Set amidst the hills and dales of Perthshire, Forter Castle – London-based interior designer Katharine Pooley’s Scottish home – stands majestically against the greenest of backdrops. At first sight, it’s everything you would expect of a highland family home (if your family are of noble Scottish stock, that is) – a stone-made, turreted fortalice which acts as a reminder of the area’s defensive past and tangible evidence of the fighting spirit of the land.
Step inside and you can breathe a sigh of relief at what you will find. Striking a shrewd balance between loyal restoration and stylish, industry-acclaimed design flair, the interior suits its surroundings and background like a glove. But what else would you expect from a woman who’s made glamorous modern classic something of an interior design movement? Speaking of her favourite project, Katharine reveals, “I aimed to capture the enduring history of the castle by carefully restoring each room to its original period.” Fusing a traditional country manor aesthetic with the highest quality of contemporary comforts, the castle’s interior is admirably welcoming despite its stately proportions – a true Katharine Pooley characteristic and one achieved by including “personal touches [which] are the key to creating an inviting home”.
