Notes From Our Journey

In many building projects, interior design is an afterthought. It arrives as the architecture stands completed, ready to add aesthetic layers to spaces already carved in stone. This separation often results in a disjointed feeling, where the finishes don’t quite synchronize with the architectural vision. At Ceci Bates, we see this as an opportunity for harmony instead of incongruence.

Our process fosters unity between architectural design and interior finishes. Heather Shields, our seasoned interior designer, insists her journey with a new project begins with a conversation with Roberth Jordan, our architect. For Heather, understanding the story Roberth tells through his drawings is paramount. Each window placement, each room orientation, carries intent—an intent rooted in a deep understanding of light, environment, and lifestyle.

This meeting of minds ensures that the materials Heather selects are not just decorative, but also complementary to the architectural design. She refers to her role as placing “the fluff on Roberth’s artwork,” ensuring that finishes like flooring or tiles resonate with the architecture’s rhythm, rather than exist as separate statements.

By the time Heather meets with clients, she has digested the architect’s blueprint and is prepared with selections that reflect the underlying design philosophy. This preemptive alignment means the client steps into a coherent vision, where interior and exterior expressions are consistent and aligned.

At Ceci Bates, we believe that the best interior design refines and completes what the architecture begins. This collaboration is part of how we maintain the quality and cohesion expected from every home we craft. We invite you to explore our process further and see how our team works to bring architectural visions into holistic fruition at cecibates.com.