Design Practice: Katharine Pooley
Location: London
Established over 20 years ago, Katharine’s London-based design studio creates exquisite designs around the world. Named as “British Interior Designer of the Decade, Katharine leads an international team of 49 interior designers, architects and interior architects. Current projects range in scale and style, from traditional country estates to palaces, hotels, luxury spas, beach villas, traditional castles, ski chalets, private jets and super yachts. Katharine is currently working on several international projects for private clients in Bermuda, Majorca, Aspen, Dallas, Sardinia, Paris, New York, Hong Kong, London, Dubai, Kuwait, Doha and Great Britain.
Born in Hertfordshire, schooled in Oxfordshire and France, Katharine hails from a family of adventurers and aeronautical enthusiasts and her passion for exploration has been a lifelong inspiration. An intrepid traveller, she has visited more than 150 countries and, along the way, has summited many of the world’s highest mountains; driven a team of dogs on a sled to the North Pole; and crossed the Sahara Desert on horseback, amongst other exciting adventures.
Katharine's approach to interior and architectural design is equally fearless and her aesthetic is synonymous with unforgettable, beautifully crafted, art-like living spaces that exude timeless elegance and luxurious comfort. Her positivity and enthusiasm for the minuti of design are legendary. Driven and fearless she creates exuberant and memorably beautiful interiors across the world and is a truly global design icon.
A lifelong love of design, beauty, the natural world and travel combined to inspire Katharine to pivot from working in global finance to opening her eponymous Chelsea boutique and Design Studio. 21 years later and the Katharine Pooley Design Studio works worldwide and is regularly commissioned to design luxurious and memorably beautiful mould-breaking residences and hospitality projects for a global network of discerning private clients.
Creating exquisitely crafted interior and architectural designs with comfort and beauty at their heart.
The element of fine craftsmanship is integral to the design studios ethos and success.
Craft, and the continued support and patronage of the wealth of historic craftsmanship present on the British Isles, is central to every design decision taken at the Katharine Pooley Design Studio.
The scope and scale of Katharine's projects around the world single-handedly ensure hundreds of British workshops, ateliers and independent makers are tasked with forming new and beautiful creations every day.
From cabinetry-makers, joiners, embroiderers, weavers, sculptors, glassblowers, ceramicists, metal-workers and artists, each of Katharine's projects requires a veritable army of craftsmen and women.
The vast majority of these suppliers are small-scale and incredibly specialized, often referencing ancient crafting skill sets of tremendous value. Katharine prioritizes the use of British craft in all her projects and views it as a wonderful honour to create designs that help protect, encourage and grow the careers of so many talented and aspiring makers. It is no understatement to say that each finished project, be it a hotel, castle, yacht or beach villa showcases a broad and inspiring wealth of contemporary British craft. Katharine’s work with the British Wool Campaign and QEST (the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust) inspire her to support the next generation of craft producers and place the work at the heart of every design.
SBID Accreditation is a marque of achievement that signifies the highest level of interior design expertise, determined by knowledge, training and work experience.
Read More
Accreditation distinguishes interior design experts from unregulated providers, equipping members with exclusive industry offers, tools, and training necessary for success.
SBID registered designers receive access to ongoing industry learning and engagement opportunities with accredited CPD training, from webinars and presentations, to trade events and activities.
Join SBID
Find out more about our flexible membership structure.
By subscribing, you agree to be added to SBID’s mailing list. As an industry’s standard bearer organisation, we strive to bring you the most up to date news and access to exclusive industry content through our various newsletters.
First Name
Last Name
Email Address
I accept the SBID Terms of Use