Ever since she was 12 years old, Katie Thomas has wanted to be an Interior Designer.

Which is possibly why, when she tells me about the business she now runs with school friend and Bournemouth footballer Tyrone Mings, she speaks with such passion and enthusiasm about her work.

KTM Design was set up just over a year ago in Bournemouth, with Katie and Tyrone - who grew up together in Bath - intent on sharing their love of property and design.

"What we are trying to bring to Bournemouth is imaginative, fresh, innovative design," says Katie.

She and Tyrone may both only be 23, but they bring with them a wealth of experience in the property world.

"I've worked in the interior design studio at Harrods and worked at different design studios across the South West," says Katie.

"Tyrone has always been interested in property. He's started studying a diploma in interior design - he's got a good eye for detail."

Katie, Tyrone and their team see projects through planning permission and building regulations, construction work, installation, styling and decoration.

"The whole aim is to save people time and money, which we would say is a luxury," says Katie.

"We want to make high quality design accessible to everyone - it's about showing luxury through saving people time."

KTM Design also has its own workshop where bespoke pieces of furniture can be created to suit a client's needs.

Katie and Tyrone work in both the residential and commercial sector, and have completed a number of projects since the company's inception last September. Current local projects include a luxury home in Lilliput and a financial investment company’s office in Salisbury.

Their clients include CMP UK, Greene King, Challs International, Casterbridge Wealth Investments and a host of private residential clients.

While the pair will travel around the country to a client, the company remains Bournemouth-based.

"I think we've got a community feel to us because we use so many different tradespeople from around Bournemouth," explains Katie.

"We also go to different schools to run workshops and I teach a couple of evening courses at the Arts University Bournemouth - we are trying to give something back and get younger people involved in design and show them you can get involved in design through different routes."

Katie admits she and Tyrone can't quite believe how well their first year of business has gone.

"We are just having fun with it," she smiles.

"We are very good at getting into the clients' heads and we've got such high standards of design. But the most rewarding thing is pulling it all together, having the client overwhelmed and so happy at the end.

"For me it's all about the people - it's always been about that."

  • KTM Design is offering Dorset Society readers a discounted rate during January. To find out more, or book a free consultation, visit ktmdesign.co.uk, email info@ktmdesign.co.uk or call 07402779973.