key strengths

​

• creative

• analytical

• attention to detail

• effective communicator

• adaptable

From analytical to creative…My career began in the Insurance industry, however; after 10 years I left the corporate world and transitioned into an Art Gallery Sales and Management role. In 2001, my role in the art world led me to Interior Design.

I began working for Jean Foster of ‘Total Interiors’ Queenstown, then with additional work and larger projects on the horizon, Jean and I joined forces in 2003 and formed foster and burke design. In 2006 I relocated to Sydney and opened our Australian office, which remained until 2015.  I have more recently undertaken residential projects in Europe and New Zealand as ‘stephenburkedesigns’. I still work closely with Jean.

 

My key strength as a designer is that I sit somewhere between ‘analytical’ and ‘creative’, which essentially means my creative side is tempered with the practical. I greatly enjoy ‘Spatial Design’ and working out how a space can be utilised to its best advantage. I’m also inspired by ‘colour’ and the ‘psychology of colour’ and as such I love to encourage my clients to embrace at least ‘some’ colour in their design project.

 

As a complement to my design work, I enjoyed tutoring interior design ‘diploma’ and ‘advanced diploma’ on a part-time basis, for 4 years at CATC Design School, Sydney.

 

I hold a ‘Diploma of Interior Design and Decoration’ and a teaching ‘Certificate IV in Training and Assessment’

 

In addition to interior design my interests include art, history, archaeology and travel.