Since early on I can vivdly remember always wanting to decorate, paint, organize and design in some way shape or form. Maybe because I felt naturally called to do so or perhaps it was a result of sharing a bedroom with my sister and always trying to Identify our spaces in our tiny corridors. My desire to decorate and constantly rearrange spaces spilled over into my childhood home, friends’ bedrooms, and then into college when I ventured out on my own.
After graduating from the University of Maryland where I was a theatre performance major spending time both on/off stage performing and constructing sets and repurposing salvaged finds, I moved into our first home, With college debt to pay, I leaned on my love for art, design and repurposing furniture to style ouir empty space. my first yard sale adventure back in 2008 was only just the beginning of a lifetime of searching for the most unique and cost efficient finds. It was love at first treasure and I’ve been flipping, repurposing, sewing and styling homes ever since.
With words of encouragement, Especially from my Late Husband and Three children, Olivia, Reese, and Baylor who continue to motivate me, I turned a passion into reality when I launched Kate McKay Designs in 2013. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect. Less than a year later a dream opportunity graced my life. I was contacted by Extreme Home Makeovers with Nate Berkus to refurbish furniture and make custom draperies for a makeover in my hometown of Maryland that was being renovated and filmed for Oprah Winfrey’s OWN Network. Amazing, right?!! The validation was a catalyst for the future of my design life. After meeting Oprah and filming the show aired on television and business blossomed in so many ways. Almost ten years later and here we are!
