Meet the founder
Design is personal.
So is my approach.
Hi, I'm Claudia Berkefeld, founder of northsix. I'm an architect and interior designer and I help people create homes that feel right - spaces that are beautiful, practical and genuinely work for their lives.
Whether you need guidance for one room or support with a larger project, I'm here to help. I believe good design should be accessible to everyone, and I love finding creative, considered solutions that make everyday living a little easier, better and more fun.
A bit of background
A life between places.
I’m originally from Bonn, Germany - which may explain my love of straight-talking - but I’ve spent my adult life between Zurich and London. I finally settled in Highgate, North London in 2015, having first fallen in love with the area on a school trip to Hampstead Heath at 17.
An architectural foundation. A passion for interiors.
I studied and graduated in architecture at ETH Zurich, with additional stints at EPF Lausanne and TU Delft. But early on in my career, I realised that it was interiors — and their power to transform people’s everyday lives — were where my real passion lay.
My experience that led to northsix
For the past 20 years, I’ve worked primarily on prestigious, award-winning workplace projects for global clients across Europe. But whether commercial or residential, my focus has always been the same: creating spaces that make life easier, better and a little more fun. Returning to residential design felt like a natural next step: a chance to work closely with the people whose lives my spaces will shape. That is how northsix was born.
Beauty matters. But how a space makes you feel is what stays with you.
Why I do this work
Good design shouldn't feel out of reach
A personal expert. Honest advice. Someone to talk things through with.
In all my years in design, I kept meeting people who wanted a personal expert to help with their homes but didn’t feel a big, formal “full-service” set-up was right for them - at least not at first.
They wanted someone honest and experienced they could trust and talk things through with, who could explain things clearly, make suggestions and narrow options, give them confidence in their choices and a plan that felt realistic, not overwhelming.
That’s why I started northsix.
To be that person: the calm human design expert, guiding you through all the questions and decisions that come with changing a home. My mission is to always provide clear, actionable design advice, whether it is purely for design inspiration or full interior design services.
Like a trusted, design‑literate friend who just also happens to be an architect.
What matters most to me
There are a few principles I come back to again and again in my work.
01
Accessibility
“Considered, high-quality design ideas from a trained expert, that do not break the bank.”
I have always believed that good design should be accessible to everyone, not just the few with deep pockets. And in today’s climate, economic considerations are more important than ever. Interior Design has seen a huge increase in popularity, but a professional design service remains a luxury for most.
02
Authenticity
“A well-designed home should feel authentic and personal, not showy or follow trends.”
I am a strong supporter of individuality and diversity, it makes life in general, everything and everyone, so much more interesting. As a consequence, I firmly believe that this uniqueness and personality should be reflected in each design that I craft for my clients. Your home should be authentic to your style, not mine.
03
Potential
“No question is too small if it’s keeping you stuck.”
I love potential in all its forms. Whether it is a small tweak to a room layout or a complete restructuring of a house, I enjoy imagining what could be and improving design, functionality and flow. Helping clients realise that potential in their homes - and seeing the transformation - is one of the things that excites me most in my work.
Good guidance can make a big difference, even on a small project.
Great design is always functional as well as beautiful!
How I like to work together
I embrace the opportunity to actively engage clients in the design and planning process, resulting in a creative collaborative process that achieves unique design solutions, personal to every project.
I’m not interested in imposing a single “look” on every project. I’m more interested in how you live, what you’re drawn to, what you already own and what would make everyday life feel easier.
That means listening first, asking a lot of questions and being honest about what’s worth doing now and what can wait.
It's about how you live.
Not imposing a look, but creating something that feels right for you.
The result should feel authentic, warm, functional and considered - something you enjoy living in every day, not just something that photographs well.
Outside of design
Other things that keep me curious, inspired and occasionally distracted..
I love puzzles.
And have done since childhood. Today, I begin most mornings with the New York Times puzzles and games section and I always enjoy a good old-fashioned murder mystery, like an Agatha Christie classic.
Delicious smells
Perfumery became a hobby a few years ago, after a friend introduced me to it. From exploring Parisian perfumeries to making fragrances myself, I love its similarity to design: starting with a brief and creating something that brings it to life.
My two black Labrador ladies Stocks and Woody
They get me out of the house each morning. Greedy, walk-demanding and endlessly entertaining, they bring a great deal of joy to my life everyday.
Getting a little lost
I love travelling, especially exploring cities and getting a little lost in them! Different architecture, sounds, smells, cultures and food are a constant source of wonder and inspiration.
An night at the theatre
And in the evenings, when I’m in town, I love going to the theatre. The Almeida in Islington is my personal favourite - London is incredibly lucky to have such a brilliant stage on its doorstep.
If you feel a bit lost with your home, I’d love to help.
You don’t need to arrive with the perfect brief or all the right language.
Just tell me what’s bothering you about your space and what you’d like life at home to feel like instead and we’ll take it from there.