Keith Irvine

Keith Briscoe Irvine was an American-based interior designer of Scottish descent. Trained at the Kingston Art School, then did his military service in the Seaforth Highlanders in Malaysia. He then graduated from The Royal College of Art, London UK, in 1955. After graduating he wrote to John Fowler, writing " You are the only person in the world I want to work for". Unfortunately, his interview with John Fowler didn't go as well as one might hope. John Fowler said to him " What have you been doing at that college for three years? You know nothing!".Luckily, three weeks later, Imogene Taylor of Colefax & Fowler called to offer him a position. His first celebrity job was an apartment in Eaton Square for Sir Laurence Olivier and Vivian Leigh, as well as working on their country house. After a couple of years or working with John Folwer and Nancy Lancaster, he realized that he was never going to climb any higher at Colefax & Fowler, luckily Mrs. Henry "Sister Parish" II was in London. John Fowler " lent" Keith out to Sister Parish for job in Johannesburg, who, when the job was finished, offered Keith a job in New York and $40.00 a week.