Today we’d like to introduce you to Natalie Howe.
Hi Natalie, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
The Heart of Home:
Natalie Howe, a twenty-year veteran of the Austin interior design scene and founder of Natalie Howe Design, has built her reputation on creating desirable spaces that feel simultaneously classic with “pops of joy.” Her work is where refinement meets whimsy, where neutral palettes find their punctuation in bold choices, and where every room tells a personal story.
You will often spot a room by Natalie Howe based on her signature use of wallpaper—always unexpected, always memorable. In a traditional dining room with a coffered ceiling, she might wrap the walls in a metallic bicycle print, a playful nod to the homeowners’ weekend rides. In another home? Bears roam a forest wallpaper alongside marble busts of women—because Natalie knows how to bring in edge without losing elegance. And in a recently refined entryway, she looked to Nantucket for inspiration, wrapping the walls in a custom Rebecca Atwood wallpaper—its dotted pattern gently evoking ocean waves.
Her knack for bold-yet-timeless design didn’t come from a textbook—it came from a life well-lived. Natalie has called six states and two countries home, but it’s Japan, where she lived decades ago, that quietly shapes her sense of balance and beauty to this day. “Some 20 years later,” she says, “it still lives in me.” You’ll see it in the restraint of her spaces, the balance of quiet and bold, and the belief that small moments—like a simply arranged bookcase —can transform a home.
She can talk wallpaper for hours, scale an Alaskan salmon without flinching, and she’ll always shoot straight. Natalie is more jeans and T-shirt than dress and heels, but don’t let her easygoing vibe fool you—her work is smart, soulful, and never cookie-cutter.
At the end of the day, for Natalie, home is sacred. It’s a place for the people you enjoy most to gather. For me, “Family is everything. The rest is just window dressing.” And in her world, that window dressing just so happens to be stunning.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Interior design projects come with daily challenges—whether it’s managing budgets, addressing client concerns, or navigating supply chain disruptions. As Tony Robbins says, “What is wrong is always available to you, and so is what is right.” In this industry, that perspective rings especially true.
After twenty years in the business, one thing remains constant: people hold their homes sacred. No matter how much the landscape shifts, the need for thoughtful, intentional design endures—and I’m here for it.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Natalie Howe is an award-winning interior designer with over two decades of experience helping homeowners create spaces that are not only beautiful—but functional, elevated and deeply personal.
Based in Austin, Texas, Natalie began her career in kitchen and bath design and remodeling—where she mastered the art of space planning, functionality, and construction details. Today, she offers full-service interior design from concept to completion, including custom furnishings, window treatments, curated materials, and thoughtfully layered interiors that reflect how her clients truly live.
Natalie Howe Design is rooted in collaboration and guided by a thoughtful, structured process that brings clarity, and calm to every phase of your project. Listening closely, asking the right questions, and guiding her clients with clarity, warmth, and a wealth of knowledge is a strong suit. She believes great design goes beyond aesthetics—it’s about how a space functions, flows, and most importantly, how it makes you feel every time you walk through the door.
Having called Japan, Germany, and Alaska home at different stages of her life, Natalie brings a flexible mindset Whether you’re starting fresh or reimagining a longtime home, she helps you get from point A to point B with a clear plan and an eye for timeless design.
Her work has been featured in Austin Monthly Home, Tribeza, Texas Home and Living, the HGTV Design Blog, marthastewart.com, and more.
Natalie creates spaces that feel elevated yet effortless—where every detail has a purpose, and every room invites you to stay a little longer.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
Books:
Most things historical fiction!
All the Light We Cannot See, Anthony Doerr
American Dirt, Jeanine Cummins
The Great Alone, Kristin Hannah
Apps:
Insight Timer
Shipt – weekday saver
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.nataliehowedesign.com
- Instagram: @nhowedesign
Image Credits
Kitchen, Bar, Bathrooms – Ryann Ford
Living room – Madeline Landry
