The Stories My Pieces Tell: styling With Soul, & Sustainability
Every Object I Style from the humble knife & fork, to candlesticks, books & florals has its own personality. A story to tell, share - & sometimes, secrets they keep.
They are never just “things”. Some were inherited. Some found in markets, charity shops. some gifted often tucked away until discovered again. They are intertwined with histories - personal & shared. Others are fragile, translucent Japanese porcelain, or Edwardian crockery softened by decades of use. And yes, one teapot in my collection is so characterful, she’s affectionately known as Mrs Potts.
Each carries a thread. Family Heirlooms & lost treasures that have lay hidden for generations. Each piece arrives with its own story & its for me to weave those into creating new ones.
I don’t see them as props or just another plate or glass. I see them as storytellers. When placed in a tablescape, a home, or a product shoot, they create something far richer than decoration — they create atmosphere, memory, and connection.
Why Objects Matter & What They Whisper to us
Every object brings a presence. A candlestick patinaed with age; a book with someone else’s dedication in the front or a note hidden away in the pages. A linen that carries the stories of countless family meals; a silver spoon polished with wear marks from years of use, ornately decorated pieces to those so fine, almost translucent that feel like they could shatter with just a sigh.
Objects like these remind us that styling isn’t about perfection. It’s about creating a space where people feel part of something timeless — rooted in memory, yet alive in the moment.
Styling as Choreography
I don’t decorate. I choreograph.
A table must have rhythm — pauses, movement, a flow that draws the eye in and lets it rest. Every choice matters: space, height, texture, light all play their part.
Its a deliberate decision - where something sits, the space around it, how textures & height interplay - its all part of that rhythm & flow.
Nothing is placed by chance.
This is why no Carter & Olive design is ever duplicated. Each table is intentional, responding to the feeling, mood, light, the space, and the people.
There are no templates, no generic “social media” “cookie cutter” set ups. Bespoke every time
Beyond Weddings
Though many people discover me through weddings, my work isn’t limited to them.
The same philosophy applies to:
Micro-gatherings & intimate celebrations
Editorial shoots & brand campaigns
Artisan product styling
Dried floral design & repurposed vintage china
Each piece is chosen with the same care: not for how it looks alone, but for the story it carries and the new ones it will help create.
Why Sustainability Matters
In a world of replicas and mass-produced décor, sustainability isn’t a restriction. It’s a luxury.
Every vintage, preloved, and repurposed piece carries craftsmanship, soul, and scarcity. These are one-offs — they can’t simply be replaced by a click of a button.
This is what makes styling with vintage so powerful: it’s not just sustainable, it’s deeply human.
Every object tells a story. My role is to listen, then weave those stories into settings that feel soulful, sustainable, and unforgettable.
Anyone can decorate. But not everyone can create a space where people feel part of something bigger — their own story, layered with memory and meaning.
If you’d like your celebration, shoot, or brand styling to feel as unique as the stories it tells, let’s begin with a conversation.
Katey x
Meet Carter & Olive: Soulful Table Styling, Vintage Hire & Conscious Celebrations
From My Own Table to Yours
Hi, I’m Katey — the stylist, quirky, and creative heart behind Carter & Olive.
This isn’t just a business. It’s a blend of all the things that shaped me — late-night dinners that lasted for hours, learning to really notice the details in everyday life, and the feeling of walking into a space that just… gets you.
Before Carter & Olive existed, I was already styling — often without giving any thought. Previous jobs aside, I’m forever creating mini “moments” on my bookshelves, windowsills, walls even in my garden or helping friends & family make their spaces feel more them.
I’ve always been drawn to what happens when objects, colour, light, texture and meaning collide.
My creativity comes from everywhere — and nowhere obvious. I’ve taken ideas from the curve of a bridge, a paperback cover, the rhythm of street music, the ingredients of a good mezze. Nothing is off-limits if it stirs a feeling.
My heritage is a blend too — a mix of the Mediterranean warmth and boldness, with a grounding dash of Orkney stillness and soul. And in a way, Carter & Olive is that blend made visible.
It’s textured, layered, sometimes a little unexpected — but always intentional.
When I plan or style an event, I want it to feel deeply personal. Not performative. Not copy‑pasted. Whether you’re hiring my vintage tableware, asking me to style your micro‑wedding, or inviting me to help you make your guests feel safe and seen — I want it to feel like home, but better lit.
Because that’s the kind of celebration I craved when planning my own — something inclusive, slow, meaningful… and a bit magic.
Carter & Olive was born from a personal search: I was planning my own celebration, trying to find venues and suppliers who could offer intimacy, inclusivity, and thoughtfulness — not just a copy & paste & that included the food!
Its a family affair with help, support & always inspiration.
I needed a space that felt authentic and accessible to me, my guests, and the way we move through the world. What I found was a gap. So I created something to fill it. Carter & Olive began as an answer to that — and has grown into something more beautiful and layered than I could have imagined.
What Carter & Olive Offers
Carter & Olive is a creative studio rooted in intention, seasonality, and soul. I work with couples, creatives, and curious humans who want to celebrate in a way that feels warm, thoughtful, and real.
I offer:
Table Styling – curated tablescapes for weddings, gatherings, and at-home feasts
Vintage Tableware Hire – characterful crockery, glassware, textiles and more
Naturally Dried Confetti – hand-blended from petals I’ve grown, gathered, or dried
Conscious Planning Support – for those smaller, soulful events that need guidance without overwhelm
Corporate. Styling. Hire - whether its a launch, party or you require the genuine pieces for your shoot or production.
Sometimes I’m simply styling a table. Sometimes I’m gently holding space for a bigger vision. Either way, it’s always tailored. Always tactile.
Sustainability Isn’t a Slogan
I don’t “do” sustainability because it’s trendy. I live it — in the way I source, in the way I work, and in the way I style. ( It also forms part of my everyday life & has done for decades)
My tables are built with what’s already beautiful: vintage pieces with history, seasonal flowers from my own garden, pre-loved linens, and low-impact touches that don’t cost the Earth — literally or emotionally. Even
my confetti blends are made with petals grown slowly and dried with care. Nothing rushed. Nothing disposable. Just nature doing her thing, quietly. Intentional design.
Styling with Feeling
Styling, for me, is about creating feeling. It’s not about perfection — it’s about presence.
Each glass, plate, petal, and napkin is part of a moment. A memory-in-the-making. Whether I’m designing a 10-person celebration under fairy lights or helping set the tone for a 60-guest wedding in a glasshouse, I think in layers, textures, and emotions.
And when needed, I also step in to help plan intimate events — such as micro weddings 7 dinner parties: especially if you need someone who understands access, nuance, neurodivergence, or simply wants things to feel right, not rushed.
Who I Work With
Carter & Olive is for people who want something more human. Less Pinterest. More poetry.
You might be my kind of person if you…
Prefer candlelight and character over centrepieces and symmetry
Love a table that tells a story
Want your celebration to feel inclusive, personal, and full of care
See beauty in the not-quite-matching, the hand-made, the quietly bold
Believe that “low-waste” and “high impact” can coexist
Let’s Begin With a Conversation
Whether you're planning a micro wedding, hosting a creative gathering, a creative collaborationor just want to hire meaningful pieces for your table — I’d love to hear from you.
There’s no pressure. Just a relaxed conversation, and the start of something a little special.
📆 Book a Conversation
https://tidycal.com/1ww6201
Katey x