Meet The Interior Designer: Kate Guinness

I was working in theatre set and costume design when I decided to switch careers. After retraining, my first job in interior design was at JR Design, where I worked for four years. Having only done a short course at KLC, I learnt even more while working with Jane – both in terms of the practicalities of working as a designer, and how to mix colour. I then briefly worked with Adam Bray – a brilliant colourist with a distinct and unique eye – and Howe London before starting KGD.

My team and I specialise in creating interiors that combine antiques, fabrics, colour and art, so they have that appearance of being gradually developed over time. Listening to our clients’ needs is really important – as is respecting the architectural integrity of each space. I would say our collaborative ethos ensures everyone’s needs are addressed, and the clients’ taste can still shine through.

I’m often inspired by the greats – specifically Chester Jones, Robert Kime, India Mahdavi. Jaime Parlade also had the most amazing sense of colour and created beautifully layered rooms. I was lucky enough to be brought up surrounded by beautiful interiors and my childhood in Ireland has heavily influenced my sense of colour and appreciation for Georgian country houses. It’s had a huge impact on my own colour palette. My mother, an erstwhile art dealer, also has a fantastic eye and created several homes layered with beautiful antiques, artwork, and African textiles.

The client was very traditional in his aesthetic, so it was a challenge to fuse his taste with the modern architecture of this London flat. However, the interior is now rich in decoration and there are some great key pieces throughout – both client's own and pieces we had made bespoke. In the reading room, the fabric used for both the walls and curtains evokes a joyous, spring-like mood, bringing the courtyard from the outside in. 

To work with the curve of the room we created an octagonal footstool that focuses the furniture and brings the scheme together. In the kitchen, we had to utilise what was quite a tight space where the cooker used to sit. With the help of Uncommon Projects we turned the space around, creating a great kitchen with a larder cupboard. I think it’s the kitchen that most effectively bridges the gap between contemporary and traditional. Bespoke shelves frame the doorway which leads from the bedroom to a dressing room area, and the existing wardrobes were given definition with painted borders.