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Kellie Burke Interiors: A Childhood Built on Construction Sites

By Irene O’Connor, Linked Media

For Kellie Burke, design was never just a career path – it was a calling.

Growing up in Avon, she spent her childhood on construction sites with her father, John Burke, a respected general contractor and designer. Alongside her three brothers – who now work in the family business, JT Burke & Sons – she was immersed in the world of building and design from an early age.

The family worked on 27 homes over the years, giving Kellie a firsthand education in space planning, renovation, and craftsmanship.

“I didn’t even know interior design was a career,” she recalls. “I remember watching a designer present fabrics to a client on one of my dad’s jobs. I was mesmerized.”

That moment would shape her future.

Artist at Heart, Designer by Nature

Burke went on to study studio art at Skidmore College and furthered her studies in Florence, Italy, focusing on architectural design and painting. Her time abroad deepened her understanding of proportion, light, and classical design – principles that remain at the core of her work today.

After returning to Connecticut, she worked as a high-end antique home appraiser and completed mural and decorative painting projects in luxury residences. Twenty-eight years ago, she officially launched Kellie Burke Interiors, now on New Britain Avenue in the Design District.

Today, she leads a team of five designers and 20 sub-contractors who collaborate on projects locally, and all over the country offering both in-person and high-end virtual design services regardless of location or scale. Kellie is now bringing her signature luxury design to Palm Beach Florida, opening a studio there late last year working with clients to reflect the laid-back coastal style.

Designing Emotion, Not Just Rooms

Kellie Burke Interiors specializes in full-service luxury design: space planning, custom cabinetry, architectural transformation, and project management.

Burke begins each project by asking clients thoughtful questions:

• What does your family lack right now?
• Are your children jumping on the sofa?
• Do you have pets?
• How do you want to feel in this space?

From there, she designs around real life – creating resort-style luxury environments that elevate everyday living.

“I love watching our clients experience the transformation,” she says. “When they use a space they thought they could never use – and have an emotional response – that’s everything.”

Her artistic background informs every project. “When I paint or draw, it’s very similar to working in a space,” she explains. “It’s about composition, balance, texture, and light.”

And Kellie says she is obsessed with lighting, fabric, and texture – elements she believes have the power to transport clients into a different feeling entirely.

Beyond Residential: Commercial Impact

While residential luxury is the firm’s hallmark, Kellie Burke Interiors has also made its mark in commercial design. Kellie Burke Interiors designed Restaurant Bricco in West Hartford Center, along with three restaurant projects for Puerto Vallarta.

Her ability to merge brand identity with architectural beauty has made her a sought-after designer in hospitality spaces as well.

Transform the Home You’re In

Through thoughtful architectural redesign and custom solutions, she helps homeowners rediscover and reimagine the potential in their existing spaces.

“It’s about seeing what’s possible,” she says. “We design and build – we don’t just decorate.”

What’s Trending Now

With projects spanning West Hartford, Watch Hill, and Palm Beach, Burke has a clear view of evolving luxury trends:

• White kitchens are giving way to light wood cabinetry.
• Mid-century influences are returning with a modern nod.
• Beiges and creams are back – layered and textural.
• 1980s-inspired prints, reminiscent of Laura Ashley florals, are resurfacing.
• In Palm Beach homes, blues continue to dominate palettes.

Above all, she sees a shift toward warmth and authenticity – modern, but softer.

A Word on AI and Design

While virtual design services are thriving, Burke cautions against over-reliance on AI-generated interiors.

“AI will never understand your personality or your family’s needs,” she explains. “It doesn’t understand scale. It doesn’t know how you live.”

She emphasizes the value of professional guidance, noting that DIY design often leads to costly mistakes, wasted time, and improperly scaled furnishings.

Kellie believes it’s smart to hire a designer. She says, “Experience matters.”

A Family Legacy in the Design District

Today, Kellie works next to her father and brothers, who maintain their offices in the same building in the Design District. The connection between construction expertise and interior artistry allows the firm to offer seamless design-build collaboration.

From her early days tagging along on job sites to leading a nationally recognized luxury design firm, Kellie Burke has stayed true to what first captivated her: the beauty that happens when structure, artistry, and emotion come together.

And nearly three decades later, that continues – one beautifully transformed space at a time.

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