Hidden Gems: Meet Kate King of Kate King Designs

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kate King.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I didn’t get into design the traditional path. With over a decade worth of experience in merchandising and retail buying, I had been in the middle of running a small outdoor & run shop in Boulder when COVID hit hard. Not only did the shop suffer, but so did my mental wellbeing surrounding my career path. I came to the realization that I needed a huge pivot and went back to school for Interior Design at Heritage School of Interior Design. I wasn’t going in truly blind, as my husband and I had personally fixed up and “flipped” several homes over the last 14 years, so the foundations of design had been tested and the passion was already there. After going through Heritage’s Master Certification program I jumped into the industry and have spent the last 4.5 years hustling to learn as much as I can about design and construction. Most of that time has been spent working my way up in my career at Tectonic Design Build. As their Design Director, I’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with amazing clients, to craft beautiful homes, as well as lead a team to elevate the Tectonic standard. With their support, I’ve been able to also start my own business on the side, Kate King Designs (KKD). At KKD, my focus lives in being the expert in transforming the foundational elements of a home. Some designers love the furniture & soft goods part of the business, but I’ve always gravitated towards the hard finishes (tile, cabinetry, lighting, countertops, and more!) My passion and focus is on Kitchen and Baths as these are such pivotal and key selling points of any home.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Lots of internal doubt, fear, and negative self talk surrounding the question if I could make my dream a reality. I had to lean into the fact that not everyone finds their dream job straight out of the gate and that it was okay to fail and reinvent myself.

We’ve been impressed with Kate King Designs, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
At Kate King Designs, we guide busy professionals and families in curating beautiful and functional interiors that embody who they are. My streamlined and simple process cultivates real results for your ideal home.

The KKD ethos is what truly sets me apart:

Relational
-This is YOUR house, so let Kate meet you where you are at. By listening, asking hard questions, and being transparent – Kate will use her expertise to ensure your vision and goals are heard.
-All parties involved in the project matter—from the client, architect, and builder to vendors and tradespeople.

Restraint
-Kate believes in a streamlined and efficient methodology. Simplicity is always better in a complex process.
-Decision fatigue is no joke. Kate curates and amplifies what works best (and eliminates what doesn’t) to keep decision fatigue at bay.

Rooted in Reality
– Let’s dream, but then ground that in the realities of construction – from a structural, budget, and a timeline perspective.

Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
There is no doubt in my mind that the future holds big changes for the industry with where the world is today concerning the overall economy, housing market and AI. Consumer preferences will evolve and shift with these changes, which inevitability always come back to HOME and how we live and how much we can or are willing to spend on these dwellings.

Few things that come to mind:
– AI: More automations or tech in the home and/or how interior designers do business
– Housing market: Not allowing ease of entry for new buyers, which means buyers need to be creative in what type of home you are buying…I believe purchasing a lower priced home that needs substantial renovations is going to continue to be a huge trend.
– Economy: With unsteady economic times, we’ve seen the mental effect this has on possible clients regarding budget and scope of work, which ultimate will affect the qualified leads coming in for the industry. Long term effects with tariffs could impact where we are procuring products, vendor price increases continuing, and just overall considerations on how we spend our dollar.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.katekingdesigns.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katekingdesign
• Other: https://www.pinterest.com/kateelaineking/

Image Credits
Tectonic Design Build Be Boulder Photography