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Pro Spotlight: How to Work With an Architect to Elevate Your Home
From creative solutions to navigating planning issues, an architect is a valuable part of your renovation’s success
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Who: Mark Barratt, Creative Director and Founder of CATO Creative
Where: London
In his words: “Working with an architect is about being brave and creative. There’s no point working with one if you’re simply going to design a universally bland home. It’s about stepping outside the box and creating something you couldn’t do yourself.”
Engaging with an architect to help design your renovation can feel daunting, but the benefits of working with a highly skilled design professional to achieve the home you want and need can be life-changing.
Based in London, CATO Creative is a unique architectural and interior design practice that takes pride in not having a house style, instead designing projects that are as individual as the people that live in them. Offering an end-to-end design service, CATO Creative takes projects from concept through to construction and final fit-out, ensuring everything is cohesively managed in-house for a smooth process. “We aim to inspire and infuse our projects with creativity,” CATO Creative founder Mark Barratt says. “We are passionate about making a difference through our designs and consistently delivering exceptional and unique homes, perfectly matched to our clients needs and personalities.”
Read on as Mark reveals how working with an architect can propel your renovation to the next level.
Where: London
In his words: “Working with an architect is about being brave and creative. There’s no point working with one if you’re simply going to design a universally bland home. It’s about stepping outside the box and creating something you couldn’t do yourself.”
Engaging with an architect to help design your renovation can feel daunting, but the benefits of working with a highly skilled design professional to achieve the home you want and need can be life-changing.
Based in London, CATO Creative is a unique architectural and interior design practice that takes pride in not having a house style, instead designing projects that are as individual as the people that live in them. Offering an end-to-end design service, CATO Creative takes projects from concept through to construction and final fit-out, ensuring everything is cohesively managed in-house for a smooth process. “We aim to inspire and infuse our projects with creativity,” CATO Creative founder Mark Barratt says. “We are passionate about making a difference through our designs and consistently delivering exceptional and unique homes, perfectly matched to our clients needs and personalities.”
Read on as Mark reveals how working with an architect can propel your renovation to the next level.
A strong ethos
Individual, practical, beautiful are the three pillars that CATO Creative stress-test every project against, ensuring every home they deliver is as hardworking as it attractive.
Mark suggests that, when it comes to choosing an architectural practice, it’s important to consider who’s on the team. “AT CATO Creative we have individuals from Spain, Ukraine, Brazil, Ecuador, Italy and the UK,” he says. “Each member of our team brings their own cultural flair, insights and diverse thinking to each project, and our clients benefit from our collaborative approach, accessing depths of international knowledge, creative thinking and new ideas.”
As a business, CATO Creative actively encourages its team to travel as much as possible and spend time in different cultures to bring rich ideas and inspiration to their projects.
“Having a multicultural team brings a diverse perspective to our projects and helps to generate innovative ideas,” Mark says. “Each country has its own architecture and design traditions, and design pros from different destinations can bring their unique expertise and knowledge to a project. This helps create unique and innovative designs that are not only beautiful and functional, but also culturally relevant.”
Individual, practical, beautiful are the three pillars that CATO Creative stress-test every project against, ensuring every home they deliver is as hardworking as it attractive.
Mark suggests that, when it comes to choosing an architectural practice, it’s important to consider who’s on the team. “AT CATO Creative we have individuals from Spain, Ukraine, Brazil, Ecuador, Italy and the UK,” he says. “Each member of our team brings their own cultural flair, insights and diverse thinking to each project, and our clients benefit from our collaborative approach, accessing depths of international knowledge, creative thinking and new ideas.”
As a business, CATO Creative actively encourages its team to travel as much as possible and spend time in different cultures to bring rich ideas and inspiration to their projects.
“Having a multicultural team brings a diverse perspective to our projects and helps to generate innovative ideas,” Mark says. “Each country has its own architecture and design traditions, and design pros from different destinations can bring their unique expertise and knowledge to a project. This helps create unique and innovative designs that are not only beautiful and functional, but also culturally relevant.”
A multi-disciplinary team
While choosing a multi-disciplinary team may not be top of mind when deciding on an architectural practice, it’s perhaps one of the most valuable benefits that will deliver long-term returns. By working together, architects, interior architects and interior designers can take a more holistic approach to the project. This can help ensure the overall design is cohesive and the architecture and interior design complement each other.
