Let's talk about a fresh perspective on interior design, one that challenges the traditional notion of layout-driven decor. Kate Swanson, the visionary behind Nurture by Nature, a Burlington-based gallery and design practice, has an intriguing take on creating meaningful spaces. She believes that the heart of a home lies not solely in its layout but in the people and objects that inhabit it.
Swanson's approach is a breath of fresh air, a departure from the conventional wisdom that the layout of a space dictates our decor choices. Instead, she curates exhibitions, showcasing the work of makers and artists, and lets these objects inspire her interior design projects. It's a process that humanizes the space, making it more alive and personal.
The Power of Slow Revelation
One of the most fascinating aspects of Swanson's work is her resistance to immediate visibility and legibility. Her exhibitions and interior designs encourage a slow, deliberate discovery process. It's akin to building a relationship; you don't rush to understand everything at once, but rather, you grow familiar over time.
This idea extends to her interior design philosophy. She asks: "When you meet a person, you're drawn to them, but the bond develops with patience and care. Why can't interiors be the same?"
Nurture by Nature: A Gallery-Led Approach
Nurture by Nature, Swanson's design practice, is a testament to this philosophy. The gallery takes center stage, serving as a point of origin for her interior design projects. It's where she discovers makers, tests ideas, and develops her eye. The gallery and the interior design are intertwined, with the latter being a spatial extension of the former.
What makes this approach unique is that it doesn't separate design from curation. A space designed by Nurture by Nature is not merely decorated; it's composed around the work of specific makers whose aesthetic is deeply understood and trusted.
The Perks of a Human-Centric Approach
Swanson's work is a response to a world where our environment often feels disconnected from its creators. There's a loss of material awareness and human connection. Makers are often reduced to vendors, when in fact, they are creative collaborators.
By bringing the gallery into the home, Swanson re-establishes this connection. It creates a direct exchange, resulting in interiors that feel considered, not consumed. This approach transforms the home into a collection, something that evolves over time, with each piece holding significance and reflecting a relationship.
Shifting the Focus: Influence vs. Authorship
In today's design landscape, with its constant visual repetition and digital saturation, it's easy for spaces to become mere assemblages of references. Swanson wants to bring humanity back into the process. She's interested in the people behind the objects, their stories, and their processes.
This shift creates a deeper connection between the object and the person living with it, making the experience of the space more meaningful and lasting.
Avoiding the Trap of Over-Influence
Swanson warns against over-influenced design, where decisions are driven by familiarity rather than intention. Such interiors can feel interchangeable and disconnected from the inhabitants.
Instead, she recommends slowing down, working with fewer, more meaningful pieces, and building relationships with makers. When done right, a space feels not designed but placed, as if it has always existed that way.
Curation: Beyond the Buzzword
Swanson acknowledges that the word "curation" is often overused. She's interested in going beyond the buzzword, building spaces through relationships with makers, materials, and objects.
Her perspective is shaped by her rural Vermont upbringing, where the landscape felt right, not composed. It's this natural, intentional beauty that she aims to capture in her designs.
The Ultimate Goal: Planted and Grown Interiors
Swanson's ultimate goal is to create interiors that feel connected to the people who made them and the people who live within them. She wants to rethink the structure of how interiors come together, building a roster of makers as true collaborators.
The result? Interiors that don't look designed but feel planted and grown, as if they've always been that way.
So, the next time you're designing a space, remember Kate Swanson's words: "Forget layout. Start with people and pieces that carry presence."
What do you think? Is this a perspective that resonates with you? Personally, I find it incredibly inspiring, a reminder that design is about more than aesthetics; it's about creating spaces that tell stories and foster connections.
