Sisters Pamela and Steph Katch have a shared sensibility and love of contrast. The pair experienced and learned well the benefits of inspired and artful living from a young age. They spent their first 7 years living in a glass-walled modernist Eichler home in Palo Alto furnished with mid-century classics combined with English antiques. The unfailingly bright California sunlight brought color and form into sharp focus. Their wandering attention in high school revealed a preference for art and design over physics and French.
Though they went their separate ways early in their careers—Steph to work for several award-winning interior design firms (she began with the venerable Naomi Leff & Associates) and Pamela to become marketing director for brand powerhouse Tiffany & Co. and later a creative director at a multimedia firm—they finally joined forces and founded their namesake interior design firm, Katch I.D.
Four years later, they introduced their first furniture collection under the brand name Katch Design Co. This fresh eco-friendly furniture line is a testament to the sisters’ obvious penchant for the creative.
Inspired by art and utility, The Katch Design Company’s furniture collection is a study in the surprising beauty of everyday things. Case-in-point: the stylish EDGY collection. Inspired by the colorful sealant paint on the end of 2 x 4’s in a lumber yard, the various pieces in this collection are unified by the common detail of a lacquer band that runs across the defining edge of each piece.
Keeping the longevity of the planet in mind, the ethically-minded sisters have committed to use local workshops for fabrication, and compose their collection using sustainable materials and finishes.
We sat down with the dynamic pair to discuss all things Katch. Here’s what they had to say about their exciting new venture:
IC: Describe the style of your work in three words.
Steph: Spare, textural and open
IC: If Katch Design Co. was defined by color, what colors would they be?
Steph: If we were defined by color, it would be a neutral palette. With pops of color.
IC: What are you inspired by? Is it fashion, travel, art, food, music or all of the above?
Pamela: Our inspiration comes when we least expect it. Often, it comes during our daily interaction with the city in general. For example, the Lucky Beam was inspired by the painted I-beams in the NYC subway.
IC: Who is your ideal client?
Pamela: Those who get the most out of what we have to offer tend to be open-minded in spirit. They love to cultivate style in everything they do—whether that be in the aesthetics of their home, their wardrobe, or how they like travel. The clean lines and simplicity of our work provide a strong foundation for our clients to build upon over time.
IC: Who would be your ideal design mentor?
Steph: Charlotte Perriand meets Diane von Furstenburg while she’s admiring Donald Judd.
IC: What are the advantages of working with your sister?
Steph: First and foremost, we have a shared aesthetic sensibility that was cultivated early on, fewer words need to be exchanged.
IC: What are the distinguishing characteristics of the Katch style?
Pamela: Ease and spaciousness.
IC: What does “responsible luxury” mean to Katch Design Co? How do you feel it will ultimately change the business of design?
Pamela: It’s a phrase that we first heard through GoodWeave, the organization that is improving the working conditions in the rug industries of developing nations. “Responsible Luxury” the way we interpret it, is to use sustainable materials and to produce products that will last for many, many years, or even several generations. This is good for the environment, good for the craftspeople who work the materials, good for our clients, and good for our business. We believe that this is the direction that most people are actively taking as they become aware of environmental issues. As customers become more and more informed, they are expecting this of the businesses that they choose to patronize.
Also, 10% of the proceeds from our Supreme Beam collection go to Charity: Water, a foundation working to bring clean and safe drinking water to people who do not have access.
IC: What is your favorite piece in the shop right now? In your own house?
Pamela: My favorite piece is our dayglo pink Lucky Beam Side Table. At home, my favorite piece is not a piece of furniture, but a Georg Jensen bowl that was given to me as a gift.
Steph: For me, it’s the EDGY “Perch” in White Oak with a Chalk-colored Edge. At home, my favorite piece is a Harvey Probber loveseat. I upholstered it in Josef Frank’s “Hawaii” fabric that Brunschwig carried for about 5 minutes, a few years ago.
*top five (product reference)
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1 |
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{Lucky Beam Bench} Works anywhere. A host of color choices. |
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2 |
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{Woolie Woolie Coffee Table} Coffee table as art. |
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3 |
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{Supreme Beam Bookends} Create a tad of bookshelf envy. |
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4 |
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{Edgy Desk} Bring some color (and style) into your work space |
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5 |
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{HI, LOW Console} Narrow enough for a hallway. Perfect! |