CATO Creatives’ team of architects and interior designers bring different skill sets and perspectives to the table. This can help ensure that every aspect of a project, from the structure to the interior design, is carefully considered and executed with expertise. “Our clients can expect spaces that are not only aesthetically pleasing, but also functional. . Your home should make your life easier. For every project we look at the family’s needs, their lifestyle and how a family will grow into their space.” Mark says.
Here, Mark shares three valuable tips on working with an architect.
While choosing a multi-disciplinary team may not be top of mind when deciding on an architectural practice, it’s perhaps one of the most valuable benefits that will deliver long-term returns. By working together, architects, interior architects and interior designers can take a more holistic approach to the project. This can help ensure the overall design is cohesive and the architecture and interior design complement each other.
CATO Creatives’ team of architects and interior designers bring different skill sets and perspectives to the table. This can help ensure that every aspect of a project, from the structure to the interior design, is carefully considered and executed with expertise. “Our clients can expect spaces that are not only aesthetically pleasing, but also functional. . Your home should make your life easier. For every project we look at the family’s needs, their lifestyle and how a family will grow into their space.” Mark says.
Here, Mark shares three valuable tips on working with an architect.
1. Allow an architect to unleash your brave side
The beauty of working with a creative architecture practice is that they’re not only trained to guide you through the phases of a construction project, they’re also driven by how to turn your dreams into reality. This helps maximise what can be delivered within a budget, including how unique and innovative designs can come true.
“With any of our projects, we believe great design should provoke a strong response,” Mark says. “Sometimes that response is ‘wow’. At other times, it’s along the lines of ‘I’m not sure’, but as long as our clients love their home and it works for them, either response is good.”
In this project in Putney, south-west London, where CATO Creative were involved with the entire refurbishment and extension of the Victorian terrace, the owners were drawn to simple shapes, light and bold colour.
The starting point for piecing together the room schemes was the traditional period staircase, which was painted in a bright red gloss to match the red post box opposite the house. This vibrant colour scheme then continued into the kitchen, where the idea was to create strong, featureless shapes of colour, almost like painted boxes.
“The owners wanted the period property to feel laid-back and fun, so by introducing the bright red staircase at the entrance, we felt this would set the scene for the rest of the striking spaces, such as the kitchen,” Mark says.
See more of this project.
The beauty of working with a creative architecture practice is that they’re not only trained to guide you through the phases of a construction project, they’re also driven by how to turn your dreams into reality. This helps maximise what can be delivered within a budget, including how unique and innovative designs can come true.
“With any of our projects, we believe great design should provoke a strong response,” Mark says. “Sometimes that response is ‘wow’. At other times, it’s along the lines of ‘I’m not sure’, but as long as our clients love their home and it works for them, either response is good.”
In this project in Putney, south-west London, where CATO Creative were involved with the entire refurbishment and extension of the Victorian terrace, the owners were drawn to simple shapes, light and bold colour.
The starting point for piecing together the room schemes was the traditional period staircase, which was painted in a bright red gloss to match the red post box opposite the house. This vibrant colour scheme then continued into the kitchen, where the idea was to create strong, featureless shapes of colour, almost like painted boxes.
“The owners wanted the period property to feel laid-back and fun, so by introducing the bright red staircase at the entrance, we felt this would set the scene for the rest of the striking spaces, such as the kitchen,” Mark says.
See more of this project.
2. Make sustainable decisions that will futureproof your home
A home renovation warrants a significant investment, and you need to ensure your property will stand the test of time. Work with a design practice that avoids current fads and fashion and instead takes a long-term view of the choices made, from the interior furnishings to the appliances selected.
For example, CATO creative likes to encourage simple, affordable energy-efficient solutions, as well as investing quality products, fixtures and fittings that won’t need to be replaced.
“Most of the work we carry out is on older homes, where we sell on the existing kitchens and bathrooms, recycling everything where possible, giving them a second life,” Mark says.
In this Edwardian terrace in Barnes, south-west London, CATO Creative undertook a full refurbishment with a loft and rear extension. To ensure the house reduced its impact on the environment, the architects included a smart Mixergy hot-water tank to reduce gas consumption by 21%, triple-glazed windows and skylights, recycled cavity and ceiling insulation, fitted an induction hob to reduce gas use further, and set up rainwater harvesting.
