Tricks of the Trade

A-list interior designer Kathryn M. Ireland opens the door to her inviting home in California and reveals the insider secrets of her creative process.

Built for a silent-film star in the 1920s, the Spanish Revival house in Santa Monica holds many stories. For Kathryn, it was love at first sight. She was determined to preserve the building’s architecture and honour its remarkable history as a gathering place for writers, musicians and creatives. Kathryn began by simply listening to the house and salvaging many of its original features. Then it was time for her to create her signature layered look, using her own fabrics and art and furniture from her former homes. A hand-painted bed from India, an Arts and Crafts desk from London, a Suzani wall hanging – these beloved pieces had lived with her through many previous chapters and soon found their places in this new setting. Throughout the book, which explores each room in turn, Kathryn explains her approach to decorating via moodboards, sketches, floorplans and photographs. She also asks the experts for their advice on subjects such as buying antiques and hanging art. Tricks of the Trade is a reflection of everything Kathryn has learned over more than 30 years, born from a lifelong love affair with textiles, colour and the way fabrics bring rooms to life.