When Martha Huk started her career as a mechanical engineer, designing propulsion cooling systems for military vehicles, she could scarcely have imagined that her trajectory would lead into the world of luxury interior design. Yet that very engineering background has become the foundation of what makes her work so distinctive. Years later she founded Hedgeford & Berkley, a boutique design‑and‑build firm whose hallmark is marrying technical rigor with couture aesthetics.
“Function first, wrapped in beauty,” Martha says of her design philosophy—a nod to her engineering roots and her unmistakable creative ambition.
Martha earned her Bachelor of Applied Science in Engineering from University of Windsor and then spent years as a design engineer, honing her precision and structural mindset. During evenings and weekends, she found herself drawn to home renovations—not as a hobby but as a growing passion for transforming spaces.
It was in these side projects that the question began to nag: why did so many renovation companies deliver less than they promised? Why was elegance sacrificed for expedience? That frustration became the spark for a new path.
Leaving her engineering role behind, Martha set out to merge her analytical skills with her creative vision, determined to bring both beauty and build‑ability into the same equation.
In 2015, Martha formally launched Hedgeford & Berkley. From the outset the ethos was clear: “bold design, focused delivery, unmatched results.” She believed that luxury design only truly succeeds when it is executed with engineering discipline. She insists on thinking ahead: how will the space be used, how will systems integrate, how will materials age?
This mindset differentiated her firm. Clients weren’t just getting pretty visuals, they were getting spaces that were engineered to perform, live well, and endure. From high‑end homes to boutique commercial builds, the portfolio grew fast. Within a few years the firm moved from modest budgets to projects in the tens of millions.
Martha describes her style as “streamlined, luxurious, modern without being cold, contemporary without being trendy.” She uses natural materials like wood and stone—not simply for their appearance but for the unique character they bring to a space. She designs rooms to evoke emotion, layered with furniture and texture to deliver sophistication rather than mere spectacle.
Her process begins with a question: what feeling do we want this space to inspire? What function must it serve? And how can we elevate the everyday into something extraordinary? With that in mind, every design becomes part art, part engineering.
The path wasn’t without its challenges. Martha has spoken candidly about dealing with impostor syndrome in her early transition from engineering to design. She also emphasizes how the early years taught her more about resilience than reward. When the pandemic struck, she recognised the double‑impact of business pressure and human costs. It was a moment to pause, reflect and reinforce her business’s foundations.
Her message to aspiring designers and entrepreneurs: it’s not just about when you’re soaring—it’s what you do in the lowest moments that shapes your future. For Martha, every knock‑back became a chance to build better systems, deeper purpose and stronger teams.
Over a short period, Hedgeford & Berkley gained notable achievements. The firm was featured in profiles of Canada’s top young entrepreneurs and design leaders. Projects span residential homes, historic house remodels, commercial clinics and recording studios with cutting‑edge materials and technology.
Clients and review platforms repeatedly highlight Martha’s attention to detail, her use of 3D renderings to preview spaces, her communication and follow‑through. One client wrote: “Martha is an absolute pleasure to work with! Her design eye and professional approach turn a house into something magazine‑worthy.”
By combining luxury design with engineering discipline, Martha has carved out a niche that attracts clients seeking something beyond cookie‑cutter renovation.
Today, Martha reports that her firm is working on several exciting projects: a carefully orchestrated addition to a historic home in London (Ontario), a commercial optometrist clinic where creative freedom was given, and developing the Hedgeford & Berkley headquarters to showcase what the brand can achieve.
Looking ahead, Martha believes design is headed into “realms of the unbelievable”—testing the limits of materials, unexpected functions and emotional architecture. She encourages asking “why not?”—an attitude born of her engineering mindset and creative ambition rolled into one.
There are several reasons why Martha’s story resonates:
Martha Huk didn’t just found a design company; she founded a paradigm. A paradigm where the precision of engineering meets the poetry of luxury interiors. Where clients are not merely given a makeover but are elevated into environments that function beautifully and feel exceptional.
Her story—of transformation, discipline, creativity and purpose—is not just one for the design world. It’s one for anyone who dares to reinvent themselves, to fuse logic with beauty, and to build a legacy that matters.
For those dreaming of creating something meaningful, Martha’s journey is a reminder: know your craft, stay curious, embrace the impossible, and never stop asking why not.
Do follow her on Instagram.
