Heather Shields

Heather Shields is the Interior and Exterior Designer for Ceci Bates Custom Homes, where she works closely with clients to thoughtfully guide them through the design and selection process of their custom home. With over 10 years of professional experience and 5 years with the Ceci Bates team, Heather brings a steady, refined approach to every project.

She holds a degree in Fine Arts, which shaped her appreciation for balance, proportion, and color—principles that continue to guide her work today. While her focus is primarily custom residential design, Heather’s background also includes specialty spaces such as offices and showrooms. Earlier in her career, she founded a finishing company in Austin, creating murals, custom cabinet finishes, plaster wall applications, and other handcrafted details that inform her careful attention to materials and craftsmanship.

 

Heather is involved from the earliest stages of each project, beginning with concept discussions and floor plan reviews and continuing through finish selections, detailed design coordination, and final walk-throughs. She works closely with builders, architects, and trusted trades to ensure design intent is clearly communicated and faithfully executed, helping each home come together as a cohesive whole.

 

Her design style is warm, timeless, and livable. Heather believes a home should reflect the people who live in it rather than passing trends. By listening carefully and understanding how clients truly live, she creates spaces that feel comfortable, personal, and enduring. She is particularly skilled at helping clients balance beauty, function, and budget by knowing where to invest and where to simplify.

 

Clients value Heather’s calm guidance, thoughtful organization, and confident eye for color and materials. Known for making complex decisions feel manageable, she creates an experience that is collaborative and reassuring from start to finish. Her favorite projects include kitchens, bathrooms, and full-home finish selections, where every detail works together to support the overall vision.

 

Heather is proud to be part of a team that values craftsmanship, relationships, and lasting quality. Her hope is that every client feels truly at home—comfortable, confident, and deeply connected to a space designed especially for them.