Modern Elegance: Working closely with clients is at the heart of interior designer Kate Carter’s approach to stylish homes.
Canterbury-based interior designer Kate Carter thrives on working closely with clients.
Kate Carter’s path into interior design wasn’t straightforward — and that’s exactly what gives her work its distinctive edge. With a background in psychology, human nutrition and corporate marketing, Kate brings a rare mix of analytical thinking, creativity and real-world understanding to every project.
Working with a high stud and interesting angles, a clever use of colour, textures and light adds depth and warmth to this home.
Today, she’s an interior designer specialising in kitchens, bathrooms and custom joinery, known for creating beautiful, deeply practical spaces grounded in her clients’ lives. Originally from Auckland, Kate’s early career saw her working at Fonterra, where she contributed to nutrition strategy before moving into FMCG marketing. While her roles involved some creative direction, the work never quite satisfied her passion for design. That spark eventually reignited while on maternity leave, when Kate enrolled at the Nanette Cameron School of Design.
Kate adds interest to the neutral palette of a bathroom by using texture alongside the asymmetrical placement of the tap and one cleverly positioned light.
With no prior industry experience, Kate leapt into a kitchen design role at My Kitchen Makeover, learning the ropes on the job — from cabinetry construction to meticulous site measurements. “It was a huge learning curve,” she says, “but an amazing foundation. You had to understand what was behind every drawer front and panel.” A family move to Christchurch marked another fresh start and today Kate works across Canterbury, with most of her projects coming via referrals from clients and architects. She specialises in spatial planning and detailed CAD-based design, bringing a deep understanding of how homes function — not just how they look.
Sweeping arches and textured walls add drama and sophistication to this bathroom.
Her approach is client-centric and thoughtful. Kate is known for strong communication and a clear process — a skill honed in the corporate world, but essential in creative practice. “I love getting to know who my clients are, what they love, and how they live. The key is to understand peoples’ wants, likes and desires, and then to push them just that little bit further. Not so far that it becomes something that doesn’t feel like them, but to a place they feel they would not have reached without my experience and guidance. Again, this comes back to truly understanding your client. If you have taken the time to do this, you will always find a way to achieve this. It could be by introducing a material or finish that they would never have considered before on their own or a small design tweak. That’s the key to creating a space that truly feels like home.” Kate continues to draw inspiration from local and international designers, her clients’ stories, and the challenge of balancing beauty with function. For her, design isn’t just a job — it’s a lifelong obsession. And it shows.
KATE’S TOP TIPS WHEN DESIGNING INTERIORS:
Take the time. Make sure you pull together the whole plan, even if you can only execute this in stages. Doing things bit by bit, without having a full blueprint to follow, will just end up with things feeling bitsy and uncohesive.
Focus on quality over quantity. Choose timeless pieces that will last the test of time.
Remember the power of good lighting. Don’t leave this to the end as an afterthought. The right lighting can totally change the feel of a home, so make this a priority early on in the process.
Your home is an extension of yourself. Just like what you wear, your home is an expression of your individuality. So be brave. Feature walls are so dated; paint the whole room!
