Discover Approachable Design with Katie Kath

Katie Kath is a self-taught interior designer with a passion for renovating unique homes for clients and documenting the process. Her social media accounts are a favorite in the interior design community and her projects have been published both locally and nationally. Her use of custom cabinetry in her builds has given her a niche market and a waiting list of clients. One look at her designs and it’s clear to see that she creates spaces with her clients in mind. They are light and suited to everyday life. Discover this designer and some tips and tricks behind her design choices.

Jkath Design Build and Reinvent 

Jkath Design Build and Reinvent is a national design service celebrating almost 15 years in business. Their tagline of Live in the Details© can be seen in their high-end renovations and new construction projects. All the projects they work on prioritize comfort and function, resulting in family-friendly spaces. Kath aligns herself with other women-owned businesses in the Twin Cities and acts as a facilitator for The Business Women’s Circle, an organization that creates experiences for women to grow.

About the Design Process 

As you check out all Kath’s designs, you’ll find that each one speaks to the same signature aesthetic. These spaces are approachable and timeless with high-quality products and exceptional craftsmanship. 

Where Does Kath Get Inspiration? 

Travel has become the primary source of Kath’s design inspirations, taking in all the details of the boutique hotels, restaurants, and new places she visits. Along those travels, she loves visiting old homes and restorations, because “uncovering previous eras of living and style” is a huge inspiration to her future designs. Cooking and fashion are also a great way to see common trends, especially with color and texture.

The Starting Point for Every Design 

Kath believes that every home is unique. “Most of our big projects are existing homes, we always start with what is already there,” she explains. They keep or repurpose what they can, or try to uncover a piece of the past, such as original hardwood floors or a previously covered brick chimney, and work from there.

Signature Design Element 

One of Kath’s signature design elements is the use of custom cabinetry, so it’s no surprise “we love mixing wood elements.” Kath often uses cabinetry to blend or contrast with hardwood flooring, architectural moldings, wood beams, and more.

Favorite Design Tips & Tricks 

Kath believes in creating spaces that are neutral, timeless and sophisticated without being hard to maintain. When it comes to design, choosing maintenance-free or low-maintenance products will help keep your home looking great for years to come. Engineered hardwood flooring, soapstone countertops and live finish items are among their favorite design choices.

Where to Splurge and Where to Save 

Kath believes custom cabinetry is definitely worth the splurge! “It’s the most used element in any room and should be designed with details and function in mind,” explains Kath. Save the splurge for the items that are harder to change out and then lower the price tag on things that are easy to change out down the road, such as the hardware you put on your custom-made cabinets. When it’s time to refresh your space, just trade out those lower-cost elements. 

Trends Kath Loves 

Live finishes are always a sound investment, according to Kath. “Live finishes add an elevated design component to any room.” 

Top 5 Items to Include in Every Design 

Every one of Kath’s designs are beautiful, and part of the reason for that is because all of her designs feature these five design elements: 

1. Wood Elements 
2. Customization (preferably cabinetry) 
3. Attention to details (outlet covers, tile finish pieces, grout colors, etc.) 
4. Oversized lighting 
5. Moody wall colors 

Working with Ferguson Showrooms

Kath has relied on Ferguson showrooms for all appliances since 2019. As she started to grow her company, “we needed a reliable sales support and showroom advocates to usher our orders through from concept to completion.” When working with clients, “the Showroom advantage is seeing the variety of finishes in person. We can compare finishes across plumbing, hardware, and lighting all at once.” We’ve made it easier than ever to get the exact products Katie Kath used in her designs when you Shop by Look.