In honor of her birthday month, our interview with Katia Basley, founder of Vision & Hammer home organization and interior design.
A pool party in our backyard with our closest friends (thanks to Amazon and a 120-inch blow-up pool). Greasy pizza and a princess cake from Kroger – what more could a girl want?
How many candles are you blowing out?
29…for the 3rd time. I guess some would call that 32.
What’s on your birthday wish list?
A Christopher Spitzmiller lamp for my living room and a pair of diamond earrings from LeMel. Mama needs some bling!!
You founded Vision & Hammer home organization and interior design – tell us about your background.
I knew I had to do something creative and physical – a desk job was my worst nightmare. I always had a passion for cooking and ended up starting a luxury meal delivery service & boutique catering company straight out of college. Although I have retired my chef hat, that experience provided a lot of valuable insight on how to provide exceptional client service. Kitchens and pantries are still one of my favorite spaces to nerd out on because I know all of the little details to consider that makes a kitchen really functional, from the optimal layout to smart storage. And the heart of the home is in the kitchen, right?
What’s the first thing you do when you meet with a new client?
Ask them if they have a cat and insist on meeting the cat.
You have worked in the homes of four Texans players and influencers including House of Harper and Julie Friedman of Young Wild & Friedman. What sets your firm apart?
We’re the only company that offers both home organization and interior design services. At the end of the day, no matter our personal taste or budget, we all want to live in a home that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing. Our unique offering of both services caters to that intersection of beauty and practicality. We also pride ourselves on our responsiveness and ability to cater to our client base. We don’t push our style, our budget or our timeline, and we feel like that’s a really big gap in the home improvement and design industry. It thrills us to be the first to fill it!
Favorite client room to get your hands on?
Pantry! I could organize pantries all day, every day.
Products you can’t live without in your own home?
Acrylic for anything aesthetically pleasing. Rattan/woven storage for anything I don’t want to stare at all day (even professional organizers need the grace of concealed storage!).
Three things we’re doing wrong when trying to organize?
1. Trying to make it beautiful before making it functional 2. Using old containers that don’t really work just because you already have them 3. Rushing the process!
You own the company with your husband Tom, best and worst part about working with your spouse?
Best—we are complete opposites. Worst—we are complete opposites.
Always in your bag when you arrive at a project?
Tape measure and peanut butter crackers (don’t want to get hangry during a meeting).
Go-to paint color?
Chantilly Lace: A crisp, clean white that looks good in any space. But, admittedly, I am moving more into color these days…
Favorite home design trends right now?
I don’t pay attention to trends. I suggest to clients whatever I think will make them love their home most. Whatever you love will never go out of style.
Favorite local home decor store?
LAM Bespoke, hands down. Love the people as much as the things!
Favorite home design show?
They are all terrible….sorry. Stop giving our clients unrealistic expectations, Chip and Joanna Gaines! Ugh.
What’s most organized: your home, purse or car?
Car. I clean and vacuum it once per week. I can’t sit in traffic in a mess!
If you had an hour to yourself, what would you do?
A facial at 987 Aesthetics. Maybe throw in some botox if there’s time…
First thing you do when you wake up, last thing at night?
Watch my baby sleeping on the monitor. Her chubby lil cheeks! It never gets old.
People would be surprised to learn this about you…
I figure-skated competitively and wanted to quit school and train for the Olympics.
What neighborhood do you call home and why do you love it?
Bellaire! I grew up in West U, and my mom taught at West U Elementary. I always thought I would end up back there, but we absolutely love our street and neighbors (and our 120 pound dog loves the big yard!).
Three local businesses you love supporting?
1. Bering’s 2. West U Wellness 3. Headline Plumbing
Breakfast, lunch and dinner, where are we most likely to find you?
Breakfast: Eating chocolate-chip Eggo waffles from my freezer, on my sofa, while trying to feed my baby at the same time. Lunch: Eating a salad in my car while driving to a meeting- usually from Dish Society or Island Grill. Dinner: I am a DoorDash addict. Niko Niko’s and Yoshi sushi are my go-tos!
Three apps you can’t live without in my job?
1. Tile – I lose my keys on a daily basis (can I still claim pregnancy brain?). 2. Harvest – My team uses it to send invoices, log design and organizing hours and more, and for someone so technologically inept, I am easily able to use it! 3. Canva – another must-have for the technologically challenged. It’s our go-to visual tool for design boards!
Series you’re addicted to?
Succession, Outlander and His Dark Materials (I am a huge nerd).
Go-to perfume.
Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue.
First job ever.
Bartender! My specialty was pouring wine.
What is your sign and do you identify with it?
Gemini, and yes. I am impulsive, extroverted and very indecisive!
@visionandhammer
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