Welcome to the team Cath Buxton

I’m delighted to introduce Cath Buxton who joins My Curated Life as my business partner and Co-Chief Curator. Teamwork is dreamwork!

Teamwork is dreamwork!

Cath, can you tell everyone a bit of yourself? 

Absolutely! I'm a wife, a mum of 2 young kids and 2 old cats, and a massive lover of picnics and coffee (ok… Rose!). I studied marketing and graphic design at university, am a trained interior stylist, and more recently, became accredited as a mental health first aider. 

What's your background? 

I have spent the last 15yrs in senior marketing roles, building and growing some of Australia's most well-known and loved brands, including Huggies, Kleenex, Poise, and Tip Top. I've been fortunate enough to make a difference in the lives of millions of people across the country.  

So why the change? 

The thing which always lit up my soul, making me sparkle from the inside out, is decluttering, organising, and planning. I'd say it's part 'nurture', but probably more 'nature'. As a 5-year-old girl, you'd find me in my bedroom emptying the contents of wardrobes, drawers, and shelves, purging the things I no longer used, needed, or loved, and reorganising everything to be more functional, efficient, and beautiful. This is still my happy place today. I couldn't be prouder when my daughter tells me she's "organised something" and to come take a look. 

Why now? 

I'd initially intended to start my own business as a professional organiser five years ago when I had my first daughter… you know, the "great maternity leave dream". I'd planned to tick off everything on my enormous to-do-list, including starting a business… Boy, was I wrong about that one! But after my son was born, I returned to work to the intense reality many women face - the never-ending busyness of life and pressure to 'juggle it all' - I realised it was time to take the leap and pursue my passion and purpose. I wanted to help lighten the load of other women in my shoes. Serendipitously, I met Lisa just as I began to embark on this journey. 

What do you love about decluttering & organising? 

Ummm... everything!!! And both equally. In all seriousness, nothing brings me greater joy than doing it for a fellow female. It's an incredible honour to be invited into someone's home and be trusted to help make a change. But the reward is even better, knowing I've helped lighten her load, transform her space, and truly make a difference in her and her family's life.  

I love both being the "coach" on the side-lines, asking the hard questions and challenging my clients to think differently about their space & "stuff", as well as being the "team player" and doing the hands-on work. I love sorting through and categorising items, removing the clutter, and putting it all back together again in an organised way that looks beautiful and, more importantly, functions efficiently so they can maintain it. 

Ok, time for a few quick questions. What's your favourite food? 

Thai for sure - red duck curry with lychees! 

What's the first CD you ever owned? 

Darryl Braithwaite and 'The Horses' (I played to death on my yellow Sony Discman!). And yes, I still have it stashed away in my sentimental box even though I don't own a single device to play it on. I liked it way before it became a cult Aussie anthem ;-).

Where will I find you at the weekend? 

At kid's sport or a playground, most likely. But if I've got spare time, IKEA for sure - sans husband and kids of course - so I can peruse for hours upon hours filling up my cup on all thing's organisation. 

Favourite holiday destination? 

This is a hard one! Can I choose two? The first would be the island of Maui in Hawaii for its chilled vibe and sensational fish tacos, and the second would be Austria for its magnificent scenery and rich culture. 

What's something weird about you? 

There's not a single day that goes by where I don't see 1:11 or 11:11 on the clock… (if you know what this means, please let me know!!) 

Worst trait? 

Lisa would say it's not de-constructing cardboard boxes as I go and leave them all piled up until the end of each job!