Behind the Studio

Your friendly expert in creative operations.

Kat Oldershaw, a woman with long, curly red hair, wearing a white blouse, smiling and sitting with her arms crossed on a white table in front of a blue background.
Cluster of hand-drawn black X marks arranged loosely in a scattered pattern.
Cluster of hand-drawn black X marks arranged loosely in a scattered pattern.
A woman with long curly red hair, smiling, wearing a black top, tan blazer, and leopard print skirt, standing with hands on hips in front of a blue background.
A black illustration of a squiggle.

Hey there, I’m Kat

I’m the Founder + Creative Operations Consultant at kat&co. 

I believe creative business owners deserve support that feels grounded, intuitive, and tailored. Creative work is not linear and your systems shouldn’t be either. I help interior designers and creative studios build structure that supports their process instead of restricting it.

With more than a decade of experience working inside interior design firms and creative studios, I understand exactly how overwhelming the backend of a business can feel. I have seen firsthand how much more confident and productive studio owners become when someone they trust is managing the parts of the business they do not have time to hold. My goal is to create that sense of ease for you.

Who I Am

I’m a California native, creative, and operations specialist. I grew up in the Central Valley and eventually made my way north to study Psychology at UC Berkeley. After years spent in the Bay Area and Los Angeles, I now live in the Napa Valley which I consider my true home.

Creativity has always been part of my life. I have built sets for community theaters, practiced pinstriping on vintage motorcycles, designed custom beer can labels, sold paintings at underground art shows, taught myself block printing, created a wallcovering collection from scratch, and of course led in the world of interior design, custom furniture and installation. 

In addition to my consulting work, I am the Co-Founder and Director of Operations at Benchwork Fabrication, a custom furniture and millwork company serving designers, builders, and homeowners. Remaining actively involved in both consulting and fabrication allows me to stay closely connected to the realities of the design industry while bringing current, practical experience into my work with clients.

Alongside all of this, I am a highly analytical and deeply empathetic person. This combination of creativity and logic is the foundation of the work I do through kat&co. It lets me understand the emotional landscape of creative business ownership while also seeing the operational steps that will move your studio forward.

When you work with me, you are not getting generic advice. You are receiving thoughtful, tailored insights based on real experience inside real creative businesses.

Hand-drawn illustration of a round decorative wall mirror with a ribbon at the top.

My Approach

I am not a one size fits all person. Every creative studio has its own rhythm, personality, and way of working. My job is to understand your world and help you build a business that supports you instead of draining you.

Together we look at what feels intuitive, what feels overwhelming, and what needs to change. We break big, scary tasks into something doable. We create clarity where there has been confusion. And then I roll up my sleeves and support you as you move forward.

The work we do together is often deeper than organizing a workflow or building a template. It is the feeling of having someone in your corner who can battle the storm with you, laughing along the way.

Hand-drawn illustration of a standing lamp with a wide, flared lampshade.

Why I Do This Work

Creative people deserve businesses that feel supportive and sustainable. You deserve clarity, confidence, structure, and room to breathe. You deserve a partner who understands both the art and the operations. That is what I bring to kat&co, and that is what I hope to bring to you.

Studio Values

At kat&co, everything begins with people. Creative work is personal, emotional, intuitive, and often nonlinear and the support behind your business should honor that. 

These are the principles that shape every partnership, every project, and every conversation.

Black and white photo of a wall with framed artwork and two potted plants on a table. One plant has a sign that reads 'Rooted in Napa'. There are books about design on the table.
Hand-drawn illustration of three overlapping circles.

kat&co is proud to support creative business owners exactly as they are. I welcome LGBTQ+, BIPOC, AAPI communities and people of all abilities and neurotypes. I am committed to creating a space where all underserved creatives feel supported and seen.

Hand-drawn illustration of a single rose with petals and leaves.