Who We Are | Kate Roos
Kate Roos
My childhood was spend in Brooklyn on a dreamy little tree-lined street, in a classic Brownstone. Not knowing a thing about renovation, my parents bought our 5 story row house when I was 5. Thus began many years of learning as they went and without realizing it, sowing the seeds in my mind for a lifetime of design and renovation. The brownstone is no longer in the family, but it looms large in forming the person I am today.
I had an early interest in art and creative activities. We spent many weekends gallery and museum hopping, and this early exposure to art and culture shaped how I see the world. One memorable exhibit was Red Grooms ‘Ruckus Manhattan’. An interactive show where one could walk through the art complete with a subway car with a moving floor- simulating the train moving on the tracks. As a kid, this blew my mind!
I attended Fiorello H. LaGuardia HS in Manhattan, majoring in art. There was a magical quality to this place. Kids from all over the city came to study their craft, supportive of one another, and to discover who they were to become in the world. Shout out to the class of ‘89, the best class there ever was!
Continuing my artistic studies, I attended UMASS Amherst for studio Arts. My time there was filled with great memories, wonderful people, and a semester abroad in the south of France. The Chateau de la Napoule was our home base, an inspiring place perched on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea.
Upon graduation, I made my way to Minnesota where I was able to put my art skills to use, founding Wanda Inc., a decorative painting company. We worked directly with homeowners, designers, architects, and builders to create beautiful murals and paint plaster finishes. After 17 years, I shifted my focus to kitchen and bath design which allowed me to lean on the skills I had developed at Wanda and continue to apply my artistic eye to interiors. Kate Roos Design was founded in 2015 and the rest is history.
I currently live in the Wedge neighborhood of Minneapolis with my husband, Tony, our daughter, Iris, and two pound dogs, Lola and Lucy. In my free time, I can be found out and about museum hopping with the family, tending the veggie garden, painting, and scrolling real estate for the next dream renovation project.
