Meet Bridget Cooper

We recently connected with Bridget Cooper and have shared our conversation below.

Bridget, appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?

I keep my creativity alive from travel and daily rituals

Travel has always been a huge source of inspiration for me not just in the visual sense, but in the way a place makes you feel. Recently, I returned to one of my favorite places in the U.S., Aspen, and it reminded me why I fell in love with design in the first place.

The Hotel Jerome always captures my imagination. There’s a soulful mix of old-world warmth and Western character saloon-style furniture, big wooden beams, rich hues of velvet and leather, low, sexy lighting, and roaring fires that make you want to linger. It’s that kind of cinematic coziness I’m channeling in my new furniture line.

When I was there, the mountains were turning gold marigold leaves, warm browns, and deep greens blanketing the meadows. That palette, combined with the rugged spirit of the West, became the foundation for my upcoming rug collection, which celebrates heritage craft through a Western lens. Each design draws from that mix of luxury and earthiness tactile, grounded, and meant to be lived with.

Aspen always feels like a reminder that design should be lived in, not staged soulful, tactile, and a little bit wild.

Closer to home, Montecito fuels my everyday inspiration. It’s where I find balance — where the ocean meets the mountains, where elegance feels effortless. I love early mornings with coffee with my partner reading the Santa barbara lifestyle magazine while he reads the finacial times.

On cooler days, I love The Godmothers Bookstore in Summerland to sit and think or A walk at the Miramar Beach clears my mind and helps ideas flow. When I need a dose of urban energy, The Tower Bar in Los Angeles is my go to — a martini, jazz, dim lighting, and the hum of conversation. That sensory world the glow of table lamps, the smell of candles, the warmth of velvet constantly reminds me to design with all the senses in mind.

Beyond California, travel always refuels my imagination the vibrant colors of Mexico City, the moody elegance of London’s old brick townhomes, and the pastel romance of Paris. Each city carries its own rhythm: Mexico inspires boldness, London adds depth, and Paris reminds me to keep things simple yet chic.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I’m the founder and creative director of Bridget Kate Studio, a full-service interior design and lifestyle brand rooted in legacy, warmth, and soul. I design homes, ranches, and boutique hospitality spaces that invite people to slow down and feel connected — to nature, to beauty, and to themselves. My work blends old-world craftsmanship with modern comfort, always guided by the belief that design should be lived in, not staged.

What makes my work exciting is that no two projects ever feel the same. I approach every home like a story rich in texture, memory, and intention. My background spans from the wine country of New Zealand, where I built my first home at twenty-four, to years spent designing luxury residences in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Ojai, New York and Chicago That mix of cultures and landscapes deeply informs my perspective — rustic and soulful, but refined.

I’m also in an incredibly creative season right now, expanding my studio into product design and hospitality. This year marks the launch of my Rug Collection, a Western-inspired line born from my time in Aspen and my love for tactile, heritage design. I’m also developing a furniture line that draws from the same timeless, cinematic warmth you’d find in a mountain lodge or coastal retreat — think aged leather, wood, and brass, designed to last generations.

At its core, Bridget Kate Studio is about more than interiors. It’s about creating a way of living — one that feels grounded, sensory, and deeply personal. Whether it’s a family home in Montecito or a wellness retreat in Napa, my goal is to design spaces that honor both the past and the possibility of what’s next.

As a single mother of three, rebuilding from scratch has taught me the true meaning of grace, grit, and gratitude. Every project, every product, every dream I bring to life is part of a larger mission to show my children what it looks like to rise, to create beauty from the ashes, and to build a legacy that lasts. My hope is that through my work, other women see that they can do it all too build families, careers, and beautiful lives filled with purpose and possibility.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Three Qualities That Define My Work

1. Intuition Over Instruction
I design by feeling first, not formula. My best work begins with intuition a color that lingers in my mind, a texture that feels like home, or a story that wants to be told. I trust those instincts more than any trend. They’ve led me to create spaces that feel quietly powerful, deeply human, and timeless in their restraint.

2. Emotion as a Design Material
I’ve come to believe emotion is the most important material in design. Wood, plaster, brass — they’re just vessels. What truly makes a home unforgettable is how it feels. Every project I create holds a bit of soul: the warmth of a fire, the smell of leather, the rhythm of a song playing somewhere in the background. Design, for me, is a love letter to the senses.

3. Legacy Thinking
I’m always designing with the long view in mind — not just for today, but for the generations who will inherit these spaces. My approach blends heritage craftsmanship with modern vision, grounding beauty in purpose. Whether I’m creating a family home, a ranch, or a wellness retreat, I want every piece to carry meaning a sense of place, permanence, and story.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

Absolutely collaboration is at the heart of what I do. I’m always drawn to working with people who care deeply about craft, integrity, and beauty with purpose. Whether it’s an artisan shaping something by hand, a photographer capturing the soul of a space, or a brand that aligns with my values of heritage, sustainability, and storytelling — those are the partnerships that inspire me most.

I’m especially interested in connecting with heritage brands, makers, and hospitality groups who see design as a form of emotional connection not just aesthetics. I love working with collaborators who want to build experiences that are tactile, soulful, and lasting.

If you’re reading this and it resonates, I’d love to hear from you. You can reach me through my website at www.bridgetkatestudio.com
or connect directly on Instagram @bridgetkatestudio.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.bridgetkatestudio.com
• Instagram: @bridgetkatestudio
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bridgetcooperdesign/