with katie wolf

Katie Wolf at her home in Atlanta, GA.

Katie Wolf Interiors is an Atlanta-based Interior design firm founded by Katie Wolf in 2020 with projects throughout the country.

Katie grew up in Savannah, Georgia and attended college at Washington & Lee in Lexington, Virginia – beautifully historic towns that have and continue to inspire her work. After practicing law, she turned her attention to her true passion – interior design. She lives in Atlanta with her husband, two young daughters, and Lagotto Romagnolo.

She and her husband are close college friends, and I knew I wanted to get her thoughts on living.

Can you describe your design philosophy?

My design philosophy is grounded in livable everyday luxury. Luxury doesn't mean stuffy or expensive. It means attention to the details you love and not getting bogged down in those that are less important.

It also means balancing old and new in a way that feels timeless. Trendy is a four-letter word in my book, and I am careful to avoid falling victim to what is “of the moment.” I cringe at the idea of a client redecorating every 7-10 years. Of course, upholstery needs to be refreshed and rugs needs to be replaced, but time should only bring new layers to a home – not a complete redo.

How does your home embody this philosophy?

Our home is designed to be enjoyed and to stand the test of time! Entertaining is great but realistically you can only do it so often. I endeavor to create a vibe for our family that feels special every day.

We live in all our rooms, and you can feel that energy. Whether it is rolling out cookies in the kitchen on our marble free-standing island, watching a movie with our Lagotto Romagnolo pup (Vito) in the den, playing Monopoly on the corner banquette in our living room, or eating family dinner in the dining room - we use and enjoy every inch of our home. My husband and I also love to sneak away to our “cozy room” (our dark brown study) to unwind. He makes the best gin martini!

The Wolfs’ living room includes a banquette at the perfect height for family game night.

How would you define “fine living” or “living a good life”? How do you help your clients achieve that?

I define “living the good life” as being happy at home. We spend so much time in our homes. If you hit the mark on creating a home you love, you set the stage for a pretty great life!

The Wolfs’ dining room, dressed for a dinner party, but also well used for family meals.

Every day I walk around our home and dim the lights, light some candles, and set the table for dinner. Of course, this is also the time I tuck away wayward socks and shoes and any other clutter that has accumulated throughout the day. I call it “vibe-o-clock,” and each time I do these mundane tasks I take in how happy I am with my surroundings. For my husband, he gets this feeling when he makes the rounds turning off the lights before bed. I endeavor to have all my clients have that same moment.

The Wolfs’ primary bedroom, with a cozy corner chair for reading or pulling back their daughters’ hair in the morning.

What is the first thing you do when approaching a new design/space/project?

I have a questionnaire for all new clients. I ask everything from their favorite cocktail or mocktail, to if they have a pattern they love (or hate), to three words they’d hope others would use to describe their home. Once I feel like I know my client, I can get in to the nitty gritty. I often start with the furniture plan but sometimes get an instant color or fabric that speaks to me for a given room.

For example, I knew our powder room had to be peach from the first time I saw it. We have a 1920s red brick exterior, and I wanted to balance its masculinity with a more feminine interior. Fortunately, I found the perfect peach grass cloth from Schumacher to help achieve that balance.

Discuss how a space can be more than just a place for living, perhaps inspiration for living.

A space can inspire your actions. For example, a living room can just be for passing through or “fancy” nights, but if it has a cozy corner with a game table with a stack of cards or a backgammon set, it may inspire you to slow down, drop the phone, and play a game. A dining room with bookcases can double as a library and encourage you to grab a book and a cup of tea. A well-designed and equipped kitchen can inspire even the most hesitant cook.

Inspiration currently?

Travel has and will always be a tremendous source of inspiration for me. Lately, travel to England, Mexico, and the western US has really gotten my creative juice flowing. A little plaid from the Hotel Jerome in Aspen, slightly tarnished silver and turquoise accents from Mexico, and that enviable lived-in-for-centuries vibe from England are currently on my mind and being incorporated into projects.

