Karen Residence

A family came to us with a plot of land in Karen, a vision for the home they wanted to live in, and the trust to hand it all over. What followed was one of the most complete engagements we take on: a full design-and-build commission, from the first sketch on paper to the final curtain hem — with every decision along the way made, coordinated, and delivered by the Terry Interior Designs team.

The design process began at the drafting table. We developed full architectural drawings and spatial plans that mapped every room in sequence — how light would move through the house at different hours, where the structure could open up to the garden, how the volumes would feel from inside and out. These plans were then translated into detailed 3D renderings, giving the client a vivid, photorealistic view of their home before a single brick was laid. The renders also served as the design contract: every finish, proportion, and material decision was locked in at this stage, so the build phase could proceed with absolute clarity.

With design approved, we moved into the build. Our team managed the construction process end-to-end — coordinating contractors, supervising structural and MEP works, and holding every trade to the standard the design required. The ceiling framework phase, one of the most technically demanding stages of any interior build, was executed with the precision a home of this scale demands: steel sub-framing laid out to receive the final ceiling finishes with clean, seamless lines. At every stage, quality control was non-negotiable.

A house of this presence needed grounds that could hold their own. We designed and oversaw the full landscaping scope: grading the site, laying lawn, and establishing planting that frames the facade without competing with it. The transformation from bare red Nairobi earth to a manicured setting is one of the most striking before-and-afters of this project — and a reminder of why we extend our involvement beyond the walls of the house itself.

From the first contractor briefing to the final site walkthrough, every element of this project was coordinated under a single point of accountability: Terry Interior Designs. Timelines, budgets, supplier schedules, and quality inspections were managed in-house, so the client never had to chase a subcontractor or decode a progress report. Handover was a formality — by that point, the home was already exactly what we had promised.

The final layer is always the most personal. We sourced and installed the furnishings and soft finishes that complete the home — custom drapery hung with precision, bedroom pieces chosen to make each room feel privately considered, rugs and accessories that bring warmth to the larger volumes. The curtains, floor-to-ceiling and pooling slightly at the base, are a deliberate choice: they read as generous and refined, softening the architecture without obscuring it.

Karen Residence is what happens when interior design, architecture, construction, and project management are treated as a single discipline rather than separate engagements. It is a home conceived and delivered as a whole — every detail in its right place, every decision made in service of the life that would be lived inside it.