Interior and exterior confidence
Create Academy has been such a great resource. I'm in the middle of renovating a bungalow with a very large garden and the courses have offered a wealth of inform...
Harvey
Jun 10, 2026
The kitchen
with KATHRYN M. IRELAND — Renowned interior and textile designer. AD Top 20 Most Famous Interior Designers, Elle Decor A-List.
Lesson 9 of 23
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Kathryn discusses how for her kitchens shouldn’t feel utilitarian, and reveals how she uses fabric, crockery and layout to give them a warm, layered and relaxed feel.
From the Lesson Workbook
The Kitchen
A kitchen wants to feel like a room rather than just a functional space. Often kitchens are used as an office, a playroom and a sitting room - and your designs should reflect that.
- I always apportion budget to a really good kitchen table. We spend so much time gathering around tables that it's worth making sure the table will last a lifetime.
- Given the amount of storage needed in a kitchen you often have to consider the existing architecture in a way you may not have to in other rooms. I try to work with that architecture rather than against it.
- I try to find a reference colour in any existing materials in the kitchen, and then use that to choose fabrics for the room. For example, there's a red in my curtains that is echoed in the red chairs, and in the earthy colour of the floor tiles.
- I keep my plates, cups and saucers a fairly neutral colour to give a good canvas, and then bring in colour through the fabrics, dishes, pots and jugs.
- Mixing up the surfaces in a kitchen gives a nice sense of layering.
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May 31, 2026
Magic in small spaces
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May 20, 2026
Interior and exterior confidence
Create Academy has been such a great resource. I'm in the middle of renovating a bungalow with a very large garden and the courses have offered a wealth of information to dive into and explore new ideas. I'm...
Harvey
Jun 10, 2026
Absolutely love Create Academy
Absolutely love Create Academy! The instructors are extremely informative, and it is beautifully filmed. Create Academy is great value for money and plan on renewing my subscription yearly because there are ...
SG
May 31, 2026
Magic in small spaces
Butter's creativity is stunning! Her ability to incorporate brilliance in small gardens is magical!
Carla
May 30, 2026
Your Instructor
Kathryn M. Ireland
Renowned interior and textile designer. AD Top 20 Most Famous Interior Designers, Elle Decor A-List.
One of the most influential interior designers in the world, Kathryn M. Ireland is known for creating comfortable, down to earth interiors that enhance everyday living. Focusing first on the needs of family life, Kathryn deftly mixes practicality with a considerable dose of effortless cool and unpretentious grandeur. She designs real spaces for real people - as well as creating homes for a cult following of A-listers too. Born and raised in the UK but now based in Los Angeles, Kathryn has also travelled extensively, contributing to her eclectic aesthetic. The author of five books and the designer of her own fabric line, she has been internationally recognised with multiple awards, most recently the 2022 Design Icon Award, and is consistently named as one of Elle Décor's A-List designers.
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