s in New York, acquiring extensive knowledge of the fine and decorative arts. This invaluable experience trained her eye in line, form and proportion through cataloging countless works of art and antiques, learning from the experts, and arranging pre-sale auction exhibitions. This unique training led Cathy to pursue her degree in interior design. She graduated summa cum laude from Atlanta’s FIDER-accredited American College for the Applied Arts. She holds her NCIDQ certification and is a professional member of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID).

Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, Cathy’s projects can be found across the country and have been featured in publications such as Veranda, Architectural Digest, Traditional Home, and the Wall Street Journal among others. She has been the recipient of several awards including the International Property Awards for Interior Design, Luxe Red Awards, ASID’s Excellence in Design Awards and a finalist for ADAC’s Southeast Designer of the Year.

In addition to her passion for design, Cathy is a past president of the Mint Museum Auxiliary, and past board member of the Charlotte Ballet and the Mint Museum. She is a member of the Institute of Classical Architecture and Art and the Design Leadership Network. Cathy frequently travels to national and international art and design fairs to spark her creativity, stay current on cultural trends, and search for new sources for her discerning clientele. Her design blog Bespoke Banter chronicles her interior inspirations and design adventures.