Sisterhood Series - Kathrine McDonald

Meet the inspiring Kathrine McDonald, the Mount Maunganui interior designer behind her namesake boutique studio. We caught up with Kathrine to talk personal style, considered interiors, and the daily rituals and relationships that shape her life and work.

1. Tell us a little about yourself and how you got into interior design.

I’m an interior designer based in Mount Maunganui and have been running Kathrine McDonald Design for 10 years now. We’re a small boutique studio working predominantly on high-end residential projects, alongside selected hospitality and commercial work.

Interior design wasn’t necessarily a perfectly mapped-out career path for me.  I studied online, when the children were young, through the Interior Design Institute of NZ. Over time, that developed into a career, then a business, and eventually the studio and team I have today.

Ten years in, I still genuinely love the creative side of it, but I also love the relationships with clients, architects, builders, makers and suppliers that go into creating something really special.

2. How would you describe your approach to interior design, and what inspires your work?

My approach is very much about creating interiors that feel considered and layered, but not overly designed. 

We tend to work with a relatively neutral base and introduce character through natural stone, timber, flooring, textiles, art, furniture and objects. I’m much more interested in materiality, texture, proportion  - and I think good design also needs some restraint.

3. Where do you find inspiration for your projects, and are there any materials, colours or design details you’re particularly drawn to at the moment?

Inspiration comes from everywhere: travel, hotels and restaurants, fashion, art, architecture and the suppliers and craftspeople we work with. I’m always looking at how materials are put together and the little details that make a space feel different.

At the moment I’m still very drawn to natural materials, beautiful stone, timbers, wool, aged metals and tactile fabrics. I love colour when it comes through the material itself.  A richly veined stone or an incredible rug can bring great personality to a room.

4. What does a typical day look like for you, and are there any daily rituals that help you feel grounded and inspired?

There isn’t a typical day, which is one of the things I love about the job. I can go from a client meeting to reviewing joinery drawings, to a site visit, sourcing furniture and materials, working through concepts with the team and then dealing with all the realities of running a business.

Daily ritual  - light a candle first thing in the morning. Always light the candle!  At the moment we’re burning Tom Dixon. 

5. How would you describe your personal style, and do you see similarities between the way you dress and the way you approach interior design?

Definitely. I think my wardrobe and my interiors probably follow a similar philosophy,  a strong neutral foundation, good-quality pieces, texture and then something slightly unexpected.

I would rather buy something I genuinely love and wear it repeatedly.

I like clothes to feel effortless but still pulled together, and that’s probably exactly what I’m trying to achieve in an interior as well, considered without looking like it has tried too hard.

6. What are your go-to wardrobe staples when you want to feel comfortable but still put together?

I’m drawn to relaxed tailoring, fluid silhouettes and timeless pieces that feel effortlessly put together. I love oversized suiting and pieces with a little something special, whether that’s for everyday wear or dressing up. For me, it’s all about understated elegance and feeling comfortable in what I’m wearing. Nothing too tight! 

7. What does sisterhood mean to you, and what role have the women around you played in your personal or professional journey?

Sisterhood to me is about having women around you who genuinely want you to do well, women you can celebrate with, but who are equally there when life isn’t going according to plan.

I think as you get older you appreciate those relationships even more. There’s something incredibly valuable about having women around you who know your history, understand the pressures of work, family and life, and with whom you don’t have to explain everything.

8. What is one piece of advice you’ve received that has stayed with you throughout your career?

More is not better.

If it wasn’t hard, everyone would do it!

9. What is your favourite quote or mantra that you live by?

I’m probably not a huge mantra person, but “progress over perfection” is something I have to remind myself of regularly.

Trust the work, make the decision and move forward.

And perhaps on a more personal level: don’t save everything for best. Wear the good clothes, use the beautiful things, book the trip and enjoy them now.

10. What are you currently loving, whether it’s a favourite place, product, book or something inspiring you at the moment?

Travel is probably the biggest thing inspiring me at the moment. I’m about to head to Bali, so will immerse myself in interiors, finishes and product.