Katie Martinez
Owner, Katie Martinez Design
With training from some of the best in the business, Katie Martinez is definitely one to watch. Before launching her own design firm in 2013, Martinez worked for Nicole Hollis, Paul Wiseman and The Rockwell Group in New York. “Rockwell taught me to be bold and take risks, while Paul Wiseman taught me about the importance of details. And at Nicole Hollis, I learned how to juggle multiple projects at once,” she says. Now, her studio offers a range of services, from soup-to-nuts interior design to furniture and accessory selection. Martinez’s design style leans sophisticated yet casual and fun, and nowhere is that more apparent than at Sinegal Estate Winery in St. Helena, one of the designer’s favorite projects. Martinez is currently hard at work on homes in Tiburon and on Elizabeth Street in Manhattan, but when she pauses to take a break, here’s how she spends a day off in San Francisco.
9 a.m. I like to start out with breakfast at Marla Bakery. If I’m lucky enough to catch a sunny day, I choose to enjoy my coffee and freshly baked bread or pastry in the bakery’s pretty backyard garden.
10 a.m. To walk off breakfast, I stroll through Sutro Heights Park and check out the view of Ocean Beach and the surfers at Kelly’s Cove. Then I continue on to Lands End trail–a great place for whale watching with killer views of the Golden Gate Bridge and Marin Headlands.
12 p.m. Once I’ve had my fill of nature and ocean air, I head over to the Mission District. I love Souvla for a casual lunch; the frozen yogurt with Cretan Wildflower Honey for dessert is a must. I also can’t leave without a stop in at the Tradesmen and Le Point boutiques–both on the same block on Valencia Street.
2 p.m. From Mission, I walk to Noe Valley along Dolores Street for great city views, palm trees, restored Victorians and people watching in Dolores Park. I end my walk at The Podolls on 24th Street. It’s my go-to store for stylish clothing and accessories.
5 p.m. By early evening it’s time to refuel at the new Sightglass Coffee on Divisadero Street. It has great coffee and inspiring interior design. I wander a little farther down Divisadero and stop in The Perish Trust for a mix of vintage furniture, accessories, books, lighting and textiles. I always find something special there.
7 p.m. I try to snag a table at Nopa, a San Francisco classic, for the incredible rotisserie-herbed chicken. To cap off the perfect day, I catch some live music next door at The Independent.
