Meet Irene

Irene Gunter - Founder & Creative Director

Irene grew up surrounded by a family passionate about architecture and interior design. This inspired her to study Art History before training at the prestigious Inchbald School of Interior Design. 

As Creative Director, Irene personally oversees the design for every project alongside her team of designers who manage the day-to-day implementation. Her favourite projects come when she works hand-in-hand with her clients, not just for them. She gets to know each one on a personal level, really getting under the skin on how they live their life, what their values are and how they prioritise their life, to create a space that works entirely for the client and their needs. Irene never rests on her laurels, even when designs have been signed off by a client, she will never hesitate to develop ideas with a new approach to a design – she lives and breathes the designs she works on. As a client of Gunter & Co you won’t be surprised to receive a Whatsapp image with a design detail spotted in the bathroom facilities of a hotel Irene visited, or a paint colour spotted in a museum – she has a great eye for detail, is constantly hunting for new inspiration and never thinks twice to share that passion with her clients.

Inspiration for each project comes from a myriad of sources; from historical architectural details to contemporary building materials or vintage furniture to contemporary sculptures. She centres her designs around the tension between organic forms and regular repetition to create spaces that catch the eye, are thought provoking and packed with interesting talking points.

Travel for Irene is unashamedly driven by a hotel interior that is on her bucket list to see. She loves to unwind by listening to audio-books on walks through her local park, Wimbledon Common. Her favourite pastimes involve reading Belgian children’s books to her son Oscar, and continuing her search for the world’s perfect tiramisu recipe.