Kat Foster Interiors, LLC

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Evanston, IL
Kat Foster Interiors, LLC

Unlocking a Home's Potential with Staging, Styling, and Paint Consultations.

08/25/2026

This basement wall finally came together!

I used frames I already had, thrifted a few more, and filled them with photos from our travels. They’re all nature-based, with lots of blues, greens, and warm orange tones throughout.

One easy way to make a gallery wall feel cohesive is to repeat a few colors across the images. I also painted all of the mats the same soft off-white because the originals were all slightly different tones, and the brighter white felt too stark against the wall.

I feel most alive when I’m out in nature, so it makes me happy to see those memories around the house instead of leaving them buried in my camera roll.

The best spaces are the ones that actually feel like the people who live there.

08/08/2026

With inventory still low, I understand why sellers may be hesitant to put much time or money into preparing a home for market. But I also wonder if we’re sometimes skipping relatively simple updates that could make a home feel more current, more compelling—and ultimately more valuable to buyers.

This living room is a good example. No major renovation. We painted, updated the light fixture and covered a dated floral sofa and shifted furniture to gain some foreground. A few thoughtful changes completely changed how the room presented.

I’m curious to hear from local Realtors: When you don’t recommend updates like paint or lighting before listing, is it because you don’t feel the return is there in this market? Or because choosing the right colors, fixtures and finishing touches isn’t something you want to take on?

That’s where I’d love to be a resource. I can help determine what’s worth changing, what’s worth leaving alone, and make the selections so your seller isn’t overwhelmed or spending unnecessarily.

What are you seeing with your listings right now? Are sellers doing less prep because homes are still selling—and do you ever wonder if they’re leaving money on the table?

If you’re a Realtor in Evanston, Chicago or the North Shore, I’d love to connect. Reach out and let’s chat about your listings and where I can help.

08/07/2026

An AI image can show you a direction. It can’t tell you if the color will actually work on your home.

The association shared an AI-generated image as inspiration for a more updated, high-contrast exterior. I could immediately see the direction they liked, but I also knew the stark black-and-gray palette wouldn’t be the best fit with the existing masonry.

I arrived at the consultation armed with several warmer neutral options that I thought could bridge the gap between their inspiration and the building itself. Once I was there with large samples in hand, though, only one of those neutrals truly worked with the stone.

That’s why exterior color is so much more than choosing a palette from a rendering. AI can help communicate a vision, but the existing materials, undertones, architecture and natural light have to lead the final decision.

My recommendation was a softer, more grounded take on their inspiration: Balanced Beige, Thunderous and Urbane Bronze.

And before any final commitment, I always recommend testing painted samples on the building and viewing them throughout the day in different light.

08/03/2026

One of the biggest misconceptions about choosing paint?

That you start with the paint.

In reality, I start by looking at everything except the paint—your cabinetry, flooring, countertops, furnishings, wallpaper, and natural light.

Only then do I begin narrowing down colors.

That’s why I created Beyond White—my own curated collection of whites and warm neutrals, carefully selected because they consistently work across a variety of homes, lighting conditions, and finishes.

It’s one of the tools I use during consultations to help homeowners find the right color with confidence—without the guesswork or a dozen sample pots.

07/20/2026

You don’t want to miss the Skylight Vintage Festival & Sidewalk Sale in Evanston!

Stop by the Compass tent and say hello—I’ll be there offering quick ideas for your decorating and design dilemmas, plus we’ll have fun activities for the kids.

Saturday, July 25 | 12–5 PM
800 block of Dempster Street

Come for the vintage finds, local vendors, music, food, and family fun. Hope to see you there!

06/30/2026

Which version of this space would you rather gather in with your kids?

These homeowners knew a full kitchen renovation was still a long way off, but they didn’t want to wait years to make the space feel better and function more comfortably for their family.

The existing rectangular glass table felt visually heavy, and the sharp corners were not ideal with young children.

During our Style Session, I suggested:

• Replacing it with a round wood table for safer movement and better flow
• Adding warmth against the painted banquette
• Replacing the four small wall panels with one landscape image
• Using pillows and accessories to make the nook feel softer and more inviting

A future renovation doesn’t mean you have to live with a space that isn’t working today. Sometimes a few thoughtful changes are enough to make everyday life feel much better.

06/26/2026

This dining room didn’t need a full redo—it needed a clear plan.

My clients had recently painted the dining room green and the adjoining TV room a rich terracotta. They loved the new colors but weren’t sure how to finish the dining room or connect it visually to the surrounding spaces.

During our Style Session, I suggested:

• Framing a section of mural wallpaper on one wall to bring together colors from both rooms
• Creating a collected plate wall on another wall for charm and personality
• Replacing the antique bar cart with a cleaner, more modern piece featuring metal details that relate to the light fixture
• Simplifying the mix of wood tones so the room feels more cohesive

The room already had great character. It simply needed a few thoughtful decisions to make everything feel connected and intentional.

06/18/2026

Paint consults don’t always happen in finished, photo-ready spaces — sometimes they happen in vacant homes mid-construction with samples spread out on the floor.

For this home, the homeowner originally thought they wanted white kitchen cabinets. But once we looked at the space, the lighting told a different story. With limited natural light, the white felt a little washed out instead of fresh.

So we shifted to a soft beige for the cabinets, paired with a lighter beige for the whole-home wall color. The result will feel warm, elevated, and cozy without going stark.

We kept the trim white because they love a more defined trim look, and it gives the whole palette a clean structure.

This is exactly why paint color is so personal to each home. The “right” color isn’t just about what looks pretty on a swatch — it’s about the light, the finishes, the flooring, and how everything works together.

Can’t wait to see this one come together.

05/28/2026

A smooth paint consultation today with a very decisive homeowner.

We used these beautiful new leathered granite countertops as the starting point and built a soft, cohesive palette for the condo around them.

Paint colors should never be chosen in isolation. The best palettes work with the fixed elements already in the home — counters, floors, cabinets, tile, and light — so the whole space feels intentional.

This one came together beautifully.

04/27/2026

You know when a bathroom just feels off, but you can’t quite figure out why?

A lot of times, it’s not that the tile is “bad.” It’s that everything around the tile is fighting it.

In this bathroom, the tile is warm and brown, but the trim is a bright white. That sharp contrast makes the tile stand out in a way that feels more dated.

I’d soften the whole thing by letting the tile lead: creamier walls, a warmer beige/taupe trim, and lighting that doesn’t turn everything blue.

And speaking of lighting — please check your bulbs. In a bathroom, 2700K–3000K is usually much more flattering than daylight bulbs. More kelvins does not mean brighter. Kelvins are the color temperature. If you want the room brighter, look for more lumens.

This is why I always look at the fixed finishes before picking paint. Tile, flooring, counters, cabinets, lighting — they all get a say.

Paint is easier to change than tile, but it still has to play nicely with what’s staying.

Address

Evanston, IL
60201

Website

https://www.katfosterinteriors.com/, https://app.psychehome.com/i/icz3kzpgrqex7x

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