Kate Nixon

Kate Nixon is an Australian designer, stylist and long-standing interiors editor of Australian House & Garden magazine. Her full-service, multi-award winning interior design studio creates dream homes with decorating and styling through to large-scale renovations and new build designs. Kate’s iconic homewares boutique in Rushcutters Bay, Sydney offers a curated collection of her latest ideas, custom made products and hand-picked finds. She champions local and international brands, makers and artists.

“My path to interior design has been an organic progression from food and interiors styling to homewares store and made-to-measure soft furnishings to full-service interior design. Throughout the journey I have been the interiors editor of Australian House and Garden magazine, championing the exceptional talent of Australia’s design industry, whilst designing and renovating my own family homes. I have always loved the idea of a one-of-a-kind store and the discoveries within it. Of creating a world for people to explore and experience our point of view and way of life. I am essentially a shopkeeper and a homemaker. I am passionate about interiors and their ability to create everyday joy.”

Art can evoke different emotions and create various moods. How do you select and curate artwork to elicit specific feelings or convey a particular atmosphere within a space?

We very much start with colour, tones and textures when selecting and curating artworks for our interiors. We love art to have a personal connection with our clients, reflective of their passions, inspirations, interests, travels and family. Wherever possible we introduce our clients to the artist, to understand their process and inspirations and have their stories infuse the piece with memories that will be passed on to friends and family.

How do you ensure the art seamlessly integrates with the overall design of different spaces?

We believe that if the art is reflective of its new home by way of form, palette, history or inspiration, that it will seamlessly integrate with the overall design of the interiors we are creating. We approach an overarching design concept with considerations of time and place, tone and texture, and art is an integral element.

We love your personal style! Do you believe your sense of fashion is influenced by your exposure to interiors/fabrics etc.

Thank you so much! I love fashion and am endlessly inspired by it. I love the forms and fabrics, structures and detailing, textures and patterns. I love a timeless sense of style – effortless, feminine, tailored, detailed and unique. Beautiful textures and earthy palettes, pieces which have an architecture to them in their structured silhouettes – comfortable and easy to wear with sneakers, sandals, boots or heels. I believe my fashion and design aesthetic are inextricably linked – Classic and comfortable, polished and practical – equally at ease with elegant entertaining and everyday family life. I love a layered, earthy palette and find joy in the detail. I don’t have a work wardrobe and a life wardrobe. I have clothes that I love to wear every day.

Where do you feel most inspired/creative?

Nature – I grew up in the country and my parents-in-law have a farm near Tamworth where we escape to on school holidays and long weekends. The big sky stars are properly inspiring.

My kitchen – I love to play music and cook. My favourite utensils belonged to my grandmothers who were fabulous cooks and incredibly inspiring women.

Travel – I love soaring through the skies and discovering new worlds.

Lighting can play a vital role with artwork. How do you approach the selection and placement of lighting fixtures to highlight artwork?

The role of lighting is integral to the placement and proper appreciation of art. Depending on the style of the home, we work with discreet architectural style recessed or can lights through to more traditional wall fixed decorative lighting to highlight and accentuate key artworks throughout an interior.

You have pivoted in your career from food styling and writing to interior design. Do you have any exciting plans coming up?

We have so many exciting plans coming up!!! Some truly beautiful product collaborations will be launching from October this year here in Australia and in the US. We are humbled to be working with some of the country’s most respected brands and creatives to deliver collections across multiple homewares categories which reflect our love of natural tones and textures, transitional forms and traditional craftsmanship. We are privileged to be creating some really special homes around Australia for our treasured studio clients and we are excited for new instore and online releases and events coming up!

Our reputation is built on passion and persistence. We care about the details, take responsibility and finish what we start. We listen and work hard, going above and beyond to delight our customer and consider all of the thoughtful finishing touches which make a house a home. Our interiors are warm and inviting, cosy and comfortable, equally at ease with elegant entertaining and everyday family life. We layer natural materials with earthy tones and tactile textures. We approach a project budget practically and holistically, mixing high and low (“the Zara with the Prada”) to create an aspirational balance of old and new for joyful everyday living. In store we extend a warm welcome and a fond farewell with music playing, candles burning, fresh flowers and coffee brewing. We believe in layered interiors and attention to detail. In the beauty of gathered pieces found with love. We believe in food, music, family and friends. We believe in HOME.