Katie Hackworth is a walking lesson on following your passions. Katie says she found her “passion for interior design and architecture in a rather organic way. It began with a remodel/addition of a 1950s cottage-style home 10 years back, and grew from there. I realized how important my surroundings were and how they affect my emotions and state of mind. People began taking notice of the homes and interiors I was creating, and in 2013, I took a leap of faith and created my own boutique-style, full-service design and build company. My client base has grown quickly and I’m grateful every single day.”

Katie's interior design build company grew so quickly that measures had to be made in order to keep up. “I recently partnered with a larger local contractor, Dovetail General Contractors, whose work I have admired for some time. They appreciate and pay close attention to the details that make my work unique,” she says, and we can’t wait to see what comes next because we’re already fans.

Alyssa Rosenheck's The New Southern Designer Spotlight with Katie Hackworth, H2 Design + Build of Seattle, WA

We sat down with the busy mother of two girls—plus a handful of rescue dogs and a hedgehog—to hear how a Seattle-based designer sees Southern style, and how she approaches trends.

Alyssa Rosenheck: Tell me about yourself.

Katie Hackworth: First, I’m a mom to my two girls, who have me wrapped around their little fingers. I’m an extroverted introvert and an Aries through and through. I’ve always been an observer, and from that I think I’ve learned a lot about people and myself and what we respond to. I prefer things to look effortless, but it never is (and you normally won’t hear me say that). And I’m entirely too sensitive for my own good. That’s me in a tiny nutshell.

AR: How are you modernizing Southern style when you design?

KH: I focus on pulling together timeless elements that are (hopefully) unexpected. Southern style is timeless. It’s about family, history, and tradition. All core themes that should run throughout a home and never feel outdated. You can take two somewhat traditional components and combine them in a new way, or contrast them with something completely paired down. The new balance created is what modernizes the overall design.

AR: What innovative trends are you seeing with Southern design across the country?

KH: I don’t pay much attention to trends; great design is beyond that. It’s something people respond to innately, regardless of what is trending in the moment.

Alyssa Rosenheck's The New Southern Designer Spotlight with Katie Hackworth of Seattle, WA

AR: What are your favorite Seattle design boutiques?

KH: Big Daddy’s Antiques, Rejuvenation, Maison Luxe, and Marine Area 7. Other than that, I'm a self-proclaimed online expert. My favorite curated home store is easily Jayson Home out of Chicago.

AR: Favorite shade of white and black paint color?

KH: I have two favorite shades of white. "Simply White" by Benjamin Moore is my go-to, and for a slightly more historical feel, I warm it up a bit with "Crisp Linen,” also from Benjamin Moore. My favorite shade of black is just that, “Black" by Benjamin Moore.

AR: What’s your life motto?

KH: I can’t do anything half way. I’m either in 100 percent, or out. I know there is a phrase about that somewhere…all or nothing! Yes. That’s it.

AR: What’s the one shade the changes everything?

KH: Forest green. The hue reads so much to me. Fancy, rich, and deep, along with natural, authentic, and true. The tone demands attention, but in a very understated way.

AR: The place you go to get inspired?

KH: The architecture and interiors of Paris, Berlin, London, Istanbul, Rome, Amsterdam… all viewed via Pinterest. Of course, in person would be even better.

AR: The key to making a house a home?

KH: A home should never read as a picture-perfect page from a catalog. A home needs character and layers describing the people that live within it through artwork, books, collections, family heirlooms, curious knick-knacks, and then some.

AR: What’s a piece of life advice you’ve gotten that made all the difference?

KH: All of my drive comes from within, and it goes back to that all or nothing motto. Give something your everything, and it will happen. I don’t know who said that, but I keep repeating it.

AR: What about design advice?

KH: Stick with your gut. Trust your instincts. If you love it, buy it…. all true!

AR: What’s the best piece of business advice you could provide for creative entrepreneurs starting out?

KH: Having a successful business is nothing short of exhausting. You must love what you do. It’s the only thing that will make it all worth it. And in the end, you'll only remember the good stuff.

AR: Who are some of your favorite artists?

KH: Kai Samuals Davis easily stands out as a favorite artist of this era. His pieces are very tactile and real with a massive jolt of emotion. I've tried to dissect his brushstrokes and his process just seems to be genius. In addition, I love collecting the artwork of my talented friends: Drie Chapek, Megumi Shauna Arai, Michelle Armas, Lydia Bassis, Dorothee Brand, Valeria Spring, Jenny Vorwaller, Deb Achak, to name a few. I think knowing the artist personally adds another layer to the piece and it’s an honor to have them placed throughout my home.

AR: How to mix old with new?

KH: Staying timeless is the best advice anyone can give you. Whether it’s a timeless piece from this decade or decades back, you can’t go wrong.

AR: Fill in the blank, “my momma always said…”

KH: “Always be kind and good.” I do my best. That’s all I need to say about that.

