Kate St James - Interior designer, magazine editor, tour guide:
Kate St James was born in the county of Hertfordshire in rural England. Growing up in north London, Kate was exposed to the creative arts through her schooling, which included singing, dance and drama. Her early working life was as a journalist in London followed by a 20-year career in interior design in Australia.
Having operated her own design practice for many years, she is a well-known personality in the architecture and design world in Australia. Her on-the-ground interior design expertise, journalism and extensive marketing experience led to her appointment as managing editor of Luxury Home Design, Contemporary Home Design, Renovate & Extend and a number of other high profile architecture and design publications. She is finely attuned to all facets of architecture and design, continuously exposed to exciting projects happening all over the world.
During her design career Kate wrote for many design publications on topics such as interior design, environmentally-sustainable design, space planning and facility management as well as teaching at Queensland College of Art and KVB College of Art and Design. She has also held positions as Queensland Chapter Convener and National Executive member of the Society of Interior Designers of Australia and is currently a Fellow of the Design Institute of Australia in which role she actively supports and promotes the industry and encourages students and emerging designers.
Her vision has always been to promote an awareness of Australian and international architecture and design to demonstrate to the wider community the meaningful way it can impact on our lives.
In 2007 Kate received a 20 year citation from the Design Institute of Australia for services to the design industry. In 2008 Kate was selected as part of the prestigious collation by Crown Content – Who’s Who of Australian Women "Leadership and Beyond”. This publication marks the lives of women who have made a significant contribution to Australian life, whether at a community, state, national or international level. In 2009, Kate’s biography was once again included in the publication Who’s Who of Australian Women, “Lessons We Learn”. Her biography has also been included in the 2009 International Who’s Who of Women, a prestigious publication which accurately profiles the foremost illuminati in the world.
Kate’s passion for architecture has developed during the years of editing design magazines. As a member of the Australian Architecture Association Kate is involved in assisting as a volunteer and is currently undertaking training as a tour guide. Once qualified, Kate will lead walking tours of Sydney during which she will escort members of the public and interested groups through the city streets visiting many of the most significant buildings in the City.
ITALY BY DESIGN TOURS
Kate St James and Isabella Dusi have been friends for many years through their involvement in the design industry. The past decade has seen their respective careers move in a wider sphere; Kate in Australia, and Isabella in Italy.
English born, Isabella’s interest in art, architecture and history matured during her career as an interior designer in Australia. Her husband, Luigi took her to live in the hill top village of Montalcino in Tuscany, Italy and for the last decade her passion to share her widening knowledge of the art, history, architecture and design with which Italians live and at which they excel, strengthened and deepened. Isabella is now an art historian, best selling author and tour guide. Isabella’s idea to ask Kate to escort Italy by Design is the result of the two friends meeting at the 2005 Milan Furniture Fair and Kate, with an innate love for all things Italian, especially in the world of architecture and design, accepted immediately.
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Italy by Design is not the first international architecture and interior design tour Isabella has hosted. Over the last fifteen years she has designed scores of successful small group tours for Australians, New Zealanders and Americans, which are in high demand owing to their specialised nature.
Kate and Isabella have decided once again to create another architectural tour of Italy for 2010.
The tour commences in Milan, moves into Tuscany, Venice and Vicenza where participants will be exposed to projects under way, historical sites and visits to showrooms, factories, galleries, museums and the magnificent marble mountains of Carrarra – a definite highlight of the tour.
This tour is open worldwide to architects, interior designers, specifiers and design industry professionals.
For tour information: www.katestjames.com.au/Tours2010.htm