Kathryn's look has been described as comfortable, bohemian, and family friendly with large doses of color and a lack of orthodoxy. Elle Decor dubbed it seat-of-the-pants chic. House & Garden included Ireland among "10 to Watch" architects and designers expected to influence 21st-century style. For the last decade, House Beautiful has named her one of the top 100 designers in the United States.

Born in England, Kathryn was raised between her parents' homes in London and Scotland. She arrived in Los Angeles in 1986. Prior to launching her interior design business in the early 90's, Kathryn was an actress, clothing designer, and filmmaker.

The signature Kathryn M. Ireland look now extends from fabrics to furniture. Her fabric line was launched in 1997 and is distributed in her showrooms in Los Angeles and London, as well as selected showrooms around the world.