Nashville-based designer Kate Figler is known for her signature style that combines layered elements and timeless sophistication. Kate recently designed two bathrooms using our Emma Sky and Frida Blue wallpapers! Follow along as we chat about her design decisions and how to create a jewel box bathroom.
First off, tell us a little bit about yourself!
I was born and raised in a fairly remote area of Northwest Connecticut and grew up working in my family’s restaurant. The area, while rural, is within driving distance to New York City and many of the restaurant’s customers and my parents’ friends were interior designers or involved in fashion and so I remember from a young age learning about and appreciating the design world. My business was born when a friend of mine asked me to help her with a few rooms in her house, and I am forever grateful for her trust and encouragement. My family moved to Nashville in 2019 and I have loved working in such a creative and supportive community, although I still have several clients in the northeast (and beyond!) I love what I do and am proud of the team we’ve built.
What was your design vision for the Frida Blue bathroom?
This is a powder bath off of my client’s pool area that gets a good amount of traffic and so we knew we wanted to use a wallpaper that felt playful and impactful since lots of guests would be using the space. A bolder print was a must as we envisioned this room being the “fun” powder bath in the house. The glass exterior door presented a bit of a design challenge as we needed to have complete privacy for guests without losing too much natural light. The shirred door treatment was a unique solution that met all of these parameters - and while these are a bit “old fashioned” I love the charm this one adds to the space.
Photography by Suzy Thompson Photography
What drew you to our Frida Blue pattern?
Frida was an obvious choice as the colors are vibrant and the pattern is quite whimsical. It works perfectly with the geometric marble flooring and plays off the blues and greens we used throughout the rest of the home. Frida is youthful - but not overly so - and I love the cheeriness and energy it brings into the design.
Photography by Suzy Thompson Photography
What tips do you have for designing a jewel box powder room?
Powder baths are small spaces that lend themselves well to wallpaper and slightly more daring design selections. Many of my clients feel safer taking these types of risks in limited doses which is why oftentimes their powder rooms become the most memorable rooms in their homes!
Photography by Suzy Thompson Photography
I love to use saturated colors, high gloss paints, unlacquered brass, extra special lighting and of course wallpaper when designing these spaces as these elements create a sense of formality and elegance. It’s important to remember that powder baths are one of the most frequented rooms in the home by guests, so why not make them extra special?
Tell us about the Emma Sky bathroom! How did you land on the botanical print?
This formal bath sits off of several rooms that showcase my client’s love of soft blues, lavenders and celadons. Emma paired seamlessly with the feminine touches throughout the home and the Sky colorway complimented our lower level color scheme beautifully. For some depth, we painted the custom vanity in a favorite dark blue from Farrow & Ball to help the room feel balanced and grounded. The marble, unlacquered brass and antique mirror finishes also inject the patina and warmth we needed to tie everything together.
Photography by Suzy Thompson Photography