Mesón Hidalgo in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

When I am not traveling, I travel in my mind with books, home tours, shelter magazines, and podcasts. I am fascinated by how others choose to design their homes and feel like the more I see, the more helpful I’ll be to my clients. I feel bad for whoever uses the infrared sauna at the gym after me because the entire YouTube search history is home tours. I think it is safe to say I’ve seen every AD Open Door, Frederic, and Homeworthy episode.

tools for living

Nice china and silverware for everyday.

We use our Ginori “Oriente Italiano” plates and bowls every single day. Using the "good stuff" is a great way to start the day and elevates your basic yogurt, cereal, or cottage cheese breakfast. I’ve selected a different color for each piece: small bowls in turquoise, large bowls in pink, and dinner plates in yellow. They do not have to be hand-washed! Just avoid dishwasher detergent with citrus scents and all will be fine. You also do not have to have a large collection for everyday use. There are four of us, and I currently only have four of the small and large bowls. We have a larger collection of the dinner plates.

We also use our silver for everyday. I love the simplicity of Gorham “Fairfax.” Everything except the knives can go in the dishwasher.

Cloth Napkins

We have a large drawer in our free-standing island, and it is filled to the brim with cotton and linen napkins. My daughters delight in selecting a given pattern for our meal. I am constantly snapping up new options and consistently find great options from Julia Amory. I will admit, because we go through nearly a dozen per day, I do not iron them.

Fluffy Towels

We adore Weezie. We have our collection color-coded: My oldest has the white towels trimmed in French blue, my youngest has the ballet pink trim, my husband and I have the white towels trimmed in wavy taupe, and guests have all white. I also sprinkle in some fun D. Porthault patterns for hand towels and wash cloths to keep things interesting.

A Well Stocked Powder Room

I make every effort to always have a small vase with fresh flowers in the powder room along with fluffy hand towels. My favorite towels for the powder room are from Leontine Linens and have our street number embroidered on the front.

I also leave the “good soap” out at all times. Diptyque is our family-favorite.

Candles

I have candles in every room of my home. I mix unscented with scented candles throughout. Buying unscented candles of various sizes (from votives to pillars to tapers) in bulk ensures that you will always be able to set a nice vibe (or survive a power outage). I prefer the warm glow of an ivory candle.

For scented candles, I adore Baobab and Diptyque. I particularly love “Oyedo" and “Santal.” And, just when I thought I couldn’t light a scented candle in the kitchen, Diptyque came out with “La droguerie” — a delicious basil scent that neutralizes even the strongest of garlic.

Coffee Table Books

Bookshelves are meant to be filled with REAL books that the occupant(s) have or want to read. I am always growing my collection of coffee table books. They range from travel to design to fashion. Books that are currently on the top of my stack include: Home: The Residential Architecture of D. Stanley Dixon, At Home in the Cotswolds, Defining Chic: Carrier & Company Interiors, and The Sophia Coppola Archive: 1999-2023.

A well-stocked stationery cabinet

Stationery by Arzberger Stationers in Charlotte, NC

Arzberger Stationers is my go-to for all things stationery. We’ve used them for at least a decade of Christmas cards, and their tags and notes are in heavy rotation.

Decorative Lampshades

Fermoie Lampshades from The Shade Store in Charlottesville, VA.

Lamp shades are an often-over-looked decorative element here in the States, but when you go to England you would never see a paper shade. A pretty fabric shade (whether ready-made or custom) can truly elevate a room and soften the light. I especially love Fermoie shades.

Throw Blankets

Having a variety of throw blankets not only keeps you cozy but can also bring in or highlight a color in a given room. Pendleton has a fantastic selection. I often turn to Lands Downunder for their Italian herringbone blankets. They are available in so many great colors.

Seasonal Candy/Snack Bowls

You can always find these chewy Italian mints in a bowl in our living room. My daughters first discovered them at the Caribou Club in Aspen, and they declared me a hero when I found them on Amazon for our own home. I am always filling other bowls throughout the house with seasonal candies (like jellybeans) or pistachios (for easy salty snacking).

Wolf Interiors

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Email Katie@wolf-interiors.com

Instagram @KWolfInteriors

Phone (404) 368-3129