2024 is the Year of the Living Room

My path to ~this biz~ did not start out with a crystal clear vision of what I wanted to do. In fact, it started haphazardly and was fueled by manic inspiration that can only be described as enthusiastically throwing spaghetti against a wall. Because I am Cat, and those of you know me will vouch, I have no issue diving headfirst into a world that I have no clue about.

Woman hanging upside down from rug ceiling

So with an absolute vigor and excitement about experimentation and the classic can-do attitude, I set off down the road learning everything about textile design and making anything from a tote to stationary to a windbreaker to a lunchbox to an area rug.

And let me tell you, when people used to ask me what my vision was- I used to say simply and matter-of-factly: “everything!” Meaning, I intended to design everything. & such is the allure of the surface pattern design business. You CAN design everything… just maybe not everything all at once!

In my situation, focus is a helpful friend. Beyond wanting to design everything, I also want everything I design to live in harmony together. I want you to have a tufted accent pillow on your couch that effortlessly coordinates with the knit throw blanket on your side chair and I want those two colorful home decor items to absolutely pop against a beautiful handmade wool area rug. So while I want to do ~everything~ and I fully intend on it, I’m starting off 2024 with a little more focus so that I can hone in on the design and make them sing together before endlessly expanding.

2024 is the year of the living room

One of my favorite rooms in the house is the living room, so it’s fitting that it’s the first capsule that I’m starting with. In the best case scenario, the living room is a community oriented spot where everyone can come and hang out. The ideal equation for a great living room is focusing on comfortable couches where anyone watching the movie can fall asleep at any time, soft throw blankets to snuggle up in, art that makes you smile and gives some personality to the space, a colorful area rug (obviously!) that is plush enough for anyone to sit or roll around on, and a bookshelf stacked to the brim with fun board games that don’t cause drama (ahem, Monopoly we’re looking at you!).

This is not a living room where the couch cannot be sat on or the books are never read. This is a living room where spills happen sometimes, where a dog has probably jumped on the sofa with muddy paws at one point, and where there are plenty of good memories made throughout the week. I design my goods for life, not just for looking!

Here’s the grand plan:

I’m not about to reveal all of my design secrets to you right now, but good try! In 2024 you can expect to see an expanded line of wool area rugs so that living rooms of all sizes can get some of Cat Schmitz’s razzle dazzle. This includes more designs, too! I won’t spoil all of what’s to come, but to leave you with some more hints: In addition to more rugs, we’re adding more textures, shapes, and sizes to your living room all year long! Stay tuned ~