Today we’d like to introduce you to Catherine Schultz.
Hi Catherine, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Studio YAY! is an award-winning Atlanta-based design house known for its bold, elevated approach to architecture, interiors, and bespoke objects. Founded by Catherine Schultz, Studio YAY! creates architecture, interiors, and objects that feel deeply personal and a little unexpected. They mix vintage influence, natural materials, and joyful accents — from built environments to custom shell purses. Whether it’s a building or a room’s finishing touch, everything they make is rooted in story and surprise.
Prior to founding Studio YAY!, Catherine worked in public relations and communications, while taking design projects on the side. With years of experience translating vision into clear, moving narratives for companies, Catherine knows how to read the room — or in this case, design the room — to reflect people’s needs, stories, and quirks. Catherine doesn’t just make spaces pretty. She understands how people want to feel in them. From selecting finishes, sourcing vintage pieces that add layers of history, to creating custom nature-inspired objects like shell purses, she designs with connection and beauty in mind. She draws inspiration from traveling and going to estate sales, where she’s always first in line! Seeing where and how people used to live and the objects they chose to surround themselves with has always fascinated her.
Catherine brings an eye for narrative, elegance, and craftsmanship to Studio Yay. Her home accessories collection includes custom handbags and bespoke boxes, that incorporate shells, semi-precious stones, and vintage elements sourced while traveling. Each piece is imbued with its own story and theme, echoing a design philosophy where every object speaks.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Starting a business always comes with challenges. Fortunately, Catherine and the Studio YAY! team are resourceful, optimistic, and incredibly persistent, so when challenges arise, they tackle them as a team.. One of the early challenges they faced was experiencing supply chain issues with the purses Catherine designs, a challenge that became more complex with increased tariffs last year. She had to pivot in terms of some of the suppliers she works with and the materials she uses. She’s learned to always have a back up plan and to recover from challenges as quickly as possible.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Studio YAY!?
Studio YAY! is a design house creating architecture, interiors, and objects that feel deeply personal and a little unexpected. vintage influence, natural materials, and joyful accents — from built environments to custom shell purses. Whether it’s a building or a room’s finishing touch, everything we make is rooted in story and surprise. The “YAY!” stands for “You and Yours” – we design for our clients and the people that inhabit their spaces – family, friends, pets, etc. We offer architecture and interior design services for residential and commercial projects, custom furniture, objects and lighting.
We believe architecture should be both grounded and expressive — a reflection of place, purpose, and possibility. Whether residential or commercial, our spaces are grounded in natural materials, shaped by light, and designed to unfold with intention. The result is buildings that are not only beautifully made but deeply felt.
At Studio YAY!, every space begins with a story—yours. Whether residential or commercial, our work is rooted in thoughtful collaboration and a deep understanding of how people live, work, and feel within a space. We draw on a curated mix of texture, material, era, and form— bold or subtle and always intentional—to create interiors that are layered, expressive, and deeply personal.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
Studio YAY! exists to bring more beauty, detail, and surprise into everyday life. Whether it’s a building, a room, a purse, or a piece of furniture, everything we create is layered with intention, rooted in personal history, and made to spark joy. Delighting our clients is our priority.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.studioyay.com
- Instagram: @studio.yay
Image Credits
Since there isn’t a way to save the text created so far, I’ll need to send the photos separately. Photography credit will be attributed to CaptisLUX Photography.
