In Conversation with Cathie Hong

Thank you so much for sitting down with us! This is particularly fun because we've worked with you over multiple projects and we're so grateful for the support you show our studio. We've also been lucky enough to meet some of your clients in person because they've come by our studio to see pieces in person. Being able to work face-to-face is a very special thing for us.

To kick things off…one thing I actually don't know is how you became an interior designer, when that happened, and some of the background on that.

I'll start by saying we love working with you too! I started my company almost eight years ago, and from the beginning we've always looked for unique sources when we design. We came across Sun at Six about three or four years ago and immediately loved your pieces. I was honestly so surprised to find out you were based in San Jose — it's always San Francisco, Berkeley, Oakland… never San Jose. So that was such a fun discovery.

We hear that a lot.

When Chianna and I visited your warehouse and did sit tests on all your chairs, we were so impressed by the quality. Since then, I've loved sourcing your pieces for our clients.

Over time, we've attracted a lot of Asian clients. I think residential design is such a personal process — it's tied to your culture and upbringing. Many of our clients have been excited to learn that Sun at Six is Asian-owned and that there's a shared set of values behind the work.

As for how I started my business... I actually don't have formal training in design. I didn't go to design school, although sometimes I wish I had. I got married young, became a mom at 25, and was a stay-at-home mom for seven years. After my third child, I was ready to explore something creative and start a business. I originally thought about graphic design and maybe launching a stationery line. But around that time we bought our first home, and I was following a lot of designers on Instagram. I asked my husband, "Should I pursue graphic design or interior design?" and without hesitation he said interior design.

Very convenient answer given the particular stage of your life.

So I took his advice and started taking classes at a local community college. I loved it. Friends started asking for help with small furnishing projects, so I did a few for free and began photographing and posting them online. I started an Instagram account, and it grew very organically from there — small renovations turned into full-home projects and eventually new builds. It was an extremely steep learning curve, but I learned as I went, and thankfully I'm still here.

That's so interesting because I do often hear that there's this very organic process where people find their passion. I'm curious though - because there are so many very technical aspects to being an interior designer, working with builders and contractors, working with clients - what was it like the first time you got a client that was not a friend or family? Were you Googling how to write a contract? How did you do all that at the beginning?

Yes, a lot of Google! I remember designing my first bathroom and thinking, "How do you even lay this out? What are the minimum clearances? How tall is a vanity?" I was constantly looking things up. I always joke that I wish AI had existed back then.

One invaluable resource that I did have at the time was an architect I was introduced to through mutual friends. He had studied at Berkeley and worked in commercial architecture before starting his own practice around the same time I launched my studio. I desperately needed help with drafting, so I asked if he could support me on a few projects. He graciously did, and I quickly realized how much knowledge he had. I eventually asked if he would tutor me… I offered to pay him hourly just to walk me through building code basics for kitchens, bathrooms, and interiors so I could have a solid foundation. We spent hours at a coffee shop going through everything. In those early years, I texted him frequently with questions, and he was always generous with his time. We've both grown a lot since then and now collaborate on many projects together.

Continuing with this idea that people organically get into a practice - these stories often feature a very serendipitous moment where someone will say, "Well, I met this one person and then everything kind of kicked off." On the one hand it's so inspiring to hear how things fall into place, but it can also feel very intimidating to people because they're like, well, I don't have an architect friend. I don't know how to do this. So, I love that you actually said, "I just offered to pay him by the hour." I love that there was both the serendipity in your story and also the feeling of "I just need to learn this and I'm gonna sign up or pay someone to learn it."

One of the hardest parts in the beginning was not having a network. I didn't know anyone, so I felt like I was reaching blindly for support. Over time, though, you learn very quickly — even after just one project — who you want to keep working with. He was someone I immediately knew I wanted to continue collaborating with: knowledgeable, generous, collaborative, aligned in values. Over the years, I've "collected" those kinds of people — cabinet makers, contractors, engineers — and built a trusted network. The more projects you do together, the stronger those relationships become. There's a mutual loyalty and shared desire to produce good work.

That's very special to hear because I think there is something about wisdom gained through time and the experiences and relationships you have. You can't replace or speed up or slow down how much time it takes to build those. I imagine it's something that people really appreciate when they approach you to work with you - you have this very trusted network already. That's definitely something you get more out of someone who has more experience, which is not to say someone who is starting out doesn't have that, but it is maybe one of the things that appeals when you think about someone who has a large portfolio. There are just lessons you collect along the way.

I'm curious… You said you were self-taught. How do you feel like your approach to interiors has changed over time as a result of that? Your philosophy around it and so on. Or maybe a better place to start would be how would you describe your design philosophy?

I think in general I've always designed for people. There are so many types of designers — luxury-focused, styling-focused, construction-focused — and I'm honestly happy doing any of it as long as I'm working with good people to create a space they truly value.

