Guelph is home to a strong mix of interior designers, from boutique residential studios to full design-build firms.
This guide compares six standout local designers side by side, then breaks down each one's specialties, background, and the kind of projects they're best suited for. We've also included two designers based just outside the city who regularly take on Guelph clients.
Why We Wrote This Article
We wanted to put together a genuinely useful roundup of the designers we know, respect, and in many cases have worked alongside on real projects in this city. Our team has spent years in the cabinetry and woodworking trade here in Guelph, and we work directly with interior designers on an ongoing basis, building the cabinetry and woodworking behind their designs.
Who We Are
We're Old World Woodworking, a custom cabinetry and woodworking shop based in Guelph. We build kitchens, bathroom vanities, built-ins, and commercial millwork for homeowners, designers, and contractors across the city and surrounding area.
Interior designers are some of our closest collaborators - they bring the vision and the layout, and we bring it to life in wood. Working alongside them day to day is what gave us the perspective to put this list together.
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Best Interior Designers in Guelph
| Company | Offers | About |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Murphy Designs | Residential & commercial design, drawings, 3D renderings, project management | Elora-based designer known for clear communication and hands-on project management |
| 2. CAKE Interior Design | Full concept-to-completion design for commercial & residential spaces | Boutique studio handling everything from concept through move-in |
| 3. Otis Interiors | Full-service design-build, renovations, additions, ADUs | Design-build duo Jasmine Koblik & Marc Esposito, with award-winning kitchens |
| 4. Melissa Grieve Interiors | Kitchen & bathroom design, full renovation design, paint consultation | 20+ years specializing in kitchen and bathroom design |
| Honourable Mention: Colette van den Thillart Interior Design (from Toronto, serves Guelph) | High-end residential design, custom collections | Former creative director for Nicky Haslam, now running her own Toronto studio |
| Honourable Mention: Marcy Mussari Interiors (from Niagara, serves Guelph) | Residential decorating & design | Winner of CTV/Gusto's Next Designer competition and IKEA Canada collaborator |
1. Murphy Designs
Murphy Designs is owned and operated by Angela Murphy, and while the studio is based just up the road in Elora, a large share of her work happens right here in Guelph. Known for her clear, concise communication with clients, trades, and design professionals, Angela brings an entrepreneurial streak to her design work, and also co-owns Elora Brewing Company and Center Wellington Racquet Club.
Angela calls her approach Dream it, Draw it, Build it, a three-step process that keeps her involved well past the initial concept. She stays hands-on through drawings, 3D renderings, and colour schemes, then through job site visits, trade coordination, and scheduling once the build gets underway.
Highlights:
Does both residential and commercial work
Provides professional drawings, space planning, and lighting plans
Stays involved through construction with job site visits and design management
Website: murphyinteriordesign.com
2. CAKE Interior Design
CAKE is a Guelph-based boutique studio founded in 2018 by Emily Loker, an award-winning Registered Interior Designer. Early in her career, Emily focused on high-end and multi-unit residential work along with builder's presentation centres, developing construction drawings that required close coordination with contractors and architects.
She later shifted into retail and restaurant design, building concepts and roll-out packages for clients ranging from small kiosks to fashion and grocery retail chains, and quick-service to fine-dining restaurants. CAKE's current portfolio reflects that range, spanning commercial work - eyecare clinics, law firms, physiotherapy studios, private gyms - alongside a strong residential practice.
CAKE now offers end-to-end service across that range, from the first consultation through permitting and construction administration to final furniture styling.
Highlights:
Physically located in Guelph, serving Southwestern Ontario and beyond
Takes on both residential and commercial projects
End-to-end service, including permitting and construction administration
Website: cakeinteriordesign.ca
3. Otis Interiors
Otis Interiors was founded in March 2019 by husband-and-wife team Marc Esposito and Jasmine Koblik. Marc spent his first career in public relations before moving into the trades in his mid-twenties, working his way up through site supervisor and project manager roles at local builders before running his own general contracting business.
Jasmine came to design after a career shift of her own, graduating from the Interior Decorating Program at Conestoga College and bringing a background in event coordination to her client-facing role. Together they built a full in-house team of designers, project managers, and carpenters, focusing on higher-end residential renovations so that design and construction stay under one roof.
