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A neo-gothic grade A listed castle in Perthshire, often visited by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, throughout her reign. A complete renovation to create a luxury private members club, targeting the Global luxury market.
Kate Bingham is a highly respected British interior designer and founder of Kate Bingham Interior Design Ltd (KBID), established in 1992. Operating from studios in West Sussex and Central London, Kate has spent over 30 years delivering meticulously considered, award-winning interiors across private residences, historic estates, luxury super yachts, and boutique hospitality.
Her signature style - smart, classical and contemporary is instantly recognisable for its calm palettes, layered textures, and quiet sophistication. She holds a degree in Applied Interior Design and Architecture from Ryerson University in Toronto and began her career with a five-year tenure under the celebrated designer John Stefanidis.
Kate Bingham
The furniture required for this scale and grandeur had to have real presence, exceptional quality, and the durability to work hard as part of a busy members’ club, without ever compromising on comfort or beauty. George Smith delivered all of that and more. Their team’s craftsmanship and attention to detail on the bespoke pieces we created together was exceptional, and the support throughout the project was responsive and collaborative - they were genuinely invested in getting every detail right. It was a pleasure to work with together on such a demanding brief. It’s exactly the kind of partnership that makes a project like this possible.
Was there a defined brief from the client?
The brief was both ambitious and deeply specific. The client's vision was to transform Taymouth Castle, a magnificent Neo-Gothic, Grade A listed castle near Aberfeldy in the Scottish Highlands, into an ultra-luxurious private members' club. The challenge was to achieve all the modern comforts and operational requirements of a world-class hospitality venue while fully honouring the castle's extraordinary architectural heritage and meeting the stringent requirements of Historic Environment Scotland.
What were the key considerations when choosing the furniture?
Scale, authenticity, and longevity. In a building of this proportion and grandeur, furniture had to have genuine presence and quality, pieces that could hold their own against soaring stone vaulting, historic stained glass, and monumental Gothic architecture. There was simply no room for anything that felt lightweight or generic. Durability was equally important: as a luxury members' club, the spaces would be in regular use, and every piece needed to withstand that without compromising on beauty. Comfort was also non-negotiable - the client's brief demanded that the castle feel supremely welcoming and liveable, not merely impressive.
Were there any challenges with the space?
Many, and significant ones. The Grade A listing meant that even basic services such as plumbing required careful negotiation with conservation specialists and Historic Environment Scotland. There were walls that couldn't be touched and stonework that couldn't be disturbed, which meant entirely rethinking certain layouts rather than imposing conventional solutions. The castle's famous turrets presented a particular technical challenge. Being completely circular, they made standard construction impossible, every piece of cabinetry and wall detail had to be bespoke, shaped to follow the curve precisely. The sheer scale of the principal rooms also presented challenges around acoustic comfort and warmth, both of which were addressed through the strategic use of textiles, rugs, and carefully layered furnishings.
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Are there any other exciting projects where we might see more George Smith furniture?
Yes, current and upcoming work includes a sensitive renovation of a Grade II listed Georgian house in Salisbury overlooking Cathedral Close, a luxury new-build house in Farnham, and a health and wellness centre on a farming estate outside Winchester. Kate also continues to work with private clients across London and Sussex, and her portfolio regularly spans both residential and hospitality sectors.
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