Intuitively it doesn't feel like interior design is a helping profession. It feels very creative and perhaps the stereotype is that interior designers are fussy or high maintenance. But in reality, it's about guiding people through a stressful and emotional process. Most of our clients have never done a renovation at this scale. They need education, clarity, and someone they trust to help them make informed decisions. A big part of our job is supporting them through that journey, while also bringing a creative perspective.

Can you talk a little bit about what the process is like when someone first reaches out to you?

Sure, it's certainly become more refined over the years. When I was first starting out, I pretty much said yes to everything and anything. I thought, "Oh my gosh, these people are actually willing to pay me. Of course I'll do it." As we've grown, we've had to become more selective.

Now when we receive an inquiry, we send a questionnaire asking for inspiration images, timeline, and budget. If it seems aligned, we schedule a call. If that goes well, we move to a proposal. Sometimes we stop earlier if there isn't alignment in style, budget, or timing. The Zoom call is really a gut check. Our projects often last two years (or more!) and are deeply personal and relational. We want to make sure it's a good fit for everyone involved.

It makes sense because it's a very intimate process. A lot of times you're doing new builds that are full on construction, not just room by room, so I imagine you're really getting to know someone so well, and probably their family, and asking them a lot of intimate details about their lives in order to design something that works for them. It seems like that relationship is so important.

Yes, it is. And we just want to make sure it's mutually pleasant for everyone.

I'd love to talk about this process through the lens of one specific project that you did recently, the Castro Valley Ranch project - it's so beautiful by the way. To me it very much exemplifies what I would think of as your signature style. What was that like when you were first getting started? Was this a new build or did you have a walk through? What was your initial process?

This was actually just a renovation project, but pretty much a full home transformation. The house was in original condition – very dated wallpapers, really old cabinets. One of the bathrooms was completely pink when we first started, which was charming in its own way, but still needed a refresh. The clients were a young family - a married couple with a young daughter at the time - and they wanted to modernize the home and make it functional for their lifestyle. We loved their inspiration pictures — there was warmth, handmade elements, ceramic tile details, and openness to color. That was exciting for us. Probably the biggest transformation was their kitchen - it was tiny and closed off. We opened it up to the dining room, expanded it, and designed all custom cabinetry and an island. It completely changed the flow of the home.

The space feels so open now, it's hard to imagine what the house looked like before. You mentioned that the client was interested in color and other bits that resonated with you. I'm curious when the opposite scenario happens - what happens if a client comes in but they have a taste that's a little bit different from yours? How do you think about bringing those two together? Obviously you have things you like, the client has things they like, so how do you develop an intuition for bringing a space together? For example, maybe the client picks something you don't actually like but still wants to incorporate it. How does that work for you?

Yeah, so that is part of our design process and I would say if the style was totally different from what we would do, I probably would decline the project. We've done that before - everything else aligns, but the inspiration images are very traditional or simply not what we do. I'll kindly let them know they'd likely have a better experience with a designer whose aesthetic matches theirs.

For clients we do move forward with, we have a "design direction" phase early on. We combine their inspiration with new concepts we introduce and present a cohesive direction before diving into detailed sourcing. It helps us get alignment early and gently expand their perspective — especially for clients who aren't immersed in the design world.

It's very much like frontloading a lot of this stuff, making sure you're on the same page earlier rather than later.

Yes, exactly.

For the Castro Valley Ranch project, were there any surprising design decisions that happened because of these conversations you had with the clients? Or was it pretty much aligned from the beginning?

Let's see… One bold decision in that project was the guest bathroom tile — 3" x 3" green Heath tiles throughout. That was a commitment! Because we had introduced similar inspiration early on, they felt comfortable taking that risk. It was incredibly rewarding to watch the bathroom come to life, and to this day, we have many clients share that bathroom image with us as the inspiration for their project.

This is probably a good segue to my next question… how do you approach the overall color and material palette? It's really organic what you do, but there's also so many playful elements and your work feels warm and modern. Not just in materials, but furniture and fixtures. How do you think about that in terms of the client's style and what you are trying to achieve with the project? For example, balancing a design that is timeless and hopefully the client is not going to want to remodel five years from now… but is also creatively satisfying to you as an artist?

That's a good question… I think in general when we design - and this goes for all my designers as well who work for me - we know what's safe and what feels cohesive. But in order for it to not feel like every project is a cookie cutter replica of each other, there needs to be some kind of whimsical or unique element in each space, whether that's in the millwork, paint color, lighting, hardware, or tile.

Are there design references that you often look at or influences you have that feed into your understanding of what that is?

Do you mean like other designers or when I travel?

Other designers or even travel… generally anything.

