Empty Nesters - Reimagine Your Family Home

Melbourne-based residential interior decorator

Book a complimentary discovery call
Text logo reading 'Katie Riddell INTERIOR DECORATOR' with a small pink dot above the letter 'i' in 'Riddell'.

Complimentary 20min Consultation

When children leave home, the family home enters a new chapter

Rooms that once had a clear purpose can suddenly feel uncertain. Spare bedrooms become storage spaces, and the home may no longer reflect the way you live today. You may not want to move. You love your neighbourhood, your garden and the memories created there. This is an opportunity to reimagine your home around the life you have now.

Stay in the home you love

A new stage of life does not have to mean a new address. Thoughtful interior decoration can help your existing home feel relevant, comfortable and aligned with what matters to you now.

I help you rethink spaces, furniture and finishes while respecting the character, memories and meaningful pieces already in your home.

Together, we can explore how underused spaces could support your life today.

BOOK HERE
A woman with shoulder-length light brown hair, wearing a blue blazer with green cuffs and collar, blue jeans, and white sneakers, sitting on a white block against a plain light grey background.
A woman standing in front of large pink illuminated letters spelling 'LOVE' at an indoor event or exhibition. She is wearing a gray blazer, light-colored shirt, dark jeans, and white sneakers. There are trees and other people in the background.

AS SEEN IN…

Living room with sliding glass door leading to a small outdoor patio with a table, two pink chairs, and a lattice fence covered in green ivy.

Thoughtful change, not change for its own sake

The goal is not to erase the family home you know. It is to retain what you love and make considered changes that help the home work beautifully for its next chapter.

A personal, guided process

  1. We begin with how you live now and how you want your home to feel.

  2. I identify opportunities for underused rooms, existing furniture and new pieces.

  3. I develop a cohesive direction for layout, furniture, lighting, colour and finishes.

  4. I guide sourcing and final styling so the home feels complete and personal.

A dining room with a wooden table surrounded by eight brown chairs with black metal legs. A large glass vase with tall purple and green plants is on the table. In the background, white built-in shelves display books, small sculptures, and decorative objects. To the left, a portion of a colorful framed artwork is visible.

Recent Empty Nester Projects

Katie has worked with clients across Melbourne to create beautiful apartment interiors that balance style with practicality.

A home office with a black desk holding a computer monitor, printer, and various papers, with a black and red rolling chair facing the desk. A cardboard box is on the floor to the left, and a wooden door is open to the right. The wall behind the desk has text about a previous open plan living area.
Interior view of a built-in desk space with open shelves decorated with books and abstract ornaments, and a wooden desktop with small sculptures and decorative objects.
VIEW MORE PROJECTS

What Our Clients Say

"Katie has created a wonderful environment to be in, the rooms complement each other. She has given me things that I didn’t know I wanted and encouraged me to think in a different way. I’m so happy with the outcome and wouldn’t hesitate to contact her again to help with any other decorating projects.”

Home Owner: Emerald

An infographic showcasing a company's experience and credentials. It features three icons with text: a pink heart with '15+' projects to date, a blue star with '14+' press articles, and a pink crown with '10+' years of experience. The heading reads 'Experience. Recognition. Results.' and subheading 'Trusted by clients. Recognised by media. Proven through experience.' A footer states 'Let me help you feel at home.'

Book Your Design Consultation

Katie can help you re-create your home and make it both beautiful and practical. Get in touch today to arrange an initial consultation and discover how to create a comfortable, relevant home aligned with this rewarding next stage..

Ready to Get Started?

DESIGN JOURNAL:

All Things Interiors.

Looking for inspiration before our call? My thoughts on interiors, inspiration, tips and tricks for Apartments eg. colour, downsizing, spaciousness and why use an interior decorator…check out my journal of ideas.

Interior Decorator Katie Riddell Journal
HOW TO DOWNSIZE WITHOUT DISCOMFORT
HOW TO DOWNSIZE WITHOUT DISCOMFORT

It is often said that moving house is one of the most stressful things you can go through. In 1967, a landmark psychological study called the Holmes and Rahe Stress Scale, officially proved it, ranking a ‘change in residence’ as a major life stressor. Decades later, nothing has changed. Just ask anyone who has moved! But when you are downsizing, the stakes are even higher.

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WHAT ABOUT COLOUR
WHAT ABOUT COLOUR

Recently I was at the showroom of a furniture trade supplier. They were hosting a presentation of their new collection. This was a pretty typical event – interior designers, decorators and stylists get treated to a sneak preview of furniture and a selection of pastries and caffeine offerings. It’s a great way for interiors designers to see, feel and sit on furniture!

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ON TRENDS
ON TRENDS

I’m at that age now, where I’ve seen a trend repeated. Something that I wore years ago, is now being ‘reinvented’. For those that hadn’t seen the trend before, it is something new. My teenage daughter is currently swooning over and purchasing the clothes that are reminiscent of those I wore in the 90’s.

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