Crafting functional, personal spaces with Avenue Design Studio
When events coordinator Kate Davison first discovered Holly Marder’s Delft-based interior design studio on Instagram, the distinctive aesthetic – a harmonious blend of contemporary design and timeless elegance – stopped her mid-scroll.
So, when Kate bought a historic home in Belgium, there was no question about who would help transform her vision for her home into reality. Later, when she acquired a pied-à-terre in Amsterdam, she once again turned to Avenue Design Studio to help realise the project.
A dynamic partnership and genuine friendship followed, resulting in a meticulously crafted interior that masterfully blends old with new and functionality with beauty. Hear what Holly and Kate have to say about the journey above, or read on for the highlights.
The ethos
‘We’re a boutique interior design studio that specialise in thoughtful, artisanal homes that are deeply personal and functional,’ explains Holly.
Kate, meanwhile, is equally as invested in detail-driven projects: ‘I have a background in historic archives, and I just love to tell stories, so I try to weave those stories through my events, through the spaces I like to style and through the photoshoots that I host.’
‘I grew up surrounded by antiques,’ Holly tells us, ‘so I have a very deep appreciation for craftsmanship and that worn quality of old furniture that lends such a beautiful softness to contemporary design.
‘I really feel that there’s an art to creating a space that evokes emotion and promotes interaction. Materials are at the core of everything we create. They’re the foundation.’
The project
‘It was bringing back that serenity that we found in Belgium and trying to give it a more contemporary spin. And so the finishes [in Amsterdam] are a little harder, they're a bit more modern, a bit sharper.’
‘I’ve been working with Corston for quite some time,’ Holly explains, ‘and there was a particular finish that I felt was perfect for the pied-à-terre. That’s the bronze finish, because it’s that masculinity and the softness of the material and that slightly sort of off-black.’
‘We also needed to make a big impact in such a small space,’ Kate says. ‘With the lighting, we used fluted glass that mimicked the wood in the bookcases, for instance.’ ‘Finishing touches – things like the electric sockets – that are in plain sight are so often overlooked,’ adds Holly.
‘In that intentional process of bringing in the right [details] within the context of a small space, selecting the right finish was so important.’
The outcome
‘My favourite part of the house is when you walk in and you’re standing in the kitchen, you have the old beams overhead and this really clean, striking kitchen,’ says Holly.
‘I like the Windsor lights,’ says Kate. ‘We duplicated them throughout the whole space, so it really draws the eye back through the apartment. It makes the space feel cohesive.’
'I think what's so important is that the details are considered from the get-go. It’s like the jewellery. It’s a minor component, but can really make or break the space,’ Holly concludes.
Published on 14th August 2025
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