“Solvent-free, water-based paint and low-energy light fittings also ensured this refurbishment trod lightly on the planet,” Mark adds.
See more of this project.
A home renovation warrants a significant investment, and you need to ensure your property will stand the test of time. Work with a design practice that avoids current fads and fashion and instead takes a long-term view of the choices made, from the interior furnishings to the appliances selected.
For example, CATO creative likes to encourage simple, affordable energy-efficient solutions, as well as investing quality products, fixtures and fittings that won’t need to be replaced.
“Most of the work we carry out is on older homes, where we sell on the existing kitchens and bathrooms, recycling everything where possible, giving them a second life,” Mark says.
In this Edwardian terrace in Barnes, south-west London, CATO Creative undertook a full refurbishment with a loft and rear extension. To ensure the house reduced its impact on the environment, the architects included a smart Mixergy hot-water tank to reduce gas consumption by 21%, triple-glazed windows and skylights, recycled cavity and ceiling insulation, fitted an induction hob to reduce gas use further, and set up rainwater harvesting.
“Solvent-free, water-based paint and low-energy light fittings also ensured this refurbishment trod lightly on the planet,” Mark adds.
See more of this project.
3. Get help with Building Regulations and Planning Permission
Navigating Planning Permission and Building Regulations can keep many homeowners awake at night. However, having an experienced architect on hand can eliminate these unnecessary stresses and worries.
Working with an architect to ensure Building Regulations are adhered to during the design and construction process is crucial, as it can mitigate risk and save you headaches in the future. “With open-plan living a common theme across many of our renovation projects, we understand the importance of layering in as many fire safety components as possible to keep you and your family safe for the lifetime of your property,” Mark says.
When working on this penthouse in a 1970s purpose-built block overlooking Battersea Power Station, CATO Creative reconfigured the layout to include an open-plan living space as well as changing the windows. The planning application was submitted following making use of the council pre-application advice service to test a selection of different design options for the glazing.
“This approach was designed to ensure we received feedback on the different options in terms of suitability, rather than a black and white yes or no based on one design,” Mark explains.
The project also had to adhere to strict fire-safety regulations, being on the seventh floor of the building. “Making a property open plan always adds challenges when it comes to fire safety, especially when it’s on the top of a building. Working with our Fire Safety Engineer, we designed a system to provide a safe escape without fire curtains or sprinklers. By doing this we were able to create an uninterrupted flow across the flat.”
See more of this project.
More: Visit CATO Creative’s Houzz profile for more information on its services and projects.
This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.
Tell us…
How have these tips inspired you? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Navigating Planning Permission and Building Regulations can keep many homeowners awake at night. However, having an experienced architect on hand can eliminate these unnecessary stresses and worries.
Working with an architect to ensure Building Regulations are adhered to during the design and construction process is crucial, as it can mitigate risk and save you headaches in the future. “With open-plan living a common theme across many of our renovation projects, we understand the importance of layering in as many fire safety components as possible to keep you and your family safe for the lifetime of your property,” Mark says.
When working on this penthouse in a 1970s purpose-built block overlooking Battersea Power Station, CATO Creative reconfigured the layout to include an open-plan living space as well as changing the windows. The planning application was submitted following making use of the council pre-application advice service to test a selection of different design options for the glazing.
“This approach was designed to ensure we received feedback on the different options in terms of suitability, rather than a black and white yes or no based on one design,” Mark explains.
The project also had to adhere to strict fire-safety regulations, being on the seventh floor of the building. “Making a property open plan always adds challenges when it comes to fire safety, especially when it’s on the top of a building. Working with our Fire Safety Engineer, we designed a system to provide a safe escape without fire curtains or sprinklers. By doing this we were able to create an uninterrupted flow across the flat.”
See more of this project.
More: Visit CATO Creative’s Houzz profile for more information on its services and projects.
This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.
Tell us…
How have these tips inspired you? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Hello, we are CATO creative. We are an architecture, interior design and planning agency based in central London.... Read More
Review by Mkw Surfaces LTD:
We have been supplying many designers with stonework for many years and I must say, Cato Creative is by far one of the most professional company we have ever work with. Their work ethic is outstanding...More