Operating across residential, hospitality, and commercial sectors throughout Europe and beyond, the studio has established itself as a strategic partner for developers, private clients, and institutional operators seeking design-led outcomes combined with rigorous project delivery.
The practice brings together architecture, interior design, and creative direction within a single integrated team, enabling effortless movement from acquisition and concept through construction, completion, and curation. This end-to-end approach, moving across strategic oversight, technical coordination, and creative direction, has generated a track record of projects that deliver both aesthetic distinction and commercial viability.
Whether breathing new life into a centuries-old, long-forgotten property on the outskirts of Milan, shaping a private villa in Portugal's Golden Triangle, or realising the interior language of a hotel from the ground up, Thirteen Starrs works in close partnership with clients to transform ambitious ideas into spaces designed to stand the test of time.
What unites the work across geographies, typologies and aesthetic styles is a meticulous attention to pormenor; the Portuguese word for the subtle details, nuances and gestures that are often felt before they are seen. The softened edge of linen curtains moving with the breeze, the instinctive rhythm between rooms, the experience of arrival, or the way natural light shifts throughout the day. These carefully considered moments shape atmosphere, influence behaviour and enrich the experience of a place long after completion.
The studio works across residential, hospitality, and commercial projects throughout Europe and beyond, creating spaces where design, hospitality, and human experience are considered in equal measure. Built on trust, discretion and long-term relationships, Thirteen Starrs approaches every commission with the belief that great design is not simply about how a space looks, but how it supports the people who use it.
Kate has led projects for nearly two decades. Beginning with high-value residential commissions for private clients and public figures, her portfolio quickly expanded into hospitality, developer-led environments and large-scale international projects. Working across countries and time zones, she has coordinated investors, consultants, contractors and multidisciplinary teams, balancing ambitious creative vision with the rigour required to bring complex projects to life.
Drawing on her background in retail psychology and human behaviour, Kate approaches design through the lens of human connection. Her work is informed by a deep understanding of how environments shape perception, mood and behaviour — helping clients create hospitality destinations, commercial spaces and developer-led environments that leave a lasting impression.
Much of Kate's career has been built through private referral. Her reputation has been shaped by trust, discretion and an ability to navigate projects where complexity, attention to detail and long-term thinking are paramount. She believes the most successful places are those where design, operations and human experience are considered as one.
Among the projects realised under her direction is a nine-bedroom hillside residence in Portugal, distinguished by its cantilevered architecture and panoramic setting. The property went on to become the country's largest private residential transaction, underscoring the calibre and ambition of the projects entrusted to her.
The name Thirteen Starrs carries a deeply personal significance. It speaks to the authenticity, integrity and thoughtful approach that have defined the studio since its inception.
Whether residential, hospitality or commercial, we are interested not only in how a space looks and functions, but in how people move through it, connect with it and remember it.
Our approach is informed by a deep understanding of human behaviour, perception and place. By balancing beauty with purpose, we create environments that enrich everyday life, elevate experience and support the wider ambitions of a project.
Every project begins with listening. Through close collaboration and a considered understanding of our clients' vision, values and objectives, we create places designed to welcome, inspire and endure.
At Thirteen Starrs, we work closely with clients, investors, operators, architects, consultants, contractors and craftspeople from the earliest stages of a project. This collaborative approach allows design, operations and experience to be considered in parallel, ensuring decisions are informed not only by aesthetics, but by how a place will ultimately function, evolve and be experienced.
Over the years, we have cultivated long-standing relationships with a trusted network of specialists whose knowledge and craftsmanship play an integral role in every project. Their contribution is not simply part of the delivery process; it helps shape the outcome itself.
By building trust, encouraging collaboration, and maintaining a shared pursuit of quality, we create environments with depth, lasting value and purpose. Places where every element has been thoughtfully considered, and where the smallest details contribute to a richer, more meaningful experience.