If you're a home interior, floral or garden buff, you've probably stumbled onto Kate's Instagram page at some point or more than likely already follow her. Something I only found out recently – her design services extend to the Kingston area (!!!). With this in mind, let's get to know a little more about the PEC-based founder and creative director behind Kate Crothers Design and her approach to home design.
EG: Tell us a little about yourself.
KCL: I am the creative director and lead designer of my firm Kate Crothers Design. I'm also the mother of 4 kids who blow my mind every day with their wild magical creative spirits. I love design on every level. I began my career designing a children's clothing line called Rumour & Gus.
I eventually moved into interiors, gardens and florals, but the ethos of my practice has always been rooted in craftsmanship and sustainability. I'm a big dreamer, and have an incurable obsession with old houses and gardens filled with flowers. I love to work with my hands as much as I love designing and scheming in the studio, in my downtime I'm usually working on a home reno project or puttering in my garden.
EG: Can you tell us more about your design work and offering?
MRL: When it comes to interiors KCD is a full-service design firm, we take your project through initial concept, drawings for permit and construction, to furnishing and styling. We take on projects big and small, from a bathroom reno to an entire new-build home.
Our garden design services are similar, we offer full scale design including drawings, soil and light studies, permit and construction drawings. We are also implementing a maintenance program this spring, our expert gardeners will tend to our client's garden's weekly so they get maximum results.
Where we differ from most companies is that we offer a plant forward approach to our work. Often the hardscape (patios, walkways, decks etc) is the primary focus and the plants become an afterthought. For us, the plants are the star of the show. We design perennial focused gardens that will offer interest 360 days of the year.
The floral work we do in the studio is a little unusual. We build large-scale floral installations for hotels, restaurants and corporate events, sometimes a wedding here and there if it's the right fit. Basically we make floral fever dreams come to life. Every piece is heavily influenced by the natural world but reimagined for the space. We've done everything from hanging grass meadows from the ceiling of a Michelin star restaurant, to lining the aisle of a wedding in a chateau with urns reminiscent of country roadside ditches in the summertime.
EG: How does this multidisciplinary approach benefit your clients?
KCL: If we are engaged for both interior and garden design, it allows us to consider every single part of the space our clients interact with. For example, while we are considering window placement, wall colour and interior aesthetic, we are also considering the specimen tree that will be planted outside the window to draw you through the space and make you feel close to nature. The end result of such thoughtful planning is always spectacular.
EG: You recently opened a beautiful studio space on Main St in Picton (PEC)– is it a shop as well as a space for your design work and clients?
KCL: Yes! the KCD design team works in the back half of the shop, and the front half houses the Crothers & Co lifestyle brand. You can find custom pillows made from antique fabrics we've sourced, ceramics, antiques, florals, furniture by local makers and even custom tile we've spec'd.
"I consider everything from the renewability of the resources we're using to the carbon footprint associated with the manufacturing and shipping."
EG: What is your approach to each project? What can a client expect when you begin working together?
KCL: We begin every project with a complimentary discovery call, and then a 90 minute paid consultation. Some clients reach out just for help choosing paint colours or looking for direction with their floor plan, and the 90 minutes is all that they need to get them moving in the right direction. If the project has a bigger scope, we move forward with a full scale design package.
EG: How does sustainability factor into your design practices?
KCL:The materials we propose are all carefully considered for their sustainable qualities. I consider everything from the renewability of the resources we're using to the carbon footprint associated with the manufacturing and shipping. When restoration is an option I will always recommend that over replacement. Even while designing the mechanics of a home we make sure what we are suggesting is the option that has the least negative impact on the environment. We also make sure the materials we're using are coming from companies with a social conscience, providing fair wages and good working conditions.
EG: What do you love most about designing?
KCL: This is a tough question to answer! Every time I'm in the middle of a project phase I think that point is my favourite, and then we move to the next phase and I remember I love it equally as much. I love working through a floorplan or site plan, imagining how the homeowner will live in the space and making sure it flows perfectly. I also love pulling together a design concept, doing the 3D renderings that make the space come alive, seeing the build through and putting the final touches on.
"...nature is my study. I have spent hours walking through meadow and forest, learning the layers, architecture and colour pallet of the natural world."
EG: Where do you look to for inspiration?
KCL: For interiors, I find inspiration everywhere, in all the spaces I visit, and I also love Instagram and Pinterest. For my garden and floral work nature is my study. I have spent hours walking through meadow and forest, learning the layers, architecture and colour pallet of the natural world.
EG: What are some of your most memorable or favourite projects?
KCL: My favourite homes are always historical builds. I love carefully restoring and breathing new life into something that was built 200 years ago. I imagine the energy the previous owners have lovingly put into the home and feel very lucky that I get to help the current steward of the house make it a home.
My most memorable garden project was turning a vineyard into an 18,000 sq ft perennial garden, complete with an outdoor dining and cooking area, a greenhouse and many tucked away patios and meandering paths.
EG: How would you describe your personal interior style?
KCL: I am heavily influenced by old-world primitive style. I spent my summers growing up volunteering at a pioneer village and loved the homes there so much. The use of colour, the way each object was designed with a purpose but was also beautiful, the paired down interiors that housed few but special objects.
![Kate Crothers – creative director and founder of Kate Crothers Design [Crothers & Co.]](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/f5b880_ff83d35905b2438d81e19b656acb2a60~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_961,h_1256,al_c,q_85,enc_avif,quality_auto/f5b880_ff83d35905b2438d81e19b656acb2a60~mv2.jpg)
EG: What makes a house a home for you?
KCL: A house begins to feel like a home for me when a cohesive colour pallet comes together and my favourite paintings are hung on the walls, treasures adorning the shelves and mantle and fresh flowers on the table.
EG: Something you’ve learned about real estate along the way?
KCL: So many people overlook the potential of old homes. Rather than wondering what needs to be added to make an old home better, consider what needs to be removed. Try to find the way back to the original floorplan, old homes were designed in such beautiful ways. See what's under layers of newer flooring. Pull down the drop ceiling (but be careful as a lot of those ceiling tiles contain asbestos). Uncover the transom windows. There are so many treasures waiting to be found in old homes that will require a lot of sweat equity but not very much money to bring back to life.
EG: Favourite Kingston stomping grounds?
KCL: I usually hit Balzacs when I visit Kingston, and then pop in to Antique Emporium and Antique Ally (which is housed in the same building my family's cookie factory was in many years ago!)
Connect with KCL & Kate Crothers Design –
A sincere thank you to Kate for sharing about her design firm, process and inspiration.