IN CONVERSATION WITH: Irene Gunter, Founder of Gunter & Co

Tell us about how you got your start in the industry, and how it led to the work you do today.

For the entirety of my life, I’ve been surrounded by people who are passionate about architecture and interiors. My mother and sister studied architecture and my father renovated houses in his spare time, as well as building the house I grew up in. So even though I trained to become a diplomat and have a Master’s degree in European Studies, after just a short stint in the European Parliament it became clear that a different path would suit me better. Clearly, my family’s interests and professions had rubbed off on me!

I studied at Inchbald School of Design in London. And it was there, while applying for work experience during the Easter break, that I landed my first job for a property developer. After four years, I joined luxury interior design company Finchatton. It was these years that really honed both my eye for detail and the work ethic I have had ever since.

[IMAGE 1] - Chelsea Residence, Master Bathroom

You set up Gunter & Co in 2014. Was it always your ambition to open your own studio? How does it differ to working for someone else?

It certainly wasn’t my ambition to open my own studio initially. However, I was working as a freelancer and securing more and more commissions, so it just seemed to be the next logical step. There are pros and cons, of course, but the most exciting thing about running your own business is that you learn something new every day. And although having your own studio means that you make all the decisions, you’re also solely responsible for shaping its direction, and I find that very satisfying.

How do you know when interior design is ‘good’?

Whether interior design is good or not is so very personal – what one person likes, another won’t. For me, good interior design is about creating a space that taps into the senses. By this I mean a room that not only looks good, but also evokes a feeling – whether it be a feeling of relaxation in a bedroom or stimulation in a home office. For example, a beautiful marble bathroom looks amazing in a photo and might be considered ‘good’ design as a result. However, it’s a space where you spend a lot of time undressed, and all that marble makes the bathroom feel very cold! It’s my job, as an interior designer, to create a sense of belonging and warmth. If a space doesn’t put you at ease, something’s gone wrong in the design process.

[IMAGE 2] - Marylebone Penthouse, Guest Bedroom

How would you sum up your design philosophy?

Common themes in my portfolio are light-filled spaces, and rooms rich in detail, craftsmanship and quality materials. The simple reason for this is that I strive to create spaces in which people want to live, and where they feel comfortable and relaxed. And I do this not by following a fashion or a preconceived notion of what my design style is, but by listening to my clients and taking account of their needs. I don’t like repeating the same design, so go back to the drawing board with every new job to create something fresh that answers the tastes and preferences of my client, and the architecture of their house.

[IMAGE 3] Cotswolds Country House, Kitchen

How do you combine beauty and function?

It’s an interior designer’s job to make beauty and function sit happily alongside each other. A healthy budget is obviously helpful, but an interior designer’s product knowledge and experience will go a long way to finding a great outcome.

For example, we love designing mirrors in bathrooms that appear to be flush to the wall but have storage hidden behind. This way, the bathroom maintains a sense of elegance, but addresses the requirements of modern life with practical storage space to keep the room clutter free. A great example of this is the master bathroom we designed in the Belgravia master bathroom [image 1].

In the Marylebone penthouse guest bedroom, we had two issues of beauty versus functionality to solve: hiding an existing radiator and disguising a drainage pipe [image 2]. Adding a lovely, upholstered bench below the window resolved both issues. It offered a comfortable place to perch, plus we joined it to the built-in dressing table on the adjacent wall to create a useable space for our client.

What inspires you?

I’m constantly curious and always like to look beyond the familiar, to less-known routes, sources and influences. I’ve no interest in resting on my laurels and simply sticking to what I know, it’s all about getting out there and finding new inspiration – and that’s also what drives me on in my work.

What do you see for the future of design?

We must all be more sustainable in every area of our lives, and interior design is no exception. Ripping out fixtures and fittings and simply dumping them is no longer acceptable, and there should be an onus on designers to reuse materials. If you remove wooden floorboards or slabs of marble from a property you’re renovating, there’s simply no excuse for throwing them away when they could be beautifully and usefully repurposed. For example, we used old timber boards to build the base kitchen cabinets in this country home in the Cotswolds [image 3].

[IMAGE 5] Cotswolds House, Master Bathroom

What are you working on at the moment?

A new build, fully bespoke home with a double decker indoor/outdoor pool in Wimbledon Village, 13000sq ft.
A contemporary six-bedroom family home for an art collector in Wimbledon Village, 6000sq ft.
A country estate in Sussex. We are currently doing the guest lodge, pool and spa complex after completing the house last year, 10000 sq ft.
A period Victorian townhouse in Wimbledon Village, 4200 sq ft.
A bespoke new build villa with basement spa in Wimbledon, 6000 sq ft.

What’s the strangest request you’ve gotten for a job?

I was once asked to incorporate a fridge into the side of a dressing table in a master bedroom. It was so the lady of the house could keep her face creams cool but also to hand!

What is your favourite project to date and why?

Our countryside project in the Cotswolds was a favourite, not least because the clients became friends and we have even gone to stay in the house since [images 04 – 05]. It is one thing finishing a project, knowing the client is happy and never stepping foot in the house again. It is quite another actually to go and stay and spend some time living with your design. That was a real joy to me.

Another favourite was a modern townhouse in Chelsea [image 06]. The client allowed us tremendous freedom to mix colours, patterns and antiques, and the result was a warm, homely atmosphere with a really uplifting feel.

[IMAGE 6] Chelsea Modern Town house, Living Room

Which are you most proud of so far and why?

I’m most proud of the fact that our clients return again and again to us. We pride ourselves not only on our design style, but also in listening to our clients, offering a professional service, and delivering an impeccable final result. This complete package is the reason clients return and also recommend us, for which we’re hugely grateful.

I’m now invited by people we worked with two or five years ago to go with them on the journey of finding their next family home, helping to make sure the house they’re buying has the right bones to achieve what they want. And that is something I’m very proud of, because there is no greater testament to your work.

What was the best advice anyone ever gave you, and did you follow it?

I had just finished by Master’s degree when my dad said to me, ‘if you’re going to change your career, do it now’. I’m in no doubt that he was right – and I’ve never looked back!

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Images: Mary Wadsworth & Mark Bolton