AR: Go-to housewarming gift?

KH: Coffee table books are a great gift and a perfect component for layering a home with personal character. My current favorites are John Derian’s John Derian Picture Book and Malene Birger’s Life and Work.

AR: Design book you’ll always have on your own shelf?

KH: A Frame for Life by Isle Crawford. Everything she does is unexpected perfection.

AR: Tell us something we probably don’t know.

KH: In my previous life, I thought I would go into medicine. I took a few extra marine biology classes, and landed myself a zoology degree from The University of Washington.

AR: What’s your dream project?

KH: The palette and materials I gravitate toward reflect what I see in nature. Living in the Pacific Northwest and growing up surrounded by water will do that to you. It leads me to say that my dream project would be a small, authentic home placed on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean. If it was my own, even better. I guess that makes me my dream client. I know what I like, which makes working for myself quite easy!

AR: The greatest color combination that ever existed?

KH: A warm, crisp white alongside raw white oak.

Copy of Copy of Alyssa Rosenheck's The New Southern Designer Spotlight with Katie Hackworth, H2 Design + Build of Seattle, WA

Alyssa Rosenheck's The New Southern Designer Spotlight with Leanne Ford Pittsburgh PA Los Angeles CA PhotoCredit © AlyssaRosenheck

Fun fact: Allison Casper Adams is a third generation McDonald’s franchisee. Her grandfather, Fritz Casper, opened Tampa’s first McDonald’s in the 1950s, now Allison and her brother, Blake Casper, operate 53 branches in the area. Clearly, the entrepreneurial spirit is a family affair, as the duo didn’t stop there.

In 2012, the siblings bought an underutilized building across the street from the University of Tampa campus that once served as horse stables in the 1890s, and sat vacant for the last few decades. A painstaking renovation ensued, with Adams keeping watch over the historic elements that remained intact and introducing new features that would seamlessly meld into the overall design vision of Oxford Exchange. Now, it’s a menagerie of marble and leather, brass and brick, and has a variety of uses: a coffee shop, a restaurant, a co-working space, a bookstore, and an event venue. “We hoped to create a unique place where people could gather,” says Adams. “Every detail has a purpose and every object has a story.

Forward-thinking and innovative, Adams is a great example of a strong female force in the entrepreneurial world. She’s the New Southern. Here, we sat down with the Tampa Bay businesswoman to get her thoughts on what it means to be Southern right now.

Alyssa Rosenheck: Why open Oxford Exchange?

Allison Casper Adams: I have always been fascinated with design, and Oxford Exchange gives me a great canvas to experiment with. I’ve always been inspired by travel and I consciously curate my personal spaces with objects that have meaning to my family and I, regardless of their style. Oxford Exchange and Oxford Design Studio are a direct reflection of that mindset. I’m humbled to think that we’ve influenced others with our approach.

AR: Any tips for female entrepreneurs wanting to follow in your footsteps?

ACA: With Oxford Exchange, it was a sharp learning curve. I had absolutely no retail experience when we started, so there were no rules. It only took me a few weeks to realize that I have a lot to learn. However, I think that led to part of its charm. Our Director of Retail, Jess Anderson, is incredibly organized and keeps me in line. With that said, my advice would be to surround yourself with passionate people and don’t be afraid to make mistakes.

Alyssa Rosenheck's The New Southern Entrepreneur Spotlight with Allison Casper Adams, Director of Oxford Exchange Tampa Florida

AR: How do you make sure you’re setting yourself apart in the marketplace?

ACA: I am constantly traveling and looking for interesting pieces that can start a conversation. The Shop at Oxford Exchange is a mix of styles from all over the world and we aren’t afraid to try something new.

AR: What’s the key to making a house a home?

ACA: Your home should tell the story of who you are. Art that you love, photos, found objects from travels, and lots of books.

AR: Who is one of your favorite artists and/or makers?

ACA: John Derian is one of my favorite tastemakers. I love the history associated with his handmade pieces, and his shop in New York City is always a source of inspiration.

AR: Fill in the blank, “my momma always said…”

ACA: Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

AR: Oxford Exchange is chockful of wonderful housewarming gifts. What’s your usual go-to?

ACA: Books. For a new home, I like to offer a beautiful coffee table book on design or travel. For a hostess, a cookbook or even a favorite book I recently read.

AR: What’s your dream project?

ACA: An Oxford Exchange Hotel in Tampa

AR: What’s on your nightstand right now?

ACA: Books are always on my nightstand. My current reads are Radical Candor by Kim Scott and The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See.

AR: Do you have a favorite color palette?

ACA: White, navy, and grey is timeless. The range of colors you can pair it with is endless.

© 2020 alyssa rosenheck

The New Southern | Designer Spotlight: Katie Hackworth

The New Southern | Entrepreneur Spotlight: Allison Casper Adams, Director of Oxford Exchange

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