Meet Katie Salove | Interior architect and designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Katie Salove and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Katie, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I’ve always been a highly independent self-starter and come from a line of entrepreneurs within the home and hospitality space. My grandfather founded a contracting company, my grandmother owned an antiques store, and my father started and still runs his commercial real estate brokerage and development firm. Seeing how they moved through their careers inspired me from a young age – the autonomy they had in their day to day, having a hand in all decisions big and small, their confidence knowing they could depend fully on themselves, and the relationships they built with their clients motivated me to start my own business.

Deciding what industry I wanted to get into was a no-brainer. Growing up in a house where real estate, architecture and interiors were often topics of conversation certainly influenced me, as did my parents’ positive experience working with a decorator to design our family home. I was seven years old at the time, just old enough to have a say in the scheme for my bedroom, and apparently also old enough to firmly decide my career path.

Being in a hyper creative and close-knit industry, I very much appreciate having my own voice both in the office and in the community. I value the responsibility I have to do right by my clients and vendors alike, as having meaningful and trusting relationships with the people I surround myself with is something I care deeply about.

What should our readers know about your business?
After studying interior architecture/design, fine art and art history at The George Washington University, I moved to Los Angeles and spent a number of years working under and learning from award winning interiors firms as well as Soho House’s design team. I started my own practice in 2020 focusing on residential and boutique hospitality projects, based here in LA but also working globally.

My favorite part of being a business owner is the continuous learning – and it really is nonstop. Each client has something valuable to teach me… just when I think I have it all figured out, the next project presents its own unique challenges, affording me the opportunity to find meaningful resolutions and better my craft, which I find quite rewarding. I’m proud of my perseverance and my ability to find a solution even when it seems there isn’t one. However above all I’m most proud of the relationships I’ve developed with my clients and others in the industry, all of whom have become friends. Looking ahead, I’m eager to tackle future interior projects as well as other industry related endeavors to come.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Ooo I love this question. Because each LA neighborhood has its own unique personality, I’d want to show them a variety of pockets. My geographic breakdown below:

Malibu – Hiking is a big part of LA culture, and definitely a staple in my weekly routine. Paseo Miramar and Sandstone Peak are a few of my favorites with great views of the Santa Monica Mountains, city and ocean. Next would be brunch at Ollo, my family’s favorite restaurant in Malibu. It’s super low key with delicious eggs and pancakes. I love going to the beach year round, and actually prefer it during the off season when it’s a little quieter, so we’d likely take a walk or relax at Little Dume, El Matador or Broad Beach. Dinner would either be at my parents’ house or we’d get takeout from Cholada Thai and picnic on the sand.

West Side and the Palisades – I pretty much always start my day with movement, and Palisades Park is a great place to go for a long walk or a run. I also love the Santa Monica stairs for a more intense workout. There is a 100% chance that you can find me at the Brentwood or Palisades Farmer’s Market late Sunday morning, where I do my grocery shopping. No trip to LA is complete without stopping by Erewhon, and my personal favorite location is in Santa Monica. Venice has some of my favorite restaurants – Great White, Gjelina and Gjusta are all tasty brunch options and are close enough to the Venice canals or Abbot Kinney for a little post lunch stroll. I love touring the architecturally significant homes in LA, and one of my favorites is the Eames House in the Palisades. Dinner would for sure be at Scopa, which is also a great place to grab a drink.

Central LA – When I lived in West Hollywood I’d often start my day at Runyon for a quick workout, followed by a smoothie at Beverly Hills juice. As much as I love art, I have to say my favorite local museum is the Petersen Automotive which is a must see if you’re into cars. Anyone who knows me knows I can’t go a day without a chopped salad and il Tramezzino, La Scala, The Ivy and Carla Cafe make the best ones outside of my own Kitchen. Popping in to the shops around the La Cienga Design Quarter is one of my favorite ways to spend an afternoon. Dinner would be at Bicyclette or Marvin for French, Izakaya on 3rd or Matsuhisa for sushi. Tower Bar or Roger Room are nice options for after dinner drinks.

East side – Griffith Park’s hiking trails have incredible views for a sunrise or sunset workout. Some of my favorite brunch spots are on this side of town as well – Clark Street Diner, Kismet, Botanica, All Time, and Sqirl are all delicious. A good number of the case study houses are in the area, and I love strolling around the residential streets of Hancock Park to see some beautiful architecture. The east side always has fun things happening in the evening – whether that’s movie night and a picnic at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, a concert, or a game downtown. Otherwise dinner followed by drinks at Bar Stella, Little Dom’s, or the Spare Room is a nice way to cap off a day on the east side.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Oh boy… so many people. My family and friends come to mind first. They wholeheartedly encourage me to chase my dreams, continue to refer my business to their inner circles, provide insight when I need advice, and lend an ear when things don’t go as planned. Their unwavering support means the world to me and doesn’t go unnoticed – I imagine it can be exhausting having a small business owner in your life, ha!

The design community at large has become a critical part of my support system; vendors, past employers and fellow designers have shifted from welcoming acquaintances to friends and confidants. I feel lucky that our community is eager to see one another succeed – always checking in, inviting eachother to industry events, sharing resources and referring clients when appropriate to another designer who may be a better fit. There’s no feeling of competition but instead a sense of comradery, and it’s something I very much appreciate about our industry.

Last but certainly not least, my clients!! They welcome me with open arms into their homes, their restaurants, their kitchens, gardens and sock drawers; a designer/client relationship is an extremely intimate one and I’m beyond grateful to those who trust me with their most treasured and sacred spaces.

Website: https://katiesalove.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katiesalove.designstudio/?hl=en

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-salove-91052387/