Houston interior designer Katie Davis possesses an immense talent for creating lively, lived-in spaces that feel warm and inviting — grandma’s “traditional” style, this is not. Effortlessly elegant, Davis’ ability to blend old with new has garnered her a bevy of inspired fans wishing to replicate her looks, and now they can.
Enter The Bungalow, Davis’ personally-curated e-commerce site for shopping all things Katie Davis Design. Social media influencers and bloggers have long been known to create “shop the look” posts based around published projects by interior designers. With The Bungalow, Katie Davis fans are getting the real deal. Shop vintage, antique, and new furniture, home decor, and accessories chosen by Davis herself — imposters need not apply.
Davis recently transitioned from her previous location in a Heights bungalow (we see what you did there) to an expansive space in Memorial to be closer to projects, expand her team, and offer pop-up shopping activations for The Bungalow.
Formerly an attorney, Davis fell in love with design while working with a builder on her own family home. She launched her eponymous design firm with the intention to be the comforting and guiding light she wished she had during her own building process — and what a success. Davis’ unstuffy take on traditional style is perfect for clients who balk at trends and seek interiors that stand the test of time.
“We design homes that we want people to really live in,” Davis tells CultureMap. “Our spaces are always beautiful, but our first priority is comfort. Every detail is considered and custom for the way a client lives. We believe good design can make life better.”
Davis’ knack for creating personalized, curated interiors for clients is something that sets her firm apart from others. “Our clients and their families provide us with the most inspiration — the way they live, their priorities. Our clients keep us guessing and inspired,” says Davis.
Serene color palettes, botanical prints, layered textures, and an abundance of natural materials are Davis’ signature, making her interiors truly timeless. “Our inspiration comes from nature first, always. For us, blues and greens are neutrals, and we constantly pull our colors from our surroundings here in Texas,” she says.
Perhaps clients are drawn to Katie Davis Design for the familiarity of their interiors, drawing inspiration from traditional design powerhouses like Mark Sikes, as well as iconic movie sets. Who doesn’t want to live in Diane Keaton‘s Hamptons abode from Something’s Gotta Give? “Historical or cultural references we turn to when seeking inspiration are Sister Parrish and Nancy Meyers,” says Davis. “I want to live on a Nancy Meyers' set! So collected and cozy.”
Davis’ foresight to launch The Bungalow is a testament to her intuitive nature. Antique and vintage goods are more popular than ever, and their star is only on the rise. More businesses are introducing antique and vintage items to their inventories at a rapid pace — for example, the Bergdorf X Chairish collaboration is a great success. Houstonians looking to emulate the Katie Davis look, but cannot commit themselves to weekends spent cruising estate sales and secondhand shops will do well, curled up on the sofa, shopping The Bungalow.
Not one to fully embrace the vintage and antiques craze? New items are also available to purchase, and shoppers can find opportunities to go bespoke if they wish. “I would say it's half and half,” says Davis. “As we do in our projects, we put old alongside new. There are lots of great blue and white finds.” Delftware and many other blue and white ceramics are experiencing a renaissance, having a readily-available cache from Davis’ collection sounds almost too good to be true.
“I like to say, what we are selling on The Bungalow are our favorite things. So yes, you'll see a light fixture we might have included in a project, or a familiar artist, but it is ultimately a collection of pieces and brands that we love.”
