From first steps to a finished home
A clear, professional, accessible way to navigate your project
Successful renovation begins with a strong vision supported by expert knowledge, access to practical tools and a clear route to completion.
working with spaces refinedLet me be your guide & strategist
"Whether pre-purchase, mid-planning, or just as decisions begin to feel urgent, clients arrive at Spaces Refined at many different moments, and for a variety of reasons. What they share is not a lack of vision, but clarity - about how to move forward without risk, cost or regret."
"Renovation problems often begin early: going straight to a builder before the project is properly defined, delaying key decisions in the hope they’ll resolve themselves on site, or starting work without a clear brief, budget framework, or schedule. These aren’t careless mistakes - they happen when homeowners are asked to navigate a professional process without professional orientation."
"I created Spaces Refined to bring that professional thinking within reach. My role is to be your guide and strategist - with services that are designed to reflect how different people prefer to engage."
"I help you see what needs to be decided early, what can wait, how the construction process actually unfolds, how to structure a reliable project budget, and how to optimise layouts, proposals, suppliers and advice with confidence."
"With an architect and interior designer in your corner, the outcome is not just a better project - it’s the reassurance that you won’t get lost in the weeds, and the knowledge that you don’t have to find your way alone."
catherine finkernagel My story
"I trained in the United States before completing a Master of Architecture at the Architectural Association in London. Then, in 2004, I co-founded Finkernagel Ross, an international architecture and interior design studio with offices in London and Hamburg, working across high-end residential and hospitality projects throughout the UK and Europe. My work has always taken an integrated approach to architecture and interiors, with a long-standing focus on healthy homes, and future-proofing."
"Alongside my role as co-Director, I'm closely connected to all our live projects, which means I can translate big-picture architectural judgement - typically reserved for full-service commissions - into clear, practical guidance for homeowners leading their own renovations through Spaces Refined."
"I live in London with my husband Felix, also an architect, and our three teenage children. Everyday family life, renovation decisions, food and travel underscore my belief that good design isn't just about spectacle, but about creating homes that genuinely support the lives lived within them."
The Spaces Refined
Manifesto
I.Time invested now is money and overwhelm saved later.
II.Timeless, not trendy.
III.Clarity always achieves more than compromise.
IV.Structure turns overwhelm into action.
V.Nothing good ever comes from chaos.
VI.Your home should reflect your life.
