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Kat McDonnell

from staff crew on a home renovation show to Interior Design & Development Manager
I design and bring to life safe, healthy, and creative interior spaces that look amazing and work well.
Industry
Construction and infrastructure
Company
Paynters – Sponsored by Construction Pathways
Job Level
Senior

Ask me about

  • The difference between an Interior Designer and Interior Decorator
  • The most fun/creative part of being an Interior Designer
  • Why I chose Interior Design
  • What a normal day is like for me at work

About me

  • International Experience

As a kid, I was obsessed with re-planning my room and begged my parents to take me to open house inspections, imagining how I’d redesign every space. After high school, I wasn’t sure what to do—architecture sounded amazing, but the maths and science felt scary at the time.

I finished a Bachelor of Commerce, but after a gap year, I realised I wanted a career where I could create spaces people love, live, and thrive in. So, I went back to school for Interior Design and dived straight in! My first design job led to an incredible opportunity in Australia on a huge, complex project—and I never looked back! Since then, I’ve worked with big-name architectural practices and now lead an interiors team for a commercial builder, turning projects and furniture installations from concept to reality.

About my role

  • Analytical
  • Creative
  • Intuitive
  • Passionate
  • Personable

An Interior Designer leads the design of public spaces that are safe, healthy, functional, and visually engaging. They balance creativity with responsibility, making sure spaces not only look great but also meet building codes, accessibility standards, and safety requirements. Their role includes planning layouts, choosing materials, colours, and furniture, and considering how people of all ages and abilities will use the space. Interior Designers also mentor junior designers, manage parts of projects, and work closely with architects, engineers, commercial builders, and clients to bring their ideas to life. Their work combines creative thinking with technical expertise to deliver high-quality, people-focused environments that support public wellbeing.

Education

  • Advanced Diploma Interior Design
  • Bachelor of Commerce (Finance)

Subjects

  • Accounting
  • Building and Construction Skills
  • Business Studies
  • Digital Design/Information Technology
  • English
  • General Mathematics (Maths A)
  • History

Hobbies

  • Art
  • Camping
  • Interior design
  • Painting
  • Seeing family and friends
  • Travel

Pets

  • 1 Dog

15 year old me!!

“Trust yourself, stay curious, and know that your path doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s to be the right one.”

My career journey

Curious to know how I got here? Here’s a snapshot of my career pathway.
  1. After high school, completed a Bachelor of Commerce
  2. Followed my passion, completed an Advanced Diploma of Interior Design
  3. Landed a junior interior designer role in Toronto, Canada
  4. Moved to Australia in 2011 and worked my way up
  5. Proud to lead the interiors team at a D&C Construction company

My typical day

My employer

Through UNIQ You’s partnership with Construction Skills Queensland (CSQ) we have been able to welcome construction advisors from CSQ’s Major Contractor Partners. Read more about this Advisors employer below. Paynters is an Australian-owned and operated Design and Construction firm that has been delivering award-winning projects for over 100 years. Backed by a team of over 200 professionals and operating across the entire eastern seaboard, Paynters has built a strong reputation for quality and reliability, with a high level of repeat clientele. With experience spanning sectors such as Hospitality, Health and Aged Care, Government, Education, and Insurance, the company is known for its integrated approach and commitment to innovation — consistently delivering high quality project outcomes.