CB Design Sanctuary is the embodiment of an aesthetic shaped by Park Avenue floor-throughs, Manhattan ballrooms, London townhouses, and international travel. Founded by Catherine Bellis, the bespoke hat collection reflects a life steeped in timeless glamour, sophistication, and creative reinvention.

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At just 13 years old, Bellis was introduced to the world of Oscar de la Renta through a friendship with his son at boarding school. Inside the de la Renta circle, she found herself surrounded by cultural icons including Nancy and Henry Kissinger, Diane von Furstenberg, Anna Wintour, and Julio Iglesias. “They embodied grace in everything they did,” Catherine recalls. “What they discussed, what they wore, what they created, and how they treated others. It was a golden age of style, elegance, and glamour.” It was an education unlike any other.

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One memorable lesson came early. During a dinner party, Catherine confidently answered “GQ” when asked her favorite fashion magazine — only to later discover she had said this to Anna Wintour herself. It was a defining moment that taught her the importance of understanding one’s audience, a principle that continues to inform her work today.

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Bellis later interned in Oscar de la Renta’s showroom before stepping briefly into modeling, appearing in campaigns for various brands, working as a fit model, and featured in editorials for Pucci. Encouraged by Oscar to pursue the creative side of fashion, she shifted her focus while in college, partnering with Lizzie Bickford Meadow to champion emerging designers. Together, they launched “Fashion Tuesday” at Bruno Jamais, transforming a quiet Upper East Side restaurant evening into one of the neighborhood’s most sought-after nights.

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Her career then expanded into the worlds of society events and philanthropy. After working for an ambassador, Bellis joined renowned publicist Jonathan Marder as an account executive, where she spent a decade helping shape high-profile initiatives including the Couture Council Luncheon, UN Women for Peace Association, Publicolor, and the Museum of Arts and Design.

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Alongside her work in events, Bellis continued designing. Under her label House of B, she created pioneering acrylic handbags with interchangeable vintage-inspired inserts, featured in Scene Magazine and embraced by models and tastemakers alike.

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Her creativity evolved with each chapter of life. In her twenties, her handbags carried women from downtown chic to bridal elegance. During the pandemic, she turned inward, reimagining interiors and objects with ingenuity and style — reviving Art Deco furniture with automotive spray paint and modern textiles, transforming baskets into chandeliers, and creating her whimsical “Bird” wall art installations. Her work caught the attention of New York Social Diary and regional Connecticut publications.

 

Ultimately, it was her English husband’s passion for British tradition — especially Ascot — that inspired her latest creative evolution. Unable to find the perfect hat, Bellis designed one herself. Then another. Soon, hats filled her attic studio, while globally sourced materials expanded into additional rooms of the house. What began as personal inspiration became a flourishing business.

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Now, CB Design Sanctuary is opening its first home at The Huntress in Pound Ridge, New York — a destination where Catherine Bellis’ world of bespoke millinery, artistry, and timeless elegance comes fully to life.

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Come see what’s next.