Interiors
by trends, but informed, so that we can feed our own creativity into a project. What is exciting for us is learning about new materials and how to utilise them in a way that hasn’t been seen before, encompassing practicality and aesthetical beauty.” One of the biggest challenges in the interior design profession is understanding and developing a relationship with the client. Another big commercial challenge is having to rely so heavily on suppliers. Kate comments: “To be successful in the interiors business
trusted suppliers and trades-people are essential. Creativity is obviously a major part of what we do, but a quality finish, delivered on time is key to our reputation and the reason why we get recommended time and time again.” Kingston Shaw is a full service design agency
from the initial images of the property’s ‘before’ state, to the drawings, designs, fixtures, fittings, fabrics and finishing touches. Kate enjoys being involved at every level of interior design, whether it’s choosing the colours from one room or supervising the removal of several walls. So how does the process work? “My favourite
part of the job is the initial brief; I love the excitement of the possibilities, meeting new people and imagining how everything is going to look. When working on anonymous jobs like show homes for example, we get to know the space, go back to the office and turn into Lloyd Grossman... What’s it got going for it? What’s the owner’s demographic i.e. how old are they, single professional? And create the perfect vision from that. “Whether it’s a commercial or domestic brief,
it’s our job to prize all of the relevant information out of the client from the start. If you do your job properly you should hit it every time, the key is to be properly briefed. Of course there are tweaks and it’s a fluid, organic process right up until the time you hand back the keys. It’s the little touches that make us stand out from the rest, we like to leave surprises such as hidden plaques under tables with the clients name and date it was made. All of these things make sure you never forget that it’s a privilege to be let into somebody’s home.” Te main focus now is to grow the business,
more specifically in high end residential, and be seen as a standard mark of quality and inspiration. Her advice to newcomers is: “do your homework, know your market and pay for the best professional advice you can afford, whether that’s your contacts or you account”. But the best advice of all: “Just do it. If I hadn’t been pushed into it in the first place who knows where I would be now. It can be lonely and very daunting starting your own business, but don’t give up.”
For more information, visit
www.kingstonshaw.com
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