C O L L E C T E D by Cathryn Lindsey | vol. 2
A curated glimpse inside my world — design, style, and life.
F R O M M Y D E S K
Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about pace, how quickly we move, and how to slow down.
I’m in a unique place for a business owner: starting over. For the first few years of running CLD, I said yes to every opportunity, no matter how full my plate was. I was in awe that I was actually in people's homes, creating beautiful spaces. I assumed I'd wake up from the dream at any moment, so I better keep going. I also understood that if it wasn't a dream, each client was a chance to grow my skills, the business, and build momentum for what was next. There wasn’t a single slow season in my three plus years in Austin. I loved every moment of it, but it came at the expense of nights, weekends, and those slower moments with my family. A pause was inevitable, even if our move hadn’t forced it.
Still, it’s been strange to not be in constant motion. This chapter has been about learning to embrace the quiet, connect with our new community, and trust that the right projects will find CLD at the right time. Some days, I succeed. When the kids are at school, I’ll bake a fall treat or work on a house project. Other days, I still find myself sitting at my laptop, tweaking a business plan, planning out marketing, updating SOPs, or scrolling through vendor sites, designing future spaces.
But I'm starting to embrace the stillness. I can see that it is just as necessary as the sprint. It’s the space where creativity returns, ideas begin to take shape, and the next chapter starts to unfold.
xo, Cathryn
F R O M T H E S T U D I O
I’m thrilled to share a sneak peek of the CLD × The Great Curtain Co. collection. I’ve worked with Lexi and her team on several Austin projects over the years and have always admired the business she’s built. When I called her to order curtains for our new home here in New Jersey, one conversation led to another, and soon we were designing an exclusive collection together.
This collaboration is a way to bring my design POV — the layering of pattern, color, and texture that defines our work — into your home without a design fee attached. Each fabric was chosen to mix beautifully throughout the home, from living spaces and bedrooms to offices and kids’ rooms. They can even be used for pillows, bedding, or upholstery to add that custom polish.
There are several ways to bring this collection into your space, whether you’re in Austin or New Jersey. Stay tuned, or reply to this email for all the details.
This month also brought the Dwell New Jersey Designer Speed Dating event, which was such a fun and creative way to connect with new clients. I loved meeting so many people in the community and sharing what makes the design process so personal.
And lastly, I’ve been deep in work on my own home. Even as a designer, I’ve been reminded just how much patience the process takes, and how much empathy I have for my clients when routines get disrupted. It’s chaos, but it’s worth it.
G A T H E R E D
Lately I've been thinking a lot about daily, seasonal, or even annual routines. These few items have found their way into this season of life in their own way. Every morning, before the house wakes and the coffee finishes brewing, I switch on the sweetest little kitchen lamp that I recently added to the counter. It’s rechargeable, so it sometimes follows me through the house, casting a pretty glow wherever the day takes me. Small details like this remind me why designing with intention matters; they shape not just how a space looks, but also how it feels to live in.
I’ve also always loved the ritual of scent. Each October, I return to my favorite Pumpkin Smash candle, subtle, earthy, and layered with bourbon and wood. When it’s burning, you know fall has arrived.
With the cooler East Coast temps, I’ve been cooking more cozy meals for my family, and I keep reaching for Half Baked Harvest: Super Simple. Even with newer cookbooks on my shelf, this one just feels right. Its pages are splattered and worn from years of use, which is the best kind of proof that something has become part of our home’s rhythm
I N M Y O R B I T
There are a few things that I feel myself gravitating towards right now. The first is stripes, I can’t seem to get enough right now, in upholstery, window treatments, wallpaper, bedding, everywhere. They feel classic but still have personality, adding just enough pattern to make a room feel alive. I keep trying to hold back, but they’re sneaking their way into almost every room of my home lately.
I'm also oddly enough drawn to laquer finishes. There's something about the glossy surface and subtle light reflection against all the cozy matter textures that I usually love that feels really unique. I love the idea of a laquered table, vase, or framed artwork to sharpen a space and elevate all that warmth,
Pedestals have been another quiet favorite. They can be sculptural or simple, but they make anything you put on them feel special, a branch, a bowl, even a candle. I love the idea of something purely ornamental to truly elevate a space.
I've also been so drawn to plate walls, but not just the standard vintage blue and white gallery. I'm seeing so many creative takes on the trend. My favorites have been a collection of oyster plates and a wall of copper bakeware. For our new home I'm having a local artisan create hand painted plates (some with stripes of course) to mix with my vintage collection for a very unique plate wall gallery in the breakfast nook.
One last item orbiting around my head - this new fall lipsick, a soft blushy berry shade that feels just moody enough for the season.
It’s funny how those small shifts, a color, a finish, a detail, start to pull everything together. Click the link below for all different ways to work in stripes, pedestals, plate walls, laquer and more!
