Katie Davis’ traditional, pattern-filled style all started with her mom.

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Growing up in Houston, Texas, the Expert watched in awe as her mother, who worked with interior designer Cathy Chapman, decorated their home in a “tailored, layered, and eclectic” aesthetic. She savored her mom’s shelter magazines and catalogs. “Back then, there wasn't Instagram, so I just flipped through whatever was delivered to the house,” she explains. “I also loved going to department stores to see their home decor setups. That was the beginning of it.”

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But Katie spent years working as a lawyer before her interior design passion became a side project that eventually turned into her full-time career. Now, she employs a 10-person team at her eponymous firm, which is known for mixing lots of prints, antiques, and bits of modernity to achieve English cottage vibes in the American South. “I love the coziness of it all,” she says of her signature look. “I love that it's imperfectly perfect and luxurious, but relaxed. I just want our clients to be able to kick their feet up, not stress, and just enjoy living in their homes.”

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Here, Katie shares the secrets behind her style, which has earned her features in Southern Living, Domino, House Beautiful, and more. Keep scrolling for her Expert insight.

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The first thing I do when I design a room

I focus on the spatial layout. What gets me started is thinking, How is this room going to be used? What are we putting in this room? I instantly see the answers in my head when I walk in. From there, I'll start pulling patterns together based on the client's preferences. Sometimes, the concept starts with the rug. Other times, it’s a larger piece of furniture.

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The colors I’m loving right now

I always design with blue. I tell clients it's a neutral for me. It's a staple in every project. I've been drawn to saffron orange recently and I’ve been trying to mix that in. It's a little hard here, though. Some clients who went to the University of Texas, like me, are game for it. Clients who went to the opposing school don't want anything to do with it. It's not meant to be a school color, though—it's just pretty.

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My go-to design books to reference

I truly love how Mark D. Sikes’s books are laid out. He does a great job of telling a story through color. Ashley Whittaker's book is another go-to—I have that on my coffee table and can't tell you how many times I've flipped through it. I love her life and her friendship with lighting designer Christopher Spitzmiller. She’s such an inspiration.

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My favorite lighting trick

I am a big fan of ambient lighting. I need soft light bulbs everywhere. A party planner friend says, ‘We all look good by candlelight.’ So I have a lot of lamps and pretty light fixtures that hang from the ceiling. If I can avoid a can light, I try. Here in Texas, we have large rooms, so we need recessed fixtures to help light up our houses, but I love layering in lots of lamps.

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The most underrated material I love to use

One material that gets dogged on a lot is natural stone (like marble) but I love it. It's prettier than the man-made alternative, and we've used it for centuries. People want a magazine-ready house—I get that. But if you get coffee on your countertops, it'll be okay. We're supposed to live in our homes and enjoy them.

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The piece that always anchors a space

The right-sized rug really brings a room together. Depending on the client's preferences and the room's purpose, a rug can add a lot of comfort. Even a sisal in a high-traffic area can help set the tone.

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What I always buy vintage

I have a little obsession with tiny tables and I buy a lot of them. They add character. They’re already worn. If the wood or bamboo is stained, it just adds interest. And if it gets another ring on it, from a wine glass or a coffee mug, who cares? It’s interesting.

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One thing that should always be made custom

I'm a big fan of custom window treatments. It’s a must. You need the right drapery in a room to really make it look finished.

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My go-to kitchen cabinet color

I love Boothbay Gray by Benjamin Moore and French Gray by Farrow & Ball. They're both subtle enough that you won’t get sick of them. They go with enough countertop and backsplash options. They're good neutrals that are not going to scare people off. They have that sea-glass look so they’re very comforting and bring the outside in. Both colors add a touch of warmth and interest to a kitchen.

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The hotels that represent ultimate luxury to me

I recently stayed at Kit Kemp’s hotels in New York and London, The Whitby and Number Sixteen, and I’m obsessed with them. They're well thought out. Everything's visually interesting—the walls are upholstered in fun colors—but it also feels comfortable and like you can just hang out there forever.

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The last thing I bought for my home

I just bought wallpaper from Lee Jofa for our two-story entry. The stairs are a little dramatic—it’s not my favorite part of my house—and I've been struggling with how to make the space more casual. I landed on this striped, taupe brown wallpaper that will run up the stairs and down the hall. It's an overwhelming amount of wallpaper, but I'm so excited.

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At home, you’ll most often find me

Reading or playing Mahjong with my kids in our lounge area. I love hanging out in there.

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My go-to finishing touches

I layer in all the accessories. I always tell our clients to save up for the knick-knacks and ask for a retainer for those products upfront. I ask them to give me a sense of what look they're going for, whether it's a very stylized or a more eclectic bookshelf, for example, or how many books they want on their coffee table. The home isn't finished until I layer in those items.