Profile: Katie Fine

I first met Katie years ago through her sister Alyson, who is one of Richard’s oldest and dearest friends. She is wonderfully quirky and sweet, and never fails to makes me laugh. She is also an amazingly talented interior designer with a great eye and colorful sense of style.

Katie lives in a great bungalow, which she decorated herself, with her husband Jesse, and 2 1/2 year old son, Maxwell. I wanted to share her beautiful home with all of you, and hope you are as inspired as I am. XXJKE

 

Beauty

R+T: What are your go-to beauty products? Why?

Tinted moisturizer, mascara, lip gloss, eyebrow gel. Have you seen my eyebrows?

R+T: Is there anything special you would like to share about your beauty routine?  

I have always been bad with routines, so I inevitably mix it up a lot. One tip I have learned is that I have to do my nighttime routine with Max, or I am way too tired to do anything after I have put him to bed!

R+T: What are the 5 products you couldn’t live without?

Jose Maran Argan Daily Moisturizer SPF 40, Terri Lawton Stem Cream, Extra Virgin Organic Coconut Oil, Hourglass Mascara (it’s gluten free), Egyptian Magic.

R+T: Bath or Shower?

Both.

 

Health

R+T: Do you have any health tricks?

A tablespoon of liquid Chlorophyll in a glass of water first thing in the morning helps with almost ANYTHING…I try to do this daily. Two packets of Lypo-spheric Vitamin C if I am feeling run down or at the first sign of a cold. In general, 10-20 min of sun exposure per day is so necessary for me. I add bee pollen to my smoothies and salad dressings for an energy boost and to help combat allergies – there is nothing else like it and I love the taste.

Like my beauty “routine,” my health tricks vary. I’ve been making Kimberly Snyder’s Glowing Green Smoothie, which has changed my life. It lasts in the fridge for a few days, so you can make it at night and enjoy in the mornings for several days after.

R+T: Any health causes that mean a lot to you?

Labeling of GMO foods, Environmental Working Group, and PHASE ONE.

R+T: Do you workout, what do you swear by?

Yes. When I have the time, I do pilates with Karen at Harmony Studios and Kundalini Yoga, but mostly I do a lot of walking, hiking with the family, riding bikes, swimming, and keeping up with Max.

 

Decor

R+T: What is your design philosophy for your home?

Casual, Comfortable, and Unexpected. Living in such a small space, everything has to have a function.

R+T: What are your favorite home stores?

Nicky Rising, Lost and Found, Nickey Kehoe, Lawson Fenning, Lucca Antiques, Long Beach Antique Market, Etsy, Heath Ceramics.

R+T: What is your favorite piece in your house?

A vintage hot pink mohair blanket that was my grandmother’s.

R+T: What is your favorite room in the house?

The bedroom.

 

Entertaining

R+T: Do you entertain at home?

Yes.

R+T: What are your tricks for entertaining?

Lots of food, good music, and someone to help me clean up. My mom is a great dishwasher when she’s in town.

R+T: How do you set the scene when you have people over?

I keep it really casual. I like leaving out food and drinks so that people can serve themselves and feel at home.

R+T: Are there any tips for what to do or what to avoid?

Why have a party if you can’t enjoy it? Try and relax. I tend to wait until the last minute to throw and plan a party. I am really working on this because planning ahead gives you more time to enjoy the day.

R+T: What is your favorite song/playlist when you have people over?

A Genius mix of Maxwell’s Ascension. I’m sure a Pandora or Spotify of that song will lead you in the right direction too.

R+T: What are your favorite objects/accessories in the kitchen?

I love the vintage breadbox for neatly storing snacks and things I want to keep in close reach. Also, my turquoise Le Creuset French Oven – I love the way it looks and the pop of color it adds, and use it almost every day. This kitchen is small, so if I don’t find myself using something often, I give it away.

 

Fashion

R+T: Who are your favorite designers?

Jenni Kayne, Irene Neuwirth, Isabel Marant, A.P.C., Acne, Rag & Bone.

