Print Perfect
When bold colors and unique textures collide
Words by Sommer Brugal Photos by Molly Culver
Katie Kime has always been drawn to bright, bold colors: the result of her North Carolina roots. But by age 20, she had traveled to six continents, adding new elements and influences to her design aesthetic. Today, as the founder, president, and creative director of Katie Kime, a lifestyle brand of fashion, furniture, and accessories in Austin, she’s pulling from both her upbringing and her travels to create a look that’s unique and grounded.
Located in a cottage on East Cesar Chavez, Kime’s studio is flooded with natural light. Bright color combinations anchor each room’s décor; bold pillows sit against patterned couches, creating an inviting contrast the untrained eye would never think to combine. Each item is thoughtfully placed, yet the overall look is effortless.
According to Kime, the design aesthetic is preppy-chic goes globetrotting. The combination is what draws people in. “Austin is southern, and it doesn’t try not to be, but it’s also eclectic,” says Kime. “[Austin] is this kind of melting pot of people and ideas, and I think there’s a bit of that eclectic-ness in our brand as well.”
Despite the line’s collection of home décor and clothing items, Katie Kime is a print-based company. Though Kime considers herself to be much more of a product designer than an interior designer. She admits that it’s the prints that bring the entire line together.
Continuously pulling from her Southern roots and international travels, Kime has learned to find inspiration in Austin, too, finding new ways to balance both. One day it’s recreating vintage items with a modern, bold twist, then next she’s pairing geometric classics, like gingham, with statement images the brand is known for, like the bee or banana leaf.
In just five years, Katie Kime has grown from an online store to a nationally recognized lifestyle brand. For Kime, though, that growth didn’t happen on its own accord. “Being in Austin [has definitely been] part of our success,” Kime smiles. “And I think a part of that is because I really believe that the entrepreneur, specifically the female entrepreneurial community [in Austin], is abnormally supportive and collaborative.”
Looking to the future, Kime points to the brand’s new tagline: Live Well, Celebrate More, Travel Often. Though it’s hard to stop and celebrate the little things without thinking about her next goal, Kime hopes to embrace the second factor in the motto’s equation: to celebrate her accomplishments a little more.
On the Lookout
Featuring both classics and newly designed prints, Kime is especially excited for the launch of the brand’s swimwear line that will feature bolder patterns that often don’t translate well onto larger items like a couch. The brand is also expanding the pajama and loungewear line. The new line is expected to launch later this spring.
Contact:
512.358.4478
1405 E Cesar Chavez St.
katiekime.com
