82 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM to design it myself but without the tools,” she recalls. Ultimately hiring a designer, “We removed a wall, which allowed us to significantly reconfigure the kitchen, let in more natural light and see the ocean view.” Clear panels replaced sight-obstructing deck rails, and a solid panel now blocked an unwanted view. Reflecting on the process, Kate nailed down the missing piece: “I wanted the whole 3D experience beforehand.” So she invested in software and trained on it. Kate Handel Design launched in 2015. “I found myself doing things every day that I had not done before,” explains Kate. “I asked lots of questions.” The entrepreneur also utilized her tech-world skills, such as project management, problem-solving and creative thinking. Numerous clients later, Kate still peers into her clients’ kaleidoscope of emotions, expectations and wishes for their homes. “Tell me what you’d like your space to be when we’re done … Give me {home & design} the words,” she invites. Coastside transplants may answer, “an escape” or “a peaceful space.” The gathering-minded, “the place everybody wants to visit.” Then Kate helps clients “crystalize” these dreams into the digital 3D Design Vision that lets them “walk through” their renovations before sledgehammer ever hits drywall. No lightweight, Kate is “used to pitching in and being part of a team,” having learned it growing up. “You have to be nimble,” says Kate, of more than just crossing a building site while checking progress. Issues pop up requiring quick thinking and cooperation among teammates. Also key players in client satisfaction, Kate’s trusted vendors keep her and homeowners posted on fresh finds. For example, amidst her stunning, extensive redesign of a Half Moon Bay residence, a vendor alerted Kate to a large stone slab whose teal and copper tones echoed those throughout the renovated home. Cut into three pieces, the slab, aptly named “Maestro,” now forms a commanding triptych above the PHOTOGRAPHY: COURTESY OF ANDROID GALLUCCI
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