A Style of Her Own: Meet Caroline Beresford

This month, POPCOM Director Amanda Lacey interviewed Caroline Beresford, founder of Caroline Beresford Design. 

Since its launch in 2013 the Sydney-based practice has grown rapidly, from designing small espresso bars to managing design strategies for shopping centres. With an impressive portfolio of work, Caroline has become known for her ability to transform a space into something visually beautiful that captures the personality of the brand or client she is working with.

How long have you been in the industry and how did you get started?

I have been working in the industry for almost 8 years.

Design is a second career for me. After the birth of my second son, I decided it was time to do something that I felt passionate about. Being in beautifully curated spaces and environments is something I had always loved; it changes the way I feel, leaving me happy, relaxed and content.

After studying, I was lucky enough to have the support of a friend and colleague who was very well known in the hospitality industry. He helped me find my feet and before I knew it, I had developed a healthy portfolio of work. From there, my business grew from strength to strength.

You are known for work across commercial and residential for interior design, do you have a preference for your ideal client?

Over the years we have been lucky enough to work on both commercial projects and residential projects. While both sectors have similarities, they are different in many ways.

When designing for a residential client, it is a much more emotional experience and often slower in execution. The clients are putting their faith in you to create a sanctuary for them through the use of finishes, furniture and art that reflects their personality. It is a huge compliment to be engaged to design a home for a family.

The commercial projects are fast-paced, often working around the clock to meet critical milestone deadlines. The creative licence that comes with commercial projects, particularly hospitality projects, is often broader so we find that these projects are a lot of fun. 

At Caroline Beresford Design, we love working with people who have the same passion as we do for creating memorable places, and who respect and join us on our creative journey. 

Art curation is something we have discussed at length, how do you find emerging talent and who is your favourite artist right now?

I am very interested in supporting emerging contemporary artists, which I get to do as a member of Atelier - the NSW Art Gallery’s newest Foundation supporter group. Through Atelier, I have had the opportunity to establish strong relationships with many galleries both in Sydney and Melbourne. Visiting the galleries, attending exhibitions and meeting the artists themselves is a wonderful experience, and it’s how I discover new emerging talent.

The artworks we install into the spaces we have designed are the ‘cherry on top’.

Many people think that great art is unattainable. This is simply not the case. We help clients explore new galleries they may not know about, and encourage them to select art as a way of expressing their personality.

There are several emerging artists that I currently love: Laura Jones for her beautiful poetic floral paintings, Clara Adolph’s for her innocent paintings of life’s simple pleasures, and James Drinkwater for his intriguing, patterned carpet-like works. 

What can we expect to see more of in 2021 for your industry?

I think that we can all agree that 2020 has been a very strange year, and for many a challenging and uncertain time.

Lockdown forced many to work from home. However, I believe this experience has left us more appreciative of our favourite cafe, restaurant and home environment.

This period also allowed many commercial clients to use the time refreshing their venues. We had clients engaging us to assist with lighting upgrades, furniture upgrades, and designing home offices for them. Moving forward into a new year, we can expect to see a continued emphasis on creating spaces where we feel nurtured, supported, and safe.

Colour wise, Navel blue is the new black. Soft greys in textured plasters and paints will be featured in both residential and commercial projects. A focus and need for the human connection to nature will be achieved through their use of light and raw timbers, used not only as flooring but also as wall and ceiling treatments.

Our concern for the environment will also continue to prevail, and designers will have the opportunity to use new materials and technologies which focus on reducing plastic waste.

Here in Sydney, our local government has introduced a 24-hour economy. This will lead to a boost in night-time activity through the introduction of more outdoor seating, activation of laneways and culture.  Therefore, many hospitality and retail venues will be ensuring their venues have a day to night transition plan in place to maximise the opportunities for business growth.

If you are interested in getting in touch with Caroline, you can find her contact details on her website at www.carolineberesford.com