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Gary Inman Selected to Royal Collection Studies Program

July 28, 2026  by Karen Parrish in Business Strategy, Designer Weekly, Industry   

The Royal Collection is one of the largest and most significant art collections in the world, comprising more than one million objects accumulated by British monarchs over the past 500 years. The collection includes masterworks of painting, sculpture, decorative arts, manuscripts, textiles, and furniture displayed within royal residences such as Windsor Castle and other historic palaces. Participants in Royal Collection Studies engage in an intensive curriculum exploring the architecture, interiors, landscape design, and historic context that shaped these extraordinary spaces.

Selection for the program is highly competitive. Candidates are chosen through a rigorous application process that evaluates professional achievement, scholarship, and demonstrated commitment to the study and preservation of historic art and design. Participants represent leading institutions, universities, museums, and design practices from around the world.

For Inman, whose career has long centered on the interpretation and preservation of historic interiors, the program represents both a professional milestone and an opportunity to deepen his scholarship.

“For much of my career, I have drawn inspiration from historic buildings, decorative arts, and the stories embedded within them,” Inman said. “Whether working with institutions like Colonial Williamsburg or studying architectural history, I have always believed that great design is informed by the past. The opportunity to study the Royal Collection in the context of the palaces themselves is an extraordinary privilege.”

As CEO of Gary Inman Interiors, Inman leads a nationally recognized design and restoration firm specializing in historic estates, luxury hospitality properties, and distinguished private residences. His portfolio includes projects for prominent institutions such as Colonial Williamsburg, the Thomas Jefferson Foundation, Pinehurst Resort, and Duke University. He previously served as Designer in Residence and Assistant Professor of Interior Design at High Point University, where he helped shape the next generation of design professionals.

Throughout his career, Inman has combined academic scholarship with professional practice. His work frequently explores the relationship between architecture, interiors, and cultural narrative—a perspective that aligns closely with the interdisciplinary nature of the Royal Collection Studies program.

“This program provides an unparalleled opportunity to study great works of art and design in the architectural settings for which they were created,” Inman said. “For a practicing designer, those lessons are invaluable. They strengthen the designer’s eye and expand the archive of references that inform future work. I expect the experience will inspire new ideas for interiors, product design, and historic restoration projects within my practice.”

In addition to leading his design firm, Inman is a product designer whose collections have been produced by major luxury furnishings companies and whose work has appeared in publications including Architectural Digest, House Beautiful, Elle Décor, Veranda, and Traditional Home.

Royal Collection Studies continues the mission of the Attingham Trust to advance the study of historic houses, architecture, and decorative arts through rigorous educational programs that bring together leading experts and practitioners from across disciplines. By fostering direct engagement with historic environments and world-class collections, the program contributes to the preservation and understanding of cultural heritage at the highest level.

For Inman, participation in Royal Collection Studies represents a continuation of a lifelong commitment to design history and its relevance to contemporary practice.

“Design is a dialogue between history and imagination,” he said. “Studying the Royal Collection reminds us that the greatest interiors are shaped by knowledge, craftsmanship, and vision. I look forward to bringing those insights back to my clients and projects in the years ahead.”