INTERIORS
KATIE MALIK, KATIE MALIK INTERIORS Interior designer Katie Malik believes that a home should reflect the people living there. Her design studio, Katie Malik Interiors based in Cambridge, provides a holistic approach to interior design.
How did your career start as an interior designer? My first exposure to design started at a very young age, as my father ran a decoration business. I assisted on my first project when I was 18 in New York, where my father worked. After that I had a chance to learn more in an architectural practice in Chicago. When I moved to the UK, I spent some time expanding my knowledge and experience at interior designers Fenton Whelan (www.fentonwhelan.com) and 1508 London (www.1508london.com), and more recently, I have undertaken projects in and around Cambridge. What do you love about the job? There’s not much I don’t like. I love designing, researching, liaising with suppliers and clients. If I had to choose my favourite part, I think it would be the installation days where the team efforts come together. What do you find most challenging? Every day is different, and full of situations which can pose some difficulties, for example, finding the perfect fabric that a client likes and which fits the scheme and the budget.
I take a very personal approach to each project, so when it comes to completion it’s very satisfying How would you sum up your style? My style has been heavily influenced by my early childhood and teenage years. I would say it’s contemporary classic – quite bold but mixed with the mid-century aesthetic.
adventure – no matter who they are. I have actually worked with a few famous people, and they are no different to me than my current clients, who are not internationally recognised.
What would be the perfect project? Every project is like a little dream. I take a very personal approach to each one, so when it comes to completion it’s very satisfying. I love both houses and apartments, city and country dwellings – it would be tricky for me to choose between.
What gets you out of bed every day? I’m inspired by my everyday life. I get a lot from spending time with friends, looking at buildings, sourcing new fabrics, discovering exciting food and looking at elements of nature.
Is there anyone in particular you’d like to design for? I don’t have a desire to design a home of anyone in particular. Everyone’s home is so different, and designing it is just a different
What are your trend predictions for 2015? Interiors tend to reflect what is happening in the fashion worlds so, following the bold colour palettes that were presented during the New York Fashion Week for SS15, we can expect to see vibrant palettes and pops of colour. I believe we’ll continue to see eye-catching graphic prints and soft geometric patterns. I suspect the trend of textures will now include more 3D designs with an organic feel to them. We might also see more modern classic tendencies in furniture design. I am looking forward to visiting this year’s Salone del Mobile, in April in Milan (www.salonemilano.it), during which many trends are revealed. Describe your own home. My current home represents a theme of travelling so every room is different. The closest to my personal style is
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Property & Home Edition | February 2015 | 31
23/01/2015 12:09