1. She likes to upholster things, particularly box springs and headboards. Not a bedskirt or dust ruffle in sight. Â But also lampshades, coffee tables and walls.
2. Â Two of her favorite resources are Christie’s and Doyle’s Decorative sales — where she snaps up great buys on other people’s mistakes. Katie was refreshingly open about her own mistakes over the years, and seems to enjoy the trial & error process as much as the results.
3. Â At House Beautiful, the editorial shot for the mag is primarily funded by a major client, advertiser or manufacturer. Â The homeowner moves out and allows their house to be redone. Â The architect & decorator work their magic and then it’s shot for the pages. Â So that’s why there’s always so much of a specific brand of furniture used in a featured reno.
4. Â She starts with the carpets or rugs and builds from there. Â Sigh, Â They always say that.
5.  One of her most popular “problems solved” is this girl’s bedroom with no closets,  where she used a double as a daybed and built in closets on either side.  Then she  upholstered the whole thing as well as the room in a printed fabric.  Like I said, she likes upholstery, and it works for her!
Katie Ridder is ALL about color, and she’s down-to-earth, inventive and super entertaining to listen to. Â She was one of my favorite RTB Symposium speakers yet! Â Some of my picks from her prodigious work below:
