GoKateShoot for Washingtonian Magazine: Maggie Hoak

GREAT NEWS! Today is the launch of the new column I'm shooting for Washingtonian magazine that profiles what stylish DCers are wearing to work to get their sartorial flair on in the board room. I love the process of shooting these; I get to meet intelligent, stylish people, so to their homes, and hang out as long as it takes to photograph them. You know I love talking to any and everyone, so this is a very apt assignment for me. 

The first post is on Maggie Hoak, who works for DC culture mecca the Kennedy Center. Though her office attire is filled with twisted basics by Rag & Bone and apt pattern mixes (not unlike her apartment, as you'll see), it is the need for her to own an extensive black tie wardrobe for work that had me all jealous. Here are some of my favorite shots that didn't make it into the column, but check out the whole post with an interview by the unmatched editorial whirlwind Sarah Zlotnick HERE. 

I loved Maggie's apartment as much as I did her wardrobe, and was particularly jealous of her amazing octopus triptych. You know how I love a good octopus. 

The What I Wear to Work column will be running every Wednesday, so keep checking back here for my favorite outtakes. 

The Perfect Lamp

Last week I went to an opening of local furniture designers at the beautifully-curated Well Built. I am excited to share some of the other photos, but the high-drama of this Moire Emperor Pendant was so stunning I wanted to share it on its own. 

An Evening with Archer Modern

A few months ago, I photographed an Apartment Therapy meetup where local mid-century modern guru Robert was speaking in preparation of the launch of his new design space, Archer Modern, in Georgetown. Of course, we got to chatting after the event and stayed in touch. A few weeks ago he asked me to come out and shoot the reception for an exhibit he is currently putting on to highlight the revival of famous mid-century modern designer Ralph Rapson's furniture designs and draft drawings.

I loved the form-meets-function nature of Rapson's work, which also translates in his drawings; instead of just drawing pieces of furniture, he deliberately created spaces and included people to develop a beautiful fantasy around a single piece. I'm in love with the sense of movement in these drawings, which meet at the intersection of the artistic and functional. 

The furniture included this rocking chair, one of Rapson's classics. The lines are divine. That's all I have to say. Just incredible. 

There were several other pieces in the Archer Modern space that I absolutely adored, particularly this first piece with the decadent sheepskin, and the last, which is featured on the Archer home page, for obvious and whimsical reasons. I love the attention to detail and dedication to quality materials; it touches the same sentiment that vintage clothing does!

Icarus

I bought the Artecnica Icarus light, and it arrived last night. I love the influence of birds that is so apparent! It is gracing our living room, helping to make our 12' ceilings a little bit more intimate. 

My New Space, In Progress

Lots of you have been asking, so here are some photos of my new space that I've been working on for the past couple of weeks. The kitties (Divas Titi and Lulu) are not mine but are lovely companions; I live in a loft so I have to get along with them, since there's no way to keep them out. I do enjoy the company, and never get tired of watching them battle the errant hair tie across the floor. 

The space itself is tricky and not large; with 3 walls of floor-to-ceiling glass, I feel as though I'm living in a fishbowl much of the time! I never mind, since I get to wake up with the sunrise over my head. I dealt with the privacy issues with three different sets of curtains. The red silk act as a headboard, while the brown frame up my vintage raw silk panel curtain. 

I love to mix patterns and textures! Most of the things in my space are vintage and familial, including the furniture from late 1950's. My textiles are also; the blue raw silk curtains belonged to my great grandmother in Chicago in the 1940's and the sheets were grandmother's. I'm so in love with those curtains...they are block-pleated along the top and just look so fresh with a little nautical tie! The remainder I collected throughout my travels from Istanbul to El Salvador, and the beautiful teal mat is fair trade from Ten Thousand Villages.

Like any good fashionista, I enjoy mixing high and low; along with those lofty vintage and international influences, my two throw pillows are Ikea, and my green lampshade is Target. 

The art, jewelry, and oddities (beetle, butterfly, antlers? yes!) I collected throughout my travels. The beetle is from my  adventure to Artscape with Cat Diesel (whose plant is on my dresser), the butterfly from a family trip to the Florida Keys, and the antlers from antiquing in the Hudson Valley (as is the fish platter and a couple of other things). It is so nice to surround yourself with special, memory-filled things...I never do understand how people can be happy in minimal spaces. 

Life is too short not to inject your space with color and the things that make you happy!

Eye Candy: Indigo, Chevron Wood, Licks

Had a great time chilling with Thievery Corporation last night...thank you for having us out! There are times when it's really better not to have your camera, so you can experience things in an unfiltered way. That was definitely one of those times. 

DC people, go see their show this Saturday, afterparty at POV at the W. Get your roof deck on, yeah!

Happy weekend! Here is some inspiration for your Friday. 

