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The Childhood Trust X Katharine Pooley

In August this year award winning Interior Designed Katharine Pooley was presented with the ‘Design for Positive Change’ award from House and Garden, in recognition of her work with children’s bedrooms in London. In her eighth year of collaborating with the Children’s charity we asked her to tell us more about this important work.

“I have been involved with The Childhood Trust for some years. Its wonderful campaign to ‘Decorate a Child’s Life’ aims to combat the effects of childhood poverty in London by transforming less-than-ideal conditions into a space of warmth, security and hope.”

“We are beyond pleased we took home this year’s prestigious ‘Design for Positive Change’ award from House and Garden in recognition of the work we do to curb the poverty sweeping our capital. Over the past few years we have transformed eight rooms in 2021, ten in 2022 and so far this year we have completed four, with many more confirmed for the rest of the year.”

“It always feels incredible to win an award, especially for something we have been quietly working on for a few years now, but really we are thrilled because we desperately hope that the award may lead to more donations to help this important and necessary campaign. With hundreds of thousands of children living in unsafe and unsanitary conditions in London, it is hard not to feel that we are just chipping away at an insurmountable problem.”

“Every bedroom we change, every child whose face lights up with excitement and joy at every design installed, tells us it is so worth attempting. All children deserve a happy and safe home and if you feel you might be able to help donate, please do not hesitate to go to the Childhood Trust website using the link below.”

Childhood Poverty

“I am sure you are shocked to learn that an estimated 800,000, or 40% of all children in London are living in poverty. They do not have access to necessities of food, a safe space to rest, clean clothes and a nurturing environment. With the cost of living crisis having a devastating impact, these figures are set to increase; children regularly miss meals and go hungry due to increased prices on groceries and utilities.”

“I have worked alongside chairman Laurence Guinness for over eight years. In most cases, the local authority involved will contact us and personally explain a family’s situation and their living conditions. Our team will then get to work, collaborating closely with our local suppliers to decorate a room in the home.”

“Oliver Brabner the Volunteer Programmes Manager for The Childhood Trust has said that a lack of support can put young people in a vicious cycle of trauma. ’Growing up in an environment that is not promoting their best development, one that allows the next generation to prosper, means young people and children might not reach their full potential – we want to ensure that they have every opportunity to succeed.’”

About Katharine:
Katharine Pooley is renowned worldwide for the beauty of her extraordinary interiors. Established over 19 years ago her London-based, luxury, interior design studio creates innovative designs and exquisite, award-winning, spaces worldwide. Recently named as “British Interior Designer of the Decade” and“International Designer of the Year”, Katharine’s design vision is limitless and unconstrained by genre. Overseeing her team of 49 interior designers and interior architects, her personal approach ensures every detail of every project and product is exquisitely realised and impeccably finished. This is at the heart of the studio’s ethos: dedication to clients; meticulous attention to detail; and creation of beautiful, unique spaces. Her breath-taking interiors range in scale and style, from traditional country estates to contemporary homes, hotels, luxury spas, modernist beach villas, historical palaces, traditional castles, ski chalets, planes and yachts.Her Boutique is at 160 Walton Street, Brompton Cross.

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