A Conversation with Designer Fatou Ceesay
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Time to read 2 min
Interior designer Fatou Ceesay didn’t always know she’d end up in the world of design. In fact, her early years pointed to an entirely different path, one grounded in science and structure rather than texture and tone. She began college as a microbiology major, preparing for medical school, but soon realized something was missing. It took years, and a quiet nudge from family, for her to consider the creative realm.
Design wasn’t something she had planned. But it found her anyway.
“I never thought of myself as a creative,” she admits, “But then I visited the Art Institute of Portland, and the moment I toured the program, something clicked.”
That spark turned into a fire. Now, more than a decade into her career, Ceesay brings a soulful, multicultural lens to everything she touches. Her work is layered, grounded, emotionally attuned, anchored in experience, but always reaching forward.
Her latest collaboration with Known marks a new chapter in her journey. What drew her in was the company’s mission to make beautiful living feel accessible and personal. “What excites me most,” she says, “is the chance to work with a furniture line that values both design and purpose. I love that the driving force is to bring ease to our customers in a way that is thoughtful.”
Her collection is an extension of that ethos; neutral in tone, sculptural in form, and timeless in spirit. Though it differs from the more colorful and expressive decor in her own home, the silhouettes and foundational pieces reflect her core aesthetic. She favors classic shapes that invite layering, using bolder colors and patterns to inject personality and warmth.
Fatou's Favorites
Born in Sweden, raised in Gambia, and shaped by years in Oklahoma, Ceesay’s upbringing is woven into every room she creates. She believes that design, like identity, is never singular. “Variety is important,” she says. “Creating spaces that reflect what you love and that have meaning to you will always be in style."
Today, she lives in Vancouver, Washington, in the neighborhood of Felida, a village-like area surrounded by trees and tucked beside a park. She shares her home with her fiancé and three daughters, where life revolves around a shared dining table, outdoor fires, and the rhythm of family dinners.
Evenings vary, sometimes it’s a homemade meal around the table, complete with a family game where everyone shares their "favorite part of the day.” Other times, it’s pizza and a movie on the couch. Warm nights are spent outside, under string lights and stars.
When it comes to describing her style, Ceesay compares it to Tracee Ellis Ross: fearless, refined, and playful, with a distinct point of view. It’s a fitting parallel. Like Ross, Ceesay embraces contrast: the classic with the unexpected, the soft with the bold, the quiet with the statement.
She’s a blend of impulse and intention. As she puts it, “Naturally I can be impulsive, but the older and wiser I get, I’m finding a balance between the two.”
Having recently moved into a new home, just down the street from her last one, she’s happy to stay put for a while. “Moving,” she says, “is not for the faint of heart.”
Outside of design, Ceesay finds joy in cooking large meals, taking long walks, and reading British home magazines. She’s currently loving House & Garden UK, though her obsessions, she notes, tend to shift with the seasons.
Among the many personal objects she’s collected over the years, one stands out, a Moroccan brass swan inlaid with gems, a gift from her mother after a year of admiration. “It’s beautiful and elegant,” she says. “It reminds me of patience, of grace, and of home.”
When asked what’s next, she doesn’t rush to define it. The future, like good design, takes time to unfold. “I can’t wait to see,” she says. “Whatever it is, it’ll be great.”