First Time Here?

In 2003 Catherine Bailey along with partner, Robin Petravic purchased the esteemed Sausalito California pottery company, Heath Ceramics. The duo continues the artisan tradition started by Edith Heath in all of their new and old classic pottery designs that they produce locally in Sausalito, California. Catherine was kind enough to take time from her hectic life as entrepreneur and mom to share her inspiration for work and home with Stylehive.

1. Share your passion for the tradition behind Heath Ceramics.

Catherine Bailey: Robin and I are responsible for setting Heath’s direction and are involved in all creative and financial aspects and make all final decisions. To us, Heath is a holistic environment where were we all enjoy and feel good about what we do first and foremost. In trying to preserve craft and local manufacturing we use those ideas to inform new design along with taking influence from beautiful things and ideas in our environment. Robin and I also feel strongly about social values and so we integrate that into our business (tangibles like health insurance for our employees and intangibles like setting a tone of mentorship relationships between managers and staff). In order to make Heath a viable business we need people to support this by buying our product and passing on our story.  We see Heath as a place with strong ideas where these are all integrated.

2. What is your inspiration for the recent collaborations with Chez Panisse and Christina Kim of Dosa?

CB: The Chez Panisse collection takes the essence of what is unique about Heath (beautiful locally crafted durable stoneware) and what is wonderful about Chez Panisse (food and an environment that draws from it’s location and celebrates it’s natural essence). The ware draws some of its shape from classic restaurant ware, some from traditional French pottery and mixes it with refined crisp lines. The refinement and detail that Christina Kim gives to her clothing can be seen in the refined shape and even exposed clay foot that each piece carries.  Colors were inspired from the farmers market and are achieved with natural oxides. The ware was designed specifically to work in the atmosphere of the restaurant and with the type of food Alice Waters designs to be served there. Both Christina Kim and Alice looked at every version and iteration of the designs in the restaurant with food on it when assessing the design.

3. Catherine’s Favorite...

Designers
Ted Muehling, Jasper Morrison, Tyler Hayes (BDDW), Ingo Maurer, Hella Jongerius, and Eva Zeisel

Modern design products
Apple iPod, Jasper Morrison Glow Ball Lamp, Haba toys, Ted Muehling Candlesticks, Apple Airport Express – 802.11, Birdseye maple cutting board from Edward Wohl, Bird Chair by Harry Bertoia, and Lamps by George Nelson

Destinations
Orr Springs Road in Ukiah California, Oaxaca Mexico, Paris France, Marfa Texas, and the DOSA showroom 818 in Los Angeles

Online shops
-Rose and Radish
-Peace Industry
-Curiosity Shoppe Online
-Klein Reid
-Grenner Grass Design

4. What is the inspiration for design of your home and most beloved home décor items.

CB: Our house simple 1900’s Victorian style bungalow. We liked the vernacular architecture and opened up the space to indulge in the view of Richardson Bay. The result was a more modern layout and style, while also adding to the original style of the home with some very classic Victorian moldings. Remodeling the home came right after purchasing Heath so making it into a creative “canvas” for all the wonderful tile glazes and shapes was another strong inspiration. We have many objects we love, old and new, around our home – here’s a few: Bertoia chairs, a handmade Indian quilt from a store in London called Egg, an old hand-carved wooden duck decoy from a antique store in Austin, Texas, a Walter Kulhman (Sausalito artist) painting, ceramic and paper art by our friend Dharma Strasser, a felt rug from Peace Industries of San Francisco, lots of Heath tile from us, kitchen counter tops from Concrete, a vintage turquoise fireplace by FireHood, pillows from Heidimatic , a glass “egg” by a Venetian studio called Sent, a fuzzy wool covered “egg” from Colette, Paris, an antique wicker rocking horse, and even a Sharp Aquos LCD television (no more cables and it hangs flat on the wall!).

5. Favorite shopping haunts and eateries

- BDDW, New York NY, furniture

- Chez Panisse, Berkeley CA, food

- Headlands Center for the Arts, Sausalito CA (eating at special events and looking for art)

- Tartine, San Francsico CA– fantastic bakery
- Zells, Portland OR - breakfast

- Crepe stands in Paris (any one will work) sugar and lemon crepe.

- Pizzetta 211, San Francisco CA – pizza!

- MAC (modern appealing clothing), San Francisco – the best place for clothes in SF

- Egg, London – beautiful stuff

- MUJI, Japan and major intl. Cities – cool, simple, stuff

- OK, Los Angeles CA – great design stuff and jewelry too

6. Favorite kid-friendly items.

- Heath Dinnerware, we use no plastic for our two year old

- Jasper Morrison cork stools, they are chairs, a stage, good to jump off of

- FLOR tiles – easy to clean

- Mclaren strollers – allow you to travel everywhere! Subways, airplanes, taxicabs, no problems, no hassle (maybe this means they’re really “parent friendly”)

- Haba toys – wonderful “old school” wooden toys with no batteries and buzzers that kids love to play with and look good alongside your favorite design stuff!

7. Describe your personal style and how it reflects your lifestyle.

CB: Practical, casual, but obsessed with details and aesthetics, often referencing the past (less technology, less people). It’s the same at home and work.

8. Anything new on the horizon for Heath Ceramics?
Always new colors, the retail release of the Chez Panisse line with a fantastic new glossy honey colored brown. Vases! We’re working on new designs now.

Recent Buzz: Cathy and Robin’s Sausalito cottage was featured recently in Sunset Magazine. Sunset.com

Heath Ceramics in the Hive: site/Heath Ceramics

Heath Ceramics Site: heathceramics.com