Kate Quinlan, Director at McLean Quinlan: Architecture across the UK, US, and Europe
For McLean Quinlan, architecture begins with two anchors: the client and the place. From these foundations, the British studio creates homes defined by quiet confidence, sensitivity to landscape, and an enduring sense of warmth. Their work blends local vernaculars with a contemporary sensibility, producing buildings that feel at once rooted and timeless.
“Everything starts with where the house is and who it’s for,” Kate explained. “We’re drawn to materials that feel grounded and enduring—things that will develop a story over time.”
Kate Quinlan, Director. Photographer Jim Stephenson
Fiona McLean, Director. Photographer Jim Stephenson
Timber sits at the heart of this philosophy. Its tactility, warmth, and ability to age gracefully make it a natural fit for interiors designed to invite life and memory. With Dinesen Douglas fir, McLean Quinlan finds a material that matches the generosity of their spaces: broad, calm boards with a strong grain that can complement stone, metal, or traditional detailing while maintaining a sense of clarity.
Jackson Hole. Photographer Peter Cook
A Dialogue Between Architecture and Landscape
One of the studio’s most striking collaborations with Dinesen is a private residence in Jackson Hole, perched high above the valley with sweeping view. Inside, the wide Douglas planks ground the rooms with a subtle elegance.
“The house sits above the town with these incredible views,” she recalled. “We wanted a calm, warm material to sit alongside the stone and the dramatic landscape. The wide Douglas planks feel generous, with a soft, even grain that catches the dappled sunlight and relates beautifully to the timber decks outside.”
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Explore the Jackson Hole project here
Jackson Hole. Photographer Peter Cook
“Imperfection is part of a home’s story. Natural materials carry the marks of time, and that’s what makes them beautiful.”
Downland Barns. Photographer Jim Stephenson
Downland Barns. Photographer Jim Stephenson
Seamless thresholds and carefully framed vistas dissolve the boundaries between inside and out. Here, the flooring is more than a surface—it is part of a conversation between the architecture and the surrounding wildness.
Jackson Hole. Photographer Peter Cook
Material Honesty and Longevity
McLean Quinlan’s buildings are designed to endure, their character deepening with time. Natural materials are chosen not despite their imperfection, but because of it. Wood, stone, and metal are detailed to weather and settle, creating homes that remain alive to their surroundings.
