OUR STORY

Cathy Dean founded Studio Dean in 2016 with a desire to blend architectural thinking with interior design. She now has a team of brilliant interior designers working to renovate balanced, beautiful and functional homes across Newcastle, Northumberland and Scotland.

Cathy has made it her life’s mission to dispel the myth that functional cannot be beautiful. She has been creating stunning interior designs that work with everyday life for 14 years, with breathtaking results. 

Studio Dean respectfully reimagines the layout of a space to work for you. The team considers how you will feel when you walk through the door, where you will put your bags, how you will do your laundry, the way you will entertain guests, right through to the view from your roll top bathtub.

The team knows that a purposeful, calm and considered home can change lives. Studio Dean designs homes that fit each unique client, and make life easier and more beautiful.

Some call it “quiet luxury”, others call it “relaxed glamour” - we have always known it simply as “The Studio Dean Look and Feel”.

DESIGN TEAM

Cathy is involved in every project and sees and signs off on all plans and designs. She is supported by a team of talented, purpose-led interior designers. 

Every project is formed of many moving parts so we dedicate the very best person to each phase of work. Your team will be made up of four skill sets and experience levels. They are assigned based on their expertise.

LEAD DESIGNER

Consistency is key so each project has a Lead Designer assigned to it. They will be involved from start to finish, taking the lead on concept, detailed design, and project execution.

INTERIOR DESIGNER

Our designers provide crucial support to the Lead Designer at every stage of the project. They produce visuals, specification listings, develop concepts and create documents required.

TECHNICAL DESIGNER

Our Technical Designers produce the lengthy technical drawing packages needed to bring our vision to life. They are skilled in making sure our concepts are delivered as designed.

DESIGN FACILITATOR

Supporting the entire team, our Design Facilitators are behind the scenes, making everything happen. They manage the flow of products and ensure seamless project logistics. 

OUR TEAM

  • Following a career in London, Cathy returned to her native Northumberland after becoming a mum and wanting her children to grow up close to family.

    Cathy set up the studio and began working across the north east region, introducing clients to her architecturally-focussed approach to interior design.

    She was quickly fully booked and knew there was a demand for her full-service, thoughtful approach. She grew her team and is now taking Studio Dean to new levels.

    Away from the studio you’ll find Cathy in her Northumberland home with her young family, or touring the region's climbing walls with her eldest climbing-obsessed child.

  • Nev joined the team part time alongside her studies in 2018 and was so good we’ve never let her leave!

    She has become a key member of the team and specialises in technical drawings, spatial planning and rendering. Her head is always in the details and they are what makes all the difference between a good job and a fantastic job.

    A Native Bulgarian, Nev returned to her homeland in 2021, she is now working hand in hand with Cathy to develop the Sofia office of Studio Dean, watch this space!

    Nev is lucky enough to have skiing on her doorstep so weekends are often spent on the slopes and in summer she heads to her hometown of Varna for some beach days.

  • Megan is a current undergraduate with a keen work ethic and desire to learn.

    She is so dedicated to her dream of becoming a designer that she is juggling full time studies with a part time role here assisting the team with all facilitator needs. It’s an education!

    Megan is another coffee lover with weekends regularly spent frequenting the best coffee shops Jesmond has to offer!

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

  • This varies depending on the phase of work you are in, but we will make sure you know which of us is the expert you need at the various points along your design, renovation and decoration journey.

    We are happy to help and you can always email us: theteam@studiodean.com. One of us will come back to you as soon as we can!

  • This depends on your project and which of our services you opt for.

    If you choose to use us for Design Installation we manage the entire process; all orders, all bespoke items through manufacture, accept deliveries to our warehouse, check for damages, manage all returns, refunds and exchanges, manage all warehousing at our in house storage and also manage onward delivery to site.

    If, however, you want to self manage and choose Design Development:

    If you work with us on Design:

    Following our Design Presentation, you will receive a specification list with a guideline budget allocation placed against each item & allowances for any bespoke / project specific manufactured items. You would then go ahead & purchase / manage manufacture yourself.

    If you choose to proceed with us through the process into Technical Design:

    The budget allocations are refined. All ‘off the shelf’ items are fully costed and quantities finalised. Bespoke / project specific manufacture elements remain a guideline & you would use that guideline and the specification drawings we have created to move forward & gather your own quotations from whomever you choose to work with to supply.

  • Absolutely! Throughout your project you will be working with all of us. Your Design Lead and Cathy will remain across the project all the way through and you will also speak to other team members as your project requires.

  • We don’t employ tradespeople directly but have an extensive list of suppliers and trade teams we work with to deliver your project.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR PROJECT