The Designer’s Journal: Inside Cathie Hong’s Layered, Modernist Aesthetic

For interior designer Cathie Hong, great design lives at the intersection of form, feeling, and cultural storytelling. With a style she describes as “layered, modernist, and warm,” Cathie’s work blends the bold geometry of mid-century design with the quiet beauty of Korean and Japanese aesthetics—resulting in spaces that feel both refined and approachable.

“I care so much about homes feeling warm, approachable, and well-designed,” she shares. From a Finnish-Japanese fusion home to a colorful mid-century fixer in the Bay Area, we caught up with Cathie to hear more about her design philosophy, her love of custom millwork, and the Schoolhouse piece she’s currently dreaming of using in an upcoming project.

Describe your design style in three words.

Layered, modernist, and warm.

Where do you draw your design inspiration from?

I draw a lot of inspiration from mid-century architecture and design, as well as Korean and Japanese design. Mid-century design is geometric, clean-lined, with rich and bold colors. Asian design has a strong emphasis on handmade craft, minimalism, and neutral colors. They seem contrary to each other in many ways, but I think there are certain throughlines that allow the two to merge together in a really interesting way that enhances the end product.

What is your design ethos?

I care so much about homes feeling warm, approachable and well-designed. We have a wide spectrum of clients whose styles range from ultra minimalist Japandi to funky pops of color and pattern, and we love designing it all! We just want to make sure the designs are tailored to each client's specific lifestyle, habits, needs and design sensibilities so that they feel that their home is a reflection of themselves and a place that they want to return to.

What are you working on right now?

We have so many fun projects in the works, including a new build for a Finnish + Japanese couple who want a house that blends their cultures together, a mid-century fixer with shou sugi ban charred siding and the brightest pops of cobalt, persimmon, and chartreuse, and most recently, a Korean-inspired daytime cafe in San Francisco.

Can you share your favorite way to create a statement-making moment in a room?

It's always custom millwork for me. I love to play with color, species, wood grain, door profiles, integrated pulls in different ways to make the millwork stand out as a design feature while providing functional storage and reducing clutter.

What’s your favorite piece of decor in your own home?

My favorite piece hands down is the original textile art piece "Glide Swiftly" by one of my favorite Korean-American artists Mimi Jung that hangs in my dining room.

Can you tell us about your favorite Schoolhouse product?

I love all the fresh, design-forward products that Schoolhouse continues to put out and am especially drawn to the brand collaborations that they've engaged in recently. I would love to use the Schoolhouse x Roll & Hill Bento Chandelier in a midcentury kitchen or dining room someday!