Their focus on higher-end residential work has earned industry recognition, including a 2026 "Most Outstanding Kitchen of the Year" award and a feature on CBC Marketplace.
Highlights:
Full-service design-build under one roof, from concept through construction
Primarily residential
Specializes in kitchen, bathroom, and whole-home renovations, plus additions and ADUs
Multiple industry awards and media features, including CBC and Houzz
Website: otisinteriors.com
4. Melissa Grieve Interiors
Melissa Grieve studied design at Sheridan College and started her career at a well-established design firm, where she developed her colour-selection skills.
From there she specialized in kitchen and bathroom design, working for several high-end cabinet companies and designing everything from small powder rooms to large condo developments. Her kitchen-and-bath background is especially useful for cabinetry-heavy renovations, and she now runs her own Guelph-based practice, offering in-person help for local clients and online design services across North America.
Highlights:
Deep expertise in kitchen and bathroom projects
Works mainly with residential clients
Background working with high-end cabinet companies before going independent
Offers both in-person (Guelph) and online design services
Website: melissagrieveinteriors.com
Honourable Mention: Colette van den Thillart Interior Design
(Based in Toronto, serves Guelph, ON)
Colette van den Thillart runs a Toronto-based studio with an international pedigree. After earning an AAS in Interior Design, she moved to London, England in 2000, completed a Masters Degree in Decorative Arts at the Wallace Collection, and spent nearly fifteen years as Creative Director for legendary British designer Nicky Haslam before founding her own namesake firm in Toronto in 2011.
Her portfolio spans Toronto, New York, London, Miami, and beyond, and her work regularly appears in publications like Architectural Digest, Veranda, and the Wall Street Journal. She also holds "Residential Gold" and "Loft Conversion Gold" awards from ARIDO, and has lectured at design events including LCDQ Los Angeles, Chelsea Harbour in London, and Decorex UK.
She's not headquartered in Guelph, but her studio takes on select local clients seeking that same internationally-informed design sensibility.
Highlights:
25+ years of experience, with an international client base and portfolio
Residential-focused, with an international clientele
Featured in Architectural Digest, Veranda, and World of Interiors
Best suited to clients seeking a high-end, highly tailored design experience
Website: colettevandenthillart.com
Honourable Mention: Marcy Mussari Interiors
(Based in Niagara, serves Guelph, ON)
Marcy Mussari is a Fanshawe College interior decoration graduate who launched Marcy Mussari Interiors in 2015. In 2016, at just 24, she won the CTV and Gusto series "The Search For Canada's Next Designer," beating out five other contestants and landing a year-long design consultant contract with IKEA Canada worth at least $35,000.
Since then, her work has been featured on The Marilyn Denis Show and in IKEA Canada's catalogues and commercials. She's based in the Niagara region but works with clients across the GTA and beyond, and her approach centers on translating each client's personality into the finished space rather than imposing one signature look.
Highlights:
Winner of CTV/Gusto's "The Search For Canada's Next Designer"
Featured on The Marilyn Denis Show and in IKEA Canada campaigns
Focuses on residential clients across Southern Ontario
Website: marcymussari.com
Old World Woodworking Can Make Your Dream Home Come True
If your renovation needs cabinetry built specifically for your space, here's how we work and how to get started.
We Work with Designers and Contractors
We can work with any interior designer you've picked, a general contractor, or you directly, depending on how your project is structured. If you already have a designer, we build to their drawings and specifications.
If you don't, we can develop a design from scratch - even starting from a rough sketch on paper. We also maintain strong relationships with trusted local suppliers for hardware, lighting, and countertops, so your project stays cohesive from the cabinetry out.
Get Custom Cabinetry Tailored to Your Home
Every home is different, and every homeowner has their own priorities, so we treat each cabinetry project on its own terms. From a single bathroom vanity to a full kitchen renovation or a commercial build-out, we specialize in precision woodworking for spaces that call for real customization, including sloped ceilings, uneven floors, and the quirks that come with older Guelph homes.
If you're ready to get started, reach out to Old World Woodworking and let's talk about your project.
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featured image credit: Karolina Gabrowska