MADALINE CATHLEEN DESIGNS

Furniture Makeovers, Home Décor, and More

story by KAREN SNYDER

Maddy Scutta’s impressive talent in design, partnered with her limitless creativity and keen eye for details, is on full display at Madaline Cathleen Designs in the Habersham Marketplace. From refurbished, hand-painted furniture to home décor, fashion accessories, gift items, and more, this unique boutique storefront offers specialized items designed or curated by this young entrepreneur.

Maddy’s multifaceted design background can be seen at the shop, but she is perhaps most known for her love of “breathing new life” into old or discarded furniture pieces that most would have forgotten. A retailer of Dixie Belle chalk mineral paint, Maddy uses her love of texture, pattern, and color to give the pieces she’s saved a “second chance” to grace someone’s home, offering both beauty and function in their new life.

Having refinished hundreds of furniture pieces since the store opened two years ago, Maddy enjoys the transformation process. “I love finding old, discarded furniture and décor. In a way, it feels like I am saving the piece from otherwise being thrown away or forgotten about,” she explains. In addition to her personally designed pieces that are available for purchase in the shop or online through Chairish, a large portion of Maddy’s work is commissioned by clients.

“I work closely with my clients to see their vision for their special piece of furniture and create exactly what they’re looking for,” she says. Particularly talented at replicating design work, she finds inspiration in the ideas that her clients bring her, is happy to research designs for them, or even creates her own freehand styles.

“I don’t offer just one style of furniture or design. I can do just about anything,” she explains, adding that “sometimes, I’ll paint something that isn’t necessarily my personal style. But after I’m done, I fall in love with it!”

According to Maddy, many of her customers are interested in the Lowcountry coastal look for their pieces, but she produces a variety of styles, including everything from Farmhouse to Shabby Chic, to Neutrals, Boho, Art Deco, Mid-Century, and more. “I enjoy the diversity of design.”

A 2017 graduate of the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), Maddy’s background was originally in fashion design where she studied how to make clothing, including couture techniques, and designed “red carpet” corset looks and formal gowns. She moved to New York and served as an intern for both Badgley Mischka’s and Carolina Herrera’s design teams and could be found backstage at the fashion shows during New York Fashion Week.

“I learned a lot about working with fabric, textures, and colors, and also how to set up an online store while working in a New York fabric store,” she says, joking that she often found herself stockpiling various fabrics she found in her small New York apartment. “But I realized New York wasn’t for me. I didn’t think I could be as creative as I wanted to be working for a big fashion house.”

Originally from the small rural town of Dover, PA, Maddy had followed her parents to Beaufort after they relocated here in 2013. After her experience in New York, Maddy admits she was ready to return “back home” to the Lowcountry. “I wasn’t sure exactly what I wanted to do.” But, she explains, “From a young age, I was always highly creative and enjoyed art, painting, and crafting.” After refurbishing a few furniture pieces for her own use, friends and family took notice. They encouraged her to sell some of her creations and high interest in her pieces grew, leading her to eventually open her storefront. Now more content, she says, “I love the versatility in what I do!”

In addition to her furniture and home décor offerings, Maddy teaches classes helping her customers learn how to “flip” their own pieces using the Dixie Belle chalk paint products she carries. She enjoys providing her guidance and advice, when needed. “I love using this paint line. It’s American made and offers many more colors compared to other lines,” she says. “But what I really like most is how many different looks you can get from the paint — everything from distressed or chippy looks, to blended styles, to something sleek and shiny.”

Though the pandemic has put her classes on hold for now, Maddy says she’s looking into possibly holding them outdoors when the weather warms. In the meantime, she continues to meet clients in her store or at their homes for design consultations about their furniture pieces. “I always tell my customers it’s amazing what a little bit of paint can do to update their outdated furniture!”

If you do choose to visit the store, Maddy suggests calling or emailing ahead of time just to ensure that she’s not out on appointment. “Of course, you’re always welcome to just stop by too.” And when you do, Maddy’s two-year-old cat named Tibby is sure to greet you. Frequently found relaxing in her store’s front window, Tibby often draws just as much attention as Maddy’s beautiful furniture pieces. “People come by just to see my cat,” she laughs. “She has a very distinctive face — split right down the middle with half orange and half black. She’s my official store supervisor and greeter, I like to say.”

Whether you stop by to say “hi” to Tibby or to select that “just right” furniture piece, home accessory, or special gift item, you’ll quickly see why Madaline Cathleen Designs at 3A Market in Habersham is a popular shopping experience. For more information or to view samples of Maddy’s work, visit her website at www.madalinecathleendesigns.com or give her a call at (717) 487-4682 for an individual design consultation.