My day usually starts pretty early, as soon as my five-year-old daughter wakes me up! We make breakfast together and spend a little time with our two cheeky budgies before the day begins. I almost always have my morning coffee on the portico overlooking our garden, or in our kitchen amongst the chaos. It’s these small rituals I really cherish, and then I’ll squeeze in a Pilates class either before or after school drop-off a couple times a week.

Once I get to our Highgate gallery, the day takes on a life of its own. No two days are ever the same. Some days I’m deep in sourcing or coordinating freight shipments from Europe, other days I’m advising clients on curated selections of art or furniture for their homes. Today, for example, we’re working with a client on choosing the perfect mix of artworks for their interior project.

I try to carve out a slower moment in the afternoon to be outside and unwind before the second wave of work begins. Most of our European dealer calls and freight logistics happen in the evenings due to the time difference, so the days can be long, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I truly love what I do.

I grew up between Perth, Paris and San Francisco, so art and design were woven into my life from a really young age. My dad has always had a strong passion for interiors and furniture, and my mum’s love of galleries and collecting art definitely rubbed off on me. I think those early influences planted the seed for what would eventually become Cleo Collects.

That passion has evolved so much over the years. When my daughter Clementine (Cleo) was born, everything took on a deeper meaning. I felt a strong urge to build something that celebrated history, beauty, and storytelling; values I want her to grow up surrounded by.

Naming the gallery after her felt so natural, and it’s become more than just a business for me. It’s a legacy, and a way to bridge the past with the future in a really personal way.

For me, it’s about more than just how things *look* together, it’s about the shared ethos behind them.

At CC, we’re really interested in highlighting the common ground between 19th- and 20th-century designers and the contemporary makers we work with today. At their core, both are driven by the same principles: slow, considered craft, a respect for materials and process, and a belief in creating pieces that last. If you curate with that in mind, the dialogue between eras becomes effortless. The space starts to feel layered and intentional. One full of story, conversation, and meaning, rather than just a collection of objects.

When pieces share that underlying value, I think they naturally complement each other, no matter how many decades apart they were made.

Our home has such a beautiful story. It was originally the birthplace of the local Rose society, and later became home to the celebrated pianist David Helfgott. There’s a wonderful sense of character and history woven into its walls, and the garden has a kind of old-world charm that instantly reminded me of Europe when we first found it.

We’ve been really intentional about preserving that history, restoring original details, nurturing the gardens, and celebrating its past. I also love layering in our own story through art, furniture, and collected objects both contemporary and vintage. It’s a really tranquil space that feels like home in every sense, and it’s a constant source of inspiration for me.