Let’s Talk Interiors: ArchiPro meets interior designer Kate Nixon

ArchiPro’s Let’s Talk Interiors film series features standout Australian architects, stylists and designers. Hosted by leading stylist Steve Cordony, the series reveals the creative process behind some of Australia’s most beautiful spaces.

ArchiPro is all about inspiring people to build spaces they love living in, and is an ideal place for anyone embarking on a building or renovation journey. Professionals and homeowners alike use ArchiPro to gather and share ideas, source products for their projects, and connect with the right people.

In Episode 3 of Let’s Talk Interiors, Kate Nixon shares some of the secrets behind her own styling, interiors and design work. Filmed on site at her headquarters and homewares store, Kate delves into the role of digital platforms in interior design, the design philosophy that sets her work apart, and the insight an interior designer can bring to a home design project – a view aligned with ArchiPro’s own. ArchiPro believes hiring a professional is the surest way to success.

The biggest source of inspiration for Kate is imagery, and sharing this is the quickest way to communicate ideas to clients.

“After the initial consultation with a client, we come back to them with some images and references,” Kate says. Doing so confirms the design firm’s interpretation of the brief in a visual language that quickly gets to the heart of what the client really wants. “We just want to make sure we're on the same page and that we understand their visual language … very quickly, they can tell us ‘I really like that, I don't like that’ and we find we can really get to the heart of the brief.”

The use of digital platforms such as ArchiPro are playing an increasingly important role in the design world. ArchiPro’s design boards allow both designers and homeowners to save inspirational images, materials and products, and upload relevant project documents which they can then share with the click of a button.

“It's very much creating a mood board in a way that visually communicates your concepts and your brief,” Kate says. “It’s such an easy way to communicate with clients and show a colour, show a material, show a design detail, and kind of collaborating with the team as well – I think we're finding a lot of efficiencies in that process and we’re always trying to improve the customer experience.”

As for Kate’s own sources of inspiration, she relies as much on the written word as she does visual imagery, reading about everything from history and fashion to travel.

“I particularly like delving back through historical references and trying to find ways to bring them through into the next century,” she says.

Kate’s career has spanned interiors, food styling and writing , including more than a decade as Houses Editor and Interiors Editor at Australian House & Garden magazine. Styling has become so second nature to the designer that it now defines the Kate Nixon aesthetic.

“I think the styling is very much what sets us apart as a studio; we're always about the final flourish,” Kate says.

She is all about creating everyday joy, Kate explains. “It's classic and comfortable; it's polished and practical; and it's equally at ease with everyday living and elegant entertaining … so it's really about a feeling and a philosophy more than an aesthetic.”

Kate and her team work out of an 1800s building in Rushcutters Bay that was most recently a gym. With her magic touch, and more than a little elbow grease, the space has been transformed into a beautiful workspace and homewares store layered with texture and natural materials: plaster and exposed brick, burnished brass, reclaimed French oak parquetry floors and fluted glass.

It’s also the place clients come to talk about their design vision, and to see and touch fabric samples, materials and colours.

“Engaging an interior designer might seem like a luxury but I feel like ultimately it's going to save you time and money,” Kate says. “This is what we do every day and you’re tapping into such a wealth of knowledge and contacts and experience.”

Although Kate sets out to create timeless interiors, she says the recent need for many of us to work from home has impacted what people want from their homes. Wellness, flexible living areas and workspaces are all hot topics. “We're actually doing a lot of gyms, cinemas and saunas and steam rooms,” Kate says.

As for aesthetics, she says colour is coming back as we put the days of doom and gloom behind us and embrace a sense of freedom and fun. “We've had a lot of stucco and polished plaster and that kind of neutral Mediterranean vibe, but I think looking over the pond, there is a lot of colour coming back, which is nice.”

Meet the designers behind Alexander &CO on Episode 1 Arent&Pyke on Episode 2 of Let’s Talk Interiors.