Keith Irvine

Born in Scotland, Keith Irvine graduated from the Royal College of Art in London in the 1950's. His first design job was as an assistant to the legendary 20th century decorator John Fowler at Colefax & Fowler. In 1958, he emigrated from London to work for another legend in the design world, Sister Parish. One year later, he began his own design firm where he was soon joined by Thomas Fleming. During those early years in New York, Mr. Irvine was involved in establishing Clarence House, the internationally renowned fabric house. Over the past four decades, Mr. Irvine has worked with an elite clientele to create unique, inspired interiors throughout the world. His fearless use of color and scrupulous attention to detail has ensured his place at the forefront of the interior design field. As prominent interior designer and friend Mario Buatta notes, Mr. Irvine has the "gift of color, knowledge, taste, and style to make rooms feel like they grew over decades- when only yesterday they were an empty canvas." Most recently, his lifelong career in design and decoration has been chronicled in Keith Irvine, A Life in Decoration, to be published in Spring 2005 by Monacelli press.

Thomas Fleming

Born in Lynbrook, Long Island, Thomas Fleming studied at Indiana University where he received a degree in Journalism. Upon returning to New York, he sought a job in the magazine industry in hopes of working for an interior design publication. While interviewing, he was prompted by an editor to begin his career in the field of interior design, where his true talent could be expressed. In December of 1959, answering an ad in the New York Times, Mr. Fleming was hired as a part time design assistant at Keith Irvine Inc. and history was made. In 1967, Mr. Fleming was made partner, where he was able to work on his own projects. For the past four decades, his approach to design, emphasizing comfort and ease, has generated a variety of projects with numerous, long lasting clients. Through his unique use of color, pattern and texture, Mr. Fleming creates interiors, which are timeless in their sophistication and elegance. Mr. Fleming has been published in many notable design publications over the years including House Beautiful, Home and Garden, and Architectural Digest.

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