Calexico Muse Of The Month: Claire Stevens

Introducing our newest Calexico Muse, Claire Stevens of Claire Stevens Interior Design. A Brisbane-based interior designer whose refined aesthetic and effortless sense of style have long inspired our founder.

“We sat down with Claire, longtime client nd friend, as our first Calexico Muse of the month. Known for her timeless yet modern approach to interiors, we recently engaged Claire to complete our family home, creating a space that now feels considered, calm, and a perfect place to make memories with the family. “

“Claire has let us into her world, sharing where she finds inspiration, how she balances motherhood and design, and the pieces she reaches for time and time again.” - Nicky xx

 

As a mother and a creative, how do you balance the desire for beauty with the mess and movement of family life? Or do those two things feed each other. 

"Currently life is what it is – which is generally busy. Home is loud and chaotic, yet we seemed to have managed to keep some areas of the house toy free, which does allow for some calming spaces as a retreat (when time permits!). I am lucky that I can surround myself in our projects & get to enjoy creating beautiful spaces for our clients instead, so it tends to satisfy that for me. " - Claire

What advice would you give to someone trying to create a home that reflects their personality but doesn’t know where to begin? 

"With so much exposure to different styles and trends, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and unsure of where to start. My advice is to begin practically—focus on how you want your home to function day-to-day. From there, gather a small collection of reference images and emotive prompts that resonate with you. Once those foundations are in place, a cohesive and personal direction tends to unfold naturally." - Claire

Design seems to run in the family, your sister is an Architect, Did you both grow up building dollhouses or sketching floor plans? What did creativity look like in your childhood home?

"My other sister is also a project manager so yes it does run in the family! I remember always creating houses in Lego & as we got older, pouring over the floor plans of spec. houses that were featured in the weekend paper deciding what I did and didn’t like about each option. There were plenty of elaborate cubby houses & re-arranging of bedrooms which sub consciously were all early signs of things to come. " - Claire

Designing someone’s home is deeply personal. You’re being invited into their daily rituals, their family, even their mess. How do you find common ground with a new client?

"Working closely with our clients is one of the most rewarding parts of what we do. As you said, it’s a deeply personal process, and we feel genuinely privileged to be invited into their lives in this way. The home itself becomes our shared starting point—we take the time to understand how our clients live, what their goals are, and how they want their spaces to function. Everyone’s way of living is different, so building that understanding early on forms the foundation for everything else that follows." - Claire

Between raising two kids, running a studio, and designing beautiful homes, how do you unwind?

"There is not to much time for this at all, but we are very lucky to have a beautiful farm that we’ve built over the last few years. We are able to get down there 1-2 times a month which allows me to really switch off & have some down time with the kids. Wine also helps! " - Claire