Inside your homes: Katie Seidler

Katie Seidler’s Scandinavian, timeless home has really caught our attention. Based in Saint Albans, the interior designer shares her interior content to her 44.2k followers on Instagram at @hello_haus. Katie has built her business from the ground up, starting out as a retail buyer before setting up her own independent interior design business during the pandemic.

Hi Katie! Could you begin by telling us a bit about you and what sparked your interest in interiors?

I’ve had a passion for interiors since I was very young, constantly changing my bedroom and going to the Grand Designs fair as a teenager. Being able to create a space that made me happy to be in was the driver and I think to this day, that’s what I love. My passion grew and led me into the career I have now as a designer. Our homes can change our mood and our connection with them, and this is fascinating to me, and I love extending this and helping my clients.

Since you set up your Instagram account in 2017, you’ve gained quite the following thanks to your carefully considered, tranquil interiors. How would you describe your style?

My style is very much based on the Scandinavian aesthetic of muted tones and natural materials to create a warm and a cosy feeling. My home needs to be a sanctuary and a calm, decluttered space to balance out my busy life. I love collecting timeless, classic pieces that are not trend led so my home can grow with me, this includes mixing in vintage with new too.

You are the founder of interior design brand Hello Haus. Can you tell us about your journey to become an interior designer?

It’s not been the “classic” route as after I took my course in interior design, I became a retail buyer sourcing and designing women’s accessories. I absolutely loved my job and there are so many cross overs to my career now as a designer. Two years ago, I decided to go it alone and set up my business during the pandemic. I worked virtually with clients via my e-design service when we couldn’t leave our homes. I loved helping clients create their dream rooms which could help them feel settled in a very unsettled time. After the lockdowns were lifted during 2020, I could offer my on-site design service in Hertfordshire and today I do a mixture of both, alongside my quarterly workshops which I’ve run for over three years. It’s been a slow journey, with a detour but I love where it’s ended.

You describe your goal as helping your clients to create ‘a space of calm’. What are your top tips for people who are looking to create a more calming interior?

For me this is all about an uncluttered space because our eyes need to rest, the less we keep them busy, the calmer it will feel. This doesn’t mean living in a sterile home, more just having pieces out you love or need. I would also say using natural materials like linen and wood and surrounding ourselves with plants will create instant calm. Our brains like to feel connected to nature so whether that’s through colour or material, it’s key to our well-being. Finally, I would say it’s important to have scents around our homes that make us feel good, I am always burning candles or have a diffuser on depending on the mood I want to create.

What’s your go-to place for inspiration? Are there any people, places or brands that never fail to inspire you?

I honestly get inspired by so many things! It could be an interiors magazine, my saved folder on Instagram or a restaurant I’ve eaten in. I’m always taking photos of things I love because I never know when that image will spark an idea down the road. My favourite city for inspiration is Copenhagen, I always come home filled with a new energy, especially from their cafes and coffee shops. For me, Danish brands have such a rich history and I love that a piece designed and made in the 1940’s can be an icon, still produced today. I can’t wait to go back this year as I’ve really missed it.

In your home, natural materials combine beautifully with a monochrome palette. When choosing furniture and lighting for your home, what are the guiding ideas behind your choices?

It’s important to create a home that flows, this means that all the pieces I own can be transferred from room to room. I’ll often move around lamps and small pieces of furniture to give a space a fresh feel. I would say to pick timeless classics rather than anything driven by trends, that way you’ll always love it. Choosing natural materials like wood for your dining table and chairs mean they will also pair with any colour scheme you choose… you can’t go wrong. I also stick to the rule 60/30/10 for colour across my furniture and lighting. I keep my walls simple in shades of white, have lots of textured natural/beige-coloured accessories and the final 10% is a pop of black or brass that I love.

Every corner of your home is cosy and inviting, do you have a favourite spot?

My sofa, I love curling up there because the seats are so deep. It’s the perfect spot!

After curating your home, how does the space and living within it make you feel?

I always feel calm and relaxed when I come home. The colours, materials and layout have all been thought through so we can feel totally switched off when we walk through the door. It’s taken a few years to get here and I think that’s important, a home isn’t created overnight, it takes time to layer it up and feel complete.

What does home mean to you?

Happiness and calm. Home is a safe haven from a busy life and a space I can totally recharge in.

Do you have any further plans for your home? And if so, are you able to give us a taster of what’s next?

I’m just finishing off an en-suite renovation now which I’m so excited about as it’s full of texture, I’m big on bathrooms not feeling too clinical! After that, we’ll be tackling the home office. It needs to work hard as a storage room, office and closet space so there will be lots of space planning, some bespoke carpentry and a paint refresh.

Do you have an inspirational interior? Share your home with us over Instagram by tagging us @nest_co_uk. Looking for your own piece of forever furniture? Browse Nest today to discover thousands of everlasting designs.