aBOUT

A woman with dark hair and earrings smiling while walking in a narrow city alleyway with brick and stone buildings on either side and street lamps overhead.
Sketches and notes for architectural or furniture design on paper with tools like a ruler, pen, and a small weight flat on the table.
Hand-drawn geometric diagram including circles, squares, and lines with labeled points.
A geometric snowflake pattern with symmetrical petal and square shapes. 
our mission

Material Design Co. is a full-service interior design studio dedicated to bringing clarity, confidence, and ease to the design and construction process.

A woman with shoulder-length dark hair, smiling and leaning against a wooden wall inside a warmly lit room, with a background of blurred people and a rustic ceiling with wooden beams.
Woman shopping for fabric in a store with colorful fabrics hanging behind her.

Meet Kathleen, Principal Designer

Interior designer, traveler, foodie, yogi, and lover of all things authentic.

I'm a small town Tennessee girl with a BA in Interior Design, a Master of Architecture, and years of hands-on experience in construction management. That combination of classical design training and real-world construction experience is the foundation of everything I do — and it's what allows me to bring both creative vision and disciplined execution to every project.

I have insatiable wanderlust and travel as often as possible, scouring the globe for the best in design, craft, and quality so that I can always bring a fresh, cosmopolitan perspective to your project. Paired with ongoing continuing education, it means you're getting not just a designer, but one who is constantly evolving and always at the leading edge of the field.

As your advisor, advocate, and ally, my goal is to help you maximize your investment — without overwhelm. 

When I'm not designing or traveling, you'll find me sketching, cooking, hiking, or at the piano.

Modern open-concept living room and kitchen with white sectional sofa, wooden coffee table, gray kitchen cabinets, white countertops, and bar stools. 
Expertise

Kathleen brings a rare combination of creative vision, technical depth, and operational discipline to every project. Her European design education paired with years of hands-on construction experience, gives her a singular fluency in both design and execution. She is a Registered Interior Designer in the state of Texas and has completed projects across the United States and Europe — from Austin, Dallas, and South Padre Island to Telluride, Boulder, Chattanooga, and Parthenay, France.

Kathleen is deeply committed to the growth of the design profession. She serves on the Dean's Advisory Council of the University of Texas College of Fine Arts, mentors in the Interior Design department at the Savannah College of Art and Design, and teaches Operations 301: Project Leadership in Construction Based Design at LuAnn University. A member of the Institute of Classical Art and Architecture, she is currently pursuing her Certificate in Classical Architecture — one of many ways she continues to expand her knowledge through ongoing education and extensive travel. Her work and expertise have been featured on A Well-Designed Business, the Brad Leavitt Podcast, and the Modern Craftsman Podcast.

What keeps clients coming back is not just the design. It is the process — organized, communicative, and fiscally disciplined. Kathleen's thorough due diligence and rigorous project management mean that budgets are respected and expectations are met, every time.

Credentials

  • Bachelor of Arts, Interior Design

  • Master of Architecture, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Barcelona

  • NCIDQ Examination — all requirements completed

  • Registered Interior Designer, State of Texas

  • Certificate in Classical Architecture (in progress), Institute of Classical Art and Architecture

  • Women Who Mean Business, UT McCombs School of Business

Deeply Trained. Broadly Experienced. Uncommonly Thorough.

A bathroom vanity with a dark wooden countertop, a gray oval sink, and a tall mirror with a gold frame. The wall behind has dark blue textured tiles with subtle swirl patterns. There are two wall sconces with gold bases and glass covers, a colorful v
Open-concept living room and kitchen with large windows, gray and beige furniture, and a view of a backyard with a tree and patio lights.
White wall with black text that reads 'Keeping Music in Austin Alive & Well,' and a doorway with colorful graffiti art on the wall inside. To the right, a wall covered in various posters and flyers for music events and performances.
A bedroom with a bed, a dark brown velvet headboard, white bedding, decorative pillow, bedside table with lamp, potted plant, books, window with natural light, and curtains.
Modern kitchen with white cabinetry, marble countertops, stainless steel appliances, and sliding glass door leading to backyard with tree.
Living room with cream sofa, decorative pillows, a dark wood coffee table with a pink plant, a white table lamp, a blue cabinet with drawers, and a large potted plant on top of the cabinet against a wallpapered wall. 
are you ready?

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