Office Lust

My desk doesn't fit in my new room, and my day-job office is woefully artless...so I'm lusting after a space like this. 

Photo from Apartment Therapy

Apartment Therapy Meet-up, CB2 Style

As I mentioned before in this post that was nicely featured here by the wonderful Desiré  at Sukio Design, this past week I attended the Apartment Therapy DC Meet-up at CB2 in Georgetown. Now let me say that while I love old charm and original detailing, it takes something truly special for me to trek all the way out to Georgetown, particularly on a day with sizzling three-digit temperatures. 

Hot mess. 

But! Away I went in my favorite vintage Diane von Furstenberg dress, determined to spend some quality (air conditioned) time with some of the design trend setters of DC. 

CB2 graciously hosted a pre-party event for the style and design bloggers to allow us first-look at the store. I had a blast photographing the space and connecting with other bloggers; it's always such a treat to spend time with the stylish ladies that I'm friends with in the group! 

Pictured below is Andrew Pippins, designer and blogger extraordinaire on the site Fly Girls. Her site is a carefully curated design blog that pulls inspiration from a myriad of sources in a way that speaks to her impeccable style (just LOOK at her outfit below! The jewelry! The jumper! How cute, yes?).

Also below are Kia from Determined Design (check out her shoes), Jake from CB2 with his delish mixed prints, and Jeanna Grimes, whose vintage style I have blogged about before. From the interior design set are the stylish Ms. V Carr of Idra the Agency and Desiré of Sukio Design. 

Enjoy the photos below! Andrea and I are going to the Butler + Claypool fashion mixer today...and you know I'll have my camera to document all the vintage. It's in my neighborhood, so you know I'm going to struggle city back through the heat with loads of new goodies!

Interiors that Inspire

I spent part of the evening last night attending the most recent Apartment Therapy Meetup at CB2 in Georgetown. I took lots of fabulous pictures that I can't wait to share with you; the crowd was stylish and furniture chic. I'll wait to share more when I blog the photos soon, but in the meantime here are some photos that have been inspiring me recently. I'm moving into a new penthouse loft (!!!) apartment at the end of the month and can't wait to start designing the space. My new housemate is equally addicted to fabulous interiors...the day we met he asked me, 

"so what do you think about putting a yellow chandelier and black brocade wallpaper in the bathroom?"

I'm in love. 

Oh, and did I fail to mention that my bedroom has 270 degrees on floor to ceiling windows and is surrounded by 1000 feet of terrace? Oh yeah, that too. 

So excited to design an urban oasis.

Event: Apartment Therapy Meet-up {Sukio Design}

Hi, my name is Katie and I am addicted to Apartment Therapy. 

(all together now...)

Hi Katie!

The first step of addiction is admitting you have a problem, but I was proud to admit my love of the renowned interior design website at a recent Apartment Therapy meet-up at Sukio Design here in the art district of The District. The attendees were fashionable and friendly, the decor divine, and speakers gracious and eloquent. With some wine and finger foods, we had a fabulous time listening to speaker Jill Sorenson, interior designer and founder of Live Like You, talk about her design process and inspirations. If you are into design, this website is pure catnip. 

Photos from the soirée below...enjoy! I'll certainly be attending and blogging about future Apartment Therapy parties in the future, so keep an eye out. ;)

GoKateShoot has relocated to the District!

Hey everyone! I'd like to apologize for being so MIA the last month; I have been traveling and moved from my lovely and rambling Victorian house in New York to a lovely and rambling Victorian house in Washington DC. 

I have spent the last week beginning to investigate the design and art scenes here, and have been pleasantly surprised. While there is a distinctive lack of fashionable people (my new royal blue palazzo pants from Zara garnered way too much attention, haha!), the ones who are here are here with a strong retail presence in my neighborhood, the U St. corridor. Deemed by the NYT as the trendiest neighborhood in the city, the U St/14th St. area is home to wild nightlife, design studios, and lots of vintage. I'll be happily blogging about the day-to-day inspirations found on the street here, and have lots of exciting new things developing for the blog. 

Too many exciting things have happened in the past couple of weeks to catch up, but my night out last night was so DC I have to share it with you in one sentence:

I met a famous, 79-year old astronaut at the bar where JFK proposed to Jackie who was attempting to pick up women in their early twenties. 

Both fabulous and creepy at the same time. 

anyway! Here are some photos. More to come, particularly from an event I went to hosted by Apartment Therapy. Fabulous and fashionable people attended, details and photos to follow. 

Cheers! And welcome to DC. 

Interior Inspiration

Hello! In preparation for moving on to the next exciting phase of my life, I've started compiling tons of photos that inspire my interior design sense. I can't wait to go a little crazy with patterned wall papers, too many framed prints, and wacky light fixtures. Here's a small homage to the things making my interior design noggin go crazy! Photos courtesy of The Glamourai and Design Sponge.