I heard Brooklyn-based interior designer Kathryn Scott speak at the AD Home Show several years ago and was captivated by the way she articulated herself, and by her personal style, unique among her contemporaries in the design industry. But it was the slide show of images of her Italianate townhouse that left me speechless – indeed a rare feat for those who know me well.
Taking the opportunity to introduce myself after the panel discussion led to a visit to Kathryn’s home…
Kathryn’s townhouse, like all of the projects featured in Creating Beauty, speaks to her aesthetic: pared-back, rigorously considered, and refined. There are clear multi-cultural influences like English antiques, Chinese artwork (Scott’s husband is the artist Wenda Gu), and Belgian textile – all that mix perfectly. What appears to be nonchalant is indeed intentional; rooms that feel at once welcoming and unassuming telegraph perfect design resolution.
For me, Kathryn’s work, with it’s affinity for patinated inflections, places her in a design continuum with Alex Vervoordt, Rose Tarlow, and Stephen Sills. They each evoke a sense of serenity, harmony, and simplicity.
Other interiors, from 10 projects in total in the book, include a soaring living room space sheathed in icy almost-white, a barn re-envisioned in juxtapositional stripes, and a living room with a palladian door that pays homage to one of Scott’s favorite materials: richly grained wood.
Featuring 150 images by acclaimed photographer Willian Abranowicz, Creating Beauty is a must-have addition for any well-informed design library. And if you’d like to have your copy autographed, Kathryn will be the D&D Building’s Spring Market on Wednesday May 30th at noon, in the Holly Hunt showroom.
I love this book! There is so much information from every point of view. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading it! Thank you for letting me be a part of it.