Meet Katie Walker, Founder of Slate Studios
You should know whom you’re trusting with your home. My approach is deeply personal, shaped by my experiences and expertise.
This is a closer look at my story.
Katie Walker, founder of Slate Studios, has built a full-service interior design studio known for its refined, white-glove approach and deeply personalized interiors.
Since launching the firm in 2020, she has established Slate Studios as a sought-after design firm for new builds, renovations, and luxury residential projects throughout Florida’s coastal communities and beyond.
With over 15 years of experience in interior design, project management, and procurement, Katie brings a level of precision and oversight that defines Slate Studios. Her background in hospitality design, where she contributed to over 100 hotel projects nationwide, continues to shape her highly detailed, process-driven approach to residential design.
The art of interior design & creating beautiful spaces has always been with me.
Design is in my DNA, my dad was an artist and a contractor, inspiring me from a young age. Since spackling walls with him to designing my childhood bedroom and developing a love for decorating for holidays and entertaining, I've always loved making spaces beautiful.
I was born with a creative spirit.
Design is deeply personal to me. I believe designing a home is about more than creating something beautiful. It's about honoring one of life's most meaningful investments with intention.
Growing up, I loved hearing stories from my parents about their childhood,
and uncovering my Mom's teenage photos and music albums was a moment I will never forget. From a young age I uncovered treasures and put them on display in our home.
Little did I know that was the start of being able to design spaces that are authentic to the people who live there.
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After my father passed away when I was fifteen, we moved from sunny Naples, FL to Pittsburgh, PA.
It was culture shock, but looking back this was the evolution I needed to shape my entrepreneurial spirit.
I studied Interior Design in college.
During my final semester, I landed my dream internship at a Hospitality Design Firm. This was 2012, just as the economy started to pick up after the 2008 recession.
My internship turned into a full-time position which turned into a decade career working with the same firm.
The company was a smaller family-run firm, and I am blessed to have been an integral part of the team. Not only was I able to work with top Hotel Brands and personally design and project-manage over one hundred new construction and renovation hotel projects across the country. I also created processes, recruited and trained employees, and learned everything I could about running a business.
I personally designed + managed over 100
new construction + renovation projects across the country
During my last few years with the firm, I relocated from Pittsburgh to Tampa, and promoted to Territory Sales Manager for the whole state of Florida.
At first, I loved it, but soon the novelty wore off for me. I was no longer designing anymore and I was on the road, travelling constantly...
As I continued to spend time away from home...
No matter where work took me, I always looked forward to coming home to a space that reflected who I was. It reminded me that thoughtful design isn't just about how a home looks, it's about how it makes you feel.
When 2020 brought unexpected change, that realization inspired me to return to my roots and pursue my true passion: creating homes that offer others that same sense of comfort, joy, and belonging.
In July of 2020 I met the love of my life and became a bonus Mom.
My (now) husband, a fiercely determined air force veteran, provided me the support I needed to make the leap into entrepreneurship and launch Slate Studios.
You heard my story.
Now I can’t wait to learn yours.