In the world of interior design, the traditional notion of a space being defined by its layout and decor choices is being challenged. Kate Swanson, the founding designer of Nurture by Nature, a Burlington-based gallery and practice, advocates for a different approach. She believes that the curation of objects and artifacts should be the foundation of interior design, allowing the pieces to inspire and carry presence within the space. This perspective is particularly fascinating as it challenges the conventional understanding of interior design, where the layout often takes precedence over the objects themselves.
Swanson's philosophy is grounded in her gallery-led approach to interiors. She views each exhibition as a spatial composition, carefully constructing relationships between objects and people. This mindset extends to her domestic environments, where she prioritizes human connection and the development of relationships with artists and fabricators. By focusing on the people behind the objects, Swanson creates interiors that feel considered rather than consumed.
One of the key benefits of this approach is the ability to build a home that evolves over time, becoming more like a collection. Each piece holds weight and reflects a relationship, with nothing being an accidental addition. This approach shifts the focus from influence to authorship, emphasizing the people behind the objects and their unique processes. In a design landscape saturated with constant visual repetition and digital saturation, Swanson's emphasis on human connection and material awareness becomes even more significant.
Swanson's work seeks to fulfill a deeper urge by putting individual pieces and people first. She avoids over-influenced design, where decisions are driven by familiarity rather than intention. Instead, she recommends a more considered approach, involving direct interactions with makers and a focus on bespoke and custom pieces. This approach results in interiors that feel placed and grown, as if they have always existed in that way.
The concept of curation is a recurring theme in Swanson's work. She challenges the notion of curation as a mere stylistic choice, emphasizing its role in building relationships with makers, materials, and objects. By allowing objects to exist quietly within a space, Swanson creates interiors that feel authored rather than assembled. This perspective is particularly insightful, especially in a world where everything can be sourced, referenced, and replicated instantly.
Ultimately, Swanson's design and gallery practice aim to create interiors that feel connected to the people who made them and the people who live within them. The goal is to build spaces that don't look designed but feel planted and grown, as if they have always been that way. This approach encourages a more thoughtful and intentional design process, where the focus is on authorship, relationships, and material understanding, rather than assembling a look from a menu of options.
