Things they Love: Cheryl Katz

Cheryl Katz lives a remarkable design life. Born and raised in Greater Boston, her resume is studded with the achievements of a multidimensional creative career: fashion styling, set design, exhibit and hospitality design, and residential design. As if that weren’t enough, she’s also authored several books. She and her husband, architect Jeffrey Katz, founded interdisciplinary design firm C&J Katz Studio in 1984 and quickly became a celebrated fixture in the regional design scene. Further blending the artistic line between work and life, their son Oliver recently joined the family business. We caught up with Katz in her sunny South Boston office, in between jaunts to her art-filled Outer Cape home.

1. The last thing I bought and loved…is a sculpture by Sherry Olsen from the exhibit at Pod in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

2. In my handbag and closet you’ll always find…a lipstick brush—and a tube of Glossier lipstick in Vesper—and too many white shirts. For years, I made a twice-yearly pilgrimage to Brooks Brothers to purchase the piece of clothing that has most defined me: a men’s shirt, size 16 ½, 33, preferably broadcloth, straight collar, only in white, and monogrammed in black, sans serif, on the shirt’s pocket. But alas, once that bastion of conservative dress introduced the no-iron shirt, we parted company. I changed the paradigm and now purchase any beautiful white
shirt I can find at Viola Lovely and COS.

3. The best book I’ve read recently…is Oh William! by Elizabeth Strout.
Actually, I listen to books on tape, which, along with Peanut M&M’s, is my guilty pleasure. Next up to read—as opposed to listening to—is The Work of Art by Adam Moss.

4. My style icon…is model and jewelry designer Tina Chow.

5. The best piece of advice I’ve ever received…is stay open, don’t say no too often, wear good shoes, and understand the rules before you break them.

6. My favorite room in my house…is the kitchen, where a ten-foot-long table allows friends and family to share meals.

7. The best gift I’ve received…is a monotype print, Yard Work #61, made by my husband, Jeffrey, who is an excellent gift-giver and artist. It is the latest in a new series he’s working on during his Fine Arts Work Center residency in Provincetown.

8. I have a collection of…works by Gateway artists that Jeffrey and I have acquired over twenty-five years. We arelongtime advocates of Gateway Arts, an organization that supports artists with disabilities. Full disclosure: I am cochair of the advisory board.

9. A place that means a lot to me…is the Outer Cape, especially our garden in Truro.

10. Some of my best ideas have come from…my children, Fen and Oliver.

C&J Katz Studio, Boston, candjkatz.com