Her mother, a local journalist, encouraged her from a young age to take an interest in the arts; she often remarks on seeing a variety of touring artists and companies when they came to town, including a memorable performance of Margot Fonteyn and Rudolph Nureyev.
When a family friend bought a townhouse in New York and asked Nunnerley to assist with its renovation because of her knowledge of his art collection, she found herself also working with the architect on the interiors.
[3] She rejects the notion of "period" rooms, preferring an edited mix of furnishings, and juxtaposes luxurious fabrics like silk and cashmere with more humble materials like linen and grass cloth.
She often showcases or augments clients' collections of fine art, and in recent years has embraced a trend toward site-specific pieces of furniture commissioned from artists and architects.
Her work has been widely published, and she has been featured in Architectural Digest France's list of the top 100 international designers, House & Garden (UK), World of Interiors and Departures.