When creativity and design are in your DNA

Winnie and Georgie keep watch over Katie’s newly designed kitchen

A Q&A with Bogart Interiors founder and CEO, Katie Bogart

Grounded by her humble beginnings growing up on a dairy farm in upstate New York, Katie learned how to channel her family’s artistic roots to create an interior design firm that brings a classical yet edgy design style to her client’s New England homes. In this conversation, we peel back the years to hear about Katie’s childhood and what it was like growing up around so many talented artisans, and how it continues to influence her design style. We also get to hear about what it’s like working so closely with her husband, Mike, and finally, what’s on the radar for Bogart Interiors in 2023. 

Let’s dive in!

What was the driving force behind your decision to become an interior designer?

I think I’ve always had a love of the arts and visual arts. It’s always been a part of my life. Certainly, vis a vis my family roots but also through my childhood experiences. My parents were very generous in that they were open to ideas I had for our house. I grew up in an old farmhouse in upstate New York that they renovated when we moved there from Boston. They let me pick paint colors for the various rooms and different things like that. They definitely gave me creative freedom. I would also go to the fabric store to buy everything I needed to stitch pillows at home. Designing has been an interest of mine for as long as I can remember.

I’ve always felt that the impact of your surroundings is so transformative for your psyche and just how you live, and how your family lives. Even with my kids, when we paint their room, it completely brightens up their mood. It’s interesting to see how affected they are by even the smallest of changes. I love being able to bring that experience into someone’s home. Helping people who are not naturally inclined to design or do not have that in their wheelhouse is really fun. 

How would you describe your design style?

I guess if I'm being honest with myself, I think it’s a “little bit country and a little bit rock and roll.” Which I know is so cliché. Foundationally, I love more of that classic traditional aesthetic but I also love a little tension to a space. Something that gives it a little bit of edge, a little “funk.” My Dad, who is an artist and considers himself a wordsmith, described my design style as, “The intersection of the classical with 21st-century possibilities.” Which is quite lovely but I’m not sure I could speak those words and have anyone take me seriously!

You have some pretty deep roots when it comes to experience in the art and architecture world. Can you tell us a little about your family's history? 

I would say it plays a huge part in my aesthetic and my appreciation for the arts. My great great grandfather, William Schickel, was an architect and designed 160 buildings in Manhattan. 30 of those are on the landmark historic registry. Some of the prominent ones are the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola on Park Avenue, The Century Building in Union Square, and The Ottendorfer New York Public Library.  My grandfather was a developer,  very influenced by the Bauhaus Movement. An interesting story about him is that he and his brother decided to build a development on land that they owned in Ithaca, NY. During the process, they reached out to, what they considered at the time, 10 of the best architects, one of them being Marcel Breuer, who designed the Wassily Chair. Marcel Breuer was hired for the job and ended up designing this particular project. And then my grandfather went on with his brother to purchase another property, a resort called Geneva on the Lake, which was designed after the Villa Lancellotti in Frascati, Italy built in 1592. Very classical, with tons of marble. A really stunning building. 

How does this family history impact your design approach?

Growing up my grandparents lived right next door to us in upstate New York -  just a cornfield away out in farm country. They had an old farmhouse with this addition that my Dad along with his 12 siblings built. It was incredibly modern but connected to their old farmhouse. So it’s a very cool juxtaposition and I think that’s a lot of what I have in my aesthetic. That love of the classics and also an appreciation for modern, clean lines. And certainly, the arts, my Dad is an artist and many different family members are artists. That was much of my childhood. We didn’t have a lot of money growing up but my parents were always very intentional in exposing us to culture and arts. There wasn’t access to the local museums where we lived but they always tapped into resources at Cornell and Ithaca College and there were many day trips to NYC museums, which I had mixed feelings about when I was a kid. But looking back it was really a cool thing to do. I’m grateful to have had that experience. 

What's it like to partner with your husband Mike, and his company Bogart Finish, on many of your design projects?

What’s great about Mike, is that he’s very curious, innovative, and creative in his own way. Anything is possible with Mike. That’s true in our marriage and in the home design and renovation work we do. I can say to Mike something like, “This is what I’d like to do. How can we make that happen?” And he’ll jump right into possible solutions. We are able to easily talk through possibilities for a space and collaborate on a realistic approach. Working together is a lot of fun.

What has been your biggest challenge over the last 3 years when it comes to interior design projects?

Certainly, COVID-related things - lead times, pricing, stock availability. All of those things have been very challenging. People have had to wait over a year after putting down a lot of money on things like furniture, appliances, and other larger design elements. But all that to say I have not had a single client that has been unreasonable about things. I’ve been very fortunate.

Can you tell us about any projects that you plan to complete this year?

We are hoping that the Newton tavern project will be completed this year. Which is really exciting. I just completed a family room for a home in Wellesley and they asked Mike and me to do a full house renovation. So that’s a big project we’ll be working on this year. 

In your time off, when you're not making your client's homes beautiful, what's your favorite thing to do?

Going for a walk. Honestly, that’s all I want to do in life. With my kids or without them, whoever wants to join is fine with me!