Katharine Pooley have been shortlisted for Residential Swimming Pool Award, Residential £10 Million Plus (Property Value) Award, Luxury Residence – London Award in The International Design and Architecture Awards. Read more about Founder & CEO, Katharine Pooley, below:

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Name: Katharine Pooley

Company: Katharine Pooley

Position within company: Founder and CEO

Website: www.katharinepooley.com

Tell us a little about your background in design:

Having spent a number of years working in finance in Hong Kong and Singapore, Katharine is a shrewd businesswoman and under her leadership the Katharine Pooley Design Studio has grown enormously over 18 years from a UK firm undertaking predominantly domestic project to an internationally respected brand and design studio encompassing architectural design, interior design, project management, product design and property development.

How would you describe your personal design style?

Katharine’s aesthetic is very much client driven and she prides herself on being a complete design chameleon. The projects her studio takes on range in style and scale; beach houses in Capetown, Dubai  & the South of France, traditional Houses and Castles in Scotland & England, Chateau’s in France, Ski Chalets in Switzerland and the US, Palaces in Kuwait and Qatar and elegant City dwellings in Singapore, Washington and London.

Where does your design inspiration come from?

Much of Katharine’s inspiration comes from her extensive travels. An innate sense of adventure has defined Katharine’s life and shaped her design philosophy. Katharine is an intrepid traveller and has visited more than 150 countries. However, what may come as a surprise is that she has summited many of the worlds highest mountains, driven a team of dogs on a sled to the north pole, and crossed the Sahara on horseback, so one begins to form a picture of a tenacious and gutsy business woman & a truly original and adventurous interior designer.

In what direction do you feel that design is moving towards in a general sense?

Sustainability and comfort are becoming of increasing importance, while luxury finishes, bespoke detailing and spaces personally tailored to suit the individual are critical attributes to our discerning, international clientele.

Name five key themes to consider when approaching design in 2020 and beyond.

Colour: I have been using dark inky blues, bright saturated yellows and vibrant oranges and greens as small eye-catching accents in other \wise neutral and tonal schemes.

Texture: Natural textures add tactile comfort to any interior, in contemporary interiors I am finding textured timbers, open weave linens, cashmeres and wools and marble and porcelain sculptural pieces create a perfect balance.

Unique accessories: a beautiful shagreen box, hand-stitched leather tray or shell encrusted bowl can make an ordinary interior seem extraordinary. The instantaneous transforming power of unique and unusual  accessories is a big trend.

Fabric detailing: I am drawn to intricate embroidery on curtain leading edges, soft fringing and braiding on cushions and delicate hand stitching to bedding and throws.

Art like floor rugs: I work with some amazing British and Italian rug designers who can create the most incredible ‘art’ like floor rugs. Incorporating lurex and a mixture of cut and loop piles they are often hand woven and very special.

If you could offer one piece of advice when it comes to design schemes, what would it be?

Let the space lead you, a well balanced scheme has to work with the space, not against it, and draw out its best attributes.

How important are The International Design & Architecture Awards?

They are a wonderful way of drawing attention to the incredible, and very diverse design work being produced today.

What projects are you currently working on?

A magnificent Chateau set imperiously 700-feet above the Mediterranean and overlooking the bay of Cannes; an impeccably detailed superyacht for a returning client and a ground-breaking large residential development in Monaco.  A handful of grand houses in London, a sleek and contemporary private residence overlooking Discovery Bay, Hong Kong; and a luxurious and cutting-edge chalet in Zermatt, Switzerland. 

What was your favourite project to work on and why?

I recently completed an architecturally awe-inspiring palatial villa in Kuwait, the craftsmanship throughout was incredible and the architecture just sublime.

What was your most challenging project to work on and why?

All projects have their challenging moments but its always worth it in the end, I love a challenge! Installing a large villa in Qatar while pregnant with my youngest son at the hottest time of year there was a challenge, but the final result was incredible.

Which products/services could you not live without when designing?

My fabric and finish library is second-to-none it is simply huge, a beautiful big double height space with lots of glass and natural light in our Kensington studio, our librarian keeps it immaculately organised and suppliers replenish it on a weekly basis, it is the most incredibly inspiring space to pull schemes together.

What are your aims and goals for the next twelve months?

We have some incredible projects completing world wide in the next few months so I want to get them completed safely and then maybe another book? I loved creating my first book Journey By Design with Assouline.

Final thoughts; tell us a little more about yourself and your daily inspirations:

Your most treasured possession?

A beautiful gold kimono given to me by a client

Your favourite holiday destination?

Madagascar or the Antarctic

Your favourite hotel, restaurant & bar?

Hotel: Peninsular worldwide
Restaurant: Sexy Fish
Bar: Captains Bar at the Mandarin Oriental – lots of memories

Your favourite book, film & song?

Book: The Worst Journey in the World by Apsley Cherry –Garrad

Film: The Proposal

Song – Someone you loved by Lewis Capaldi

Your favourite food and drink?

Thai food and a Bloody Mary

Your favourite way to spend an afternoon?

On a long Hike

If you weren’t a designer, what would you be?

A Vet

Katharine Pooley have been shortlisted in The International Design and Architecture Awards.

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