Yeah, I think traveling is a big one, especially traveling internationally. In the U.S., many homes look similar, partly due to building codes and conventions. Traveling opens your perspective and helps you to think outside the box.

This past year, I visited Japan and Korea. I was so inspired by the landscape design, the architecture, all of the materials! I was taking pictures of all the different tile façades on the Japanese apartment buildings and my kids were like, "Mom, you already took a picture of that building." But it was just so fun to see. I also like following international designers on Instagram. Pinterest is helpful as well, but the algorithm can sometimes limit what you see. I try to pull inspiration from multiple sources.

One of the things I find so interesting about interiors is that previously trends seemed to move a bit more slowly because you weren't going to someone's house at the same rate you saw someone out in public. With Instagram and Pinterest, trends and what's popular is very globalized and moves at an incredible pace… which is not necessarily natural for home decor. You can't swap out your bed the way you can with your t-shirt. So it seems like it's very challenging with all these inspirations and styles.

It's true. It is harder, and I think that's why sometimes clients have a hard time making bold choices, because they're scared they're going to regret it in five years. I always try to encourage some balance. Be practical, yes. But don't be so safe that you end up with a space you don't love. For example, a white kitchen with white subway tile and white quartz can feel timeless — but sometimes it just feels flat.

I tell clients to think about what's easy to change later versus what isn't. Paint, hardware, furniture are all things that can be easily swapped later. Countertops and flooring are harder to replace. So maybe take bigger risks where it's easy to change and stay more timeless with the permanent materials.

Thinking about the practicality of what you can change and what you can't in regards to splurging versus saving - if somebody is doing a whole home renovation, are there pieces where you would generally say, "Hey, you can save a little money on this, but don't skimp on this other aspect."

If a budget is tight, we'll mix high and low — perhaps a more unique wall tile paired with a simpler floor tile. And then I always say you should splurge on the cabinetry. Prefab options have limitations in finish, sizing and design. Custom millwork plays such a big role in the design that it's usually worth the investment, and we often hear from clients that the cabinetry is what makes them the most happy.

Makes sense. One question I have is about you personally… I think generally when you're working in a creative industry, it's pretty easy to get burned out. Is there anything that you do that helps you stay inspired or avoid that?

That's a good question. I would say design-wise, it's been so helpful to grow my team. I used to design everything myself, and it was overwhelming at times. Now I have two designers on my team, as well as two project coordinators. I still oversee every project, but I'm not carrying all of the design weight alone. They're so good at design… they're talented and creative. Sometimes I see what they've designed and think, "That's better than what I would have done." Their fresh perspectives elevate our work and allow for more diversity across projects.

Personally, I have four kids, and I juggle my time between being a designer and being a mom. I'll pick them up from school, spend time with them, then return to work after they're in bed. My day is very much popping back and forth between my role as a mom and my role as a designer, and I actually enjoy that rhythm. I think that for some people it probably feels too chaotic, but for me, I like the mental break I get from switching between my two roles. That's kind of how I've structured my work life over the past eight years, and it has worked really well for me.

I love to hear that because I think so often you hear the opposite, that once you have kids everything falls by the wayside. Recently I've talked to more friends who have actually said that kids have been a very clarifying presence in their career. Obviously you're tired and there's a lot of time and so on and so forth but friends have told me how much it helps them with their prioritization and having that clarity of purpose with what they're doing. Do you also feel that a little bit?

I agree 100%. Obviously having kids is hard and there's a lot of time, attention, and energy that goes toward caring for them. But I do feel like having kids has really shaped my work ethic in a profound way. Motherhood requires endless perseverance; you just can't quit when it gets hard. That mindset has translated seamlessly into running a business.

Just because you're having a tough month doesn't mean it's going to be tough forever. Everything comes in phases. And often, the harder something is, the more rewarding it becomes. That's true in parenting, and it's true in running a business as well.

I hope that this interview reaches a lot of career women out there who are considering motherhood. Before you have kids, you often think about all the things that you're going to give up and all the freedoms that you're going to lose because it's too hard to conceptualize what you're going to gain. You just don't really know until you experience it. So it's very cool to hear there's actually so much that you get out of it that's not just being a mom. There's also so many lessons that flow over into the rest of your life.

I'll end it there because I think that was such a great answer and such an inspiring thing to hear. Thank you so much for spending time with us. I loved hearing more about your background and this interview could go on for hours. It is really cool to get a behind the scenes look of your work, too, because a lot of times I think you're on Instagram and you see just this gorgeous end product and I think it's intimidating to a lot of people, like what do interior designers do? What is their process? Is it worth it? Hearing about how intentional you are with your clients and the experience you bring is very special. Thanks for sharing all of that.

Thank you so much... it was such a fun conversation! I truly love working with you and love all that you're creating. I'm renovating my house again this year and I already have the Sun at Six pieces planned in my head.