R+T: What is your uniform?

Lately, it’s been printed pants (drawstring or denim), a button down shirt, a pair of men’s style loafers or a leather sandal, a gold necklace and some gold rings, and my white moonstone Irene Neuwirth necklace that has magically come back to me after several months of being lost! Also, a pair of black Benjamin or white Rag & Bone sunglasses…and I am always down for a romper or jumpsuit of any kind.

R+T: What is your newest purchase?

Probably something from Zara.

 

Food

R+T: Is there anything about your diet you would like to share with R+T?

Everything in moderation. I don’t eat a lot of meat, and I try to eat something green with every meal. I love raw butter and I am obsessed with Ghee.

R+T: Do you cook?

Yes.

R+T: What is your favorite recipe?

I love cooking Mexican food. Pamela Salzman has turned me on to healthy versions of my classic go-to dishes. I love her Turkey Tacos recipe with Mexican black beans and green rice.

Mung Beans and Rice is a staple in our house and we eat a version of it at least once a week – it’s so healing and soothing. Its also a great way to get in some extra veggies and really beneficial spices such as turmeric and cumin. Anytime someone isn’t feeling well in our house I make a big pot of it.

R+T: What is your kid’s favorite recipe?

Max loves to cook, so we share a lot of favorites. We make Pamela Salzman’s Healthy Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies a lot in our house. Both Jesse and Max are obsessed with cookies, so this is a healthy way to give them their fix.

We also make a version of The Barefoot Contessa’s Peach Blueberry Crumble , but I use coconut palm sugar instead of white sugar and use whole wheat or spelt flour.

 

Art

R+T: Who are your favorite artists?

David Hockney, Richard Misrach, Kim McCarty, Massimo Vitali, Margaret Kilgallen, Catherine Opie, Marcel Dzama.

R+T: What is your favorite piece of art you own?

Kim McCarty gave Jesse and I two watercolor portraits as a wedding present. I love her work, and love the way they look in our house. A lot of other pieces are tied for second.

 

Interior Design

R+T: What’s your favorite part about being an interior designer?

Creating spaces that bring family and friends together. Nothing is more rewarding than seeing people comfortable and inspired in a home that I helped them create.

R+T: What is your ideal space?

A big indoor/outdoor room with big glass sliding doors that open all the way – when the weather is nice, allowing access to the outdoors, and when the weather is not so nice, closed but still allowing a view of the garden.

 

Marriage

R+T: How do you balance work, motherhood, and marriage?

Still working on this one…

R+T: What is your secret to your marriage?

We laugh a lot.

R+T: Is there something you do with your husband on a regular basis?

We go to the beach…and eat!

R+T: What is the 1st thing you bought with your husband? 

A bean and cheese burrito…

 

Kids

R+T: What are your favorite places to shop for kids?

For boys clothes, I mostly stick with Nico Nico, Crewcuts for button down shirts, T-shirts, and shorts, Makie, Gap Kids for skinny fit jeans, Mollusk T-shirts and hoodies, Soft Star shoes (love the flexible soles, especially for early walkers), and Vans. For baby boys, I also love Pure Baby clothes from Australia.

R+T: Are there any kid’s finds (toys, clothes, activities) you want to share with Rip+Tan?

Most recently, it’s this Classic Balance Bike – I love the simple design. We got this for Max for his second birthday, and it’s been so fun watching him practice on it – he can go so fast now!

R+T: What is your favorite thing to do/place to go on the weekends with your kids?

I love going to the beach on the weekend. Jesse gets to go surfing, so he is happy, Max gets to watch him and play in the sand, and I get to relax. We also love going for bike rides together on the boardwalk.

R+T: What is your favorite restaurant to eat at with the whole family? 

There are so many! We love Escuela Tacqueria, Kay n’ Dave’s in Brentwood, Oscar’s in Venice, Cafe Angelino on 3rd and Robertson, Huckleberry in Santa Monica, Axe in Venice, and Cholada in Malibu.