Her appreciation for material history was shaped by an upbringing in Central New York: a region where architecture, antiques, and landscape are deeply intertwined. With a master’s degree in Historic Preservation and a career that spans personal styling at Bloomingdale’s Chicago, research roles at Antiques Roadshow, and curating for one of the Midwest’s most respected antique dealers, Kat brings a rare blend of scholarship and style to every detail she touches. Her eye for provenance and patina is matched by her gift for translating history into modern relevance — a signature of House of Thayer’s ethos.
With over 20 years of experience in the fragrance world, Kat is also House of Thayer’s scent director — a trusted nose known for crafting nuanced, narrative-driven scents that resonate as deeply as the objects she curates. She now leads our surface pattern and illustration studio, designing wallpaper and textiles inspired by historical techniques, folkloric motifs, and regional craft traditions. Kat’s work is grounded in the belief that beauty is not just visual — it’s layered, storied, and sensorial.
MATERIAL GIRLS
Kat Thayer
Jerri Hobdy
Born and raised in Houston, Texas, Jerri Hobdy is a Denver-based furniture and lighting designer known for her material fluency, sculptural sensibility, and timeless restraint. After graduating from the Savannah College of Art and Design, she began her career under the mentorship of Veranda Magazine’s founder, Lisa Newsom, designing for the beloved furniture brand Wisteria. In 2015, Jerri joined Anthropologie’s home team in Philadelphia, where she played a central role in shaping the global retailer’s lighting and furniture lines — many of which have become signature silhouettes across the industry.
Now at House of Thayer, Jerri leads all things furniture — from early sketches to CAD renderings and technical specs — with a design language rooted in historical study and shaped by a deep respect for process. She serves as manufacturer liaison and product lead, continuing to collaborate with factories and retailers across the globe while championing sustainable practices through material selection, joinery, and finish. Following the launch of her private label MENO, Jerri merged her studio practice into House of Thayer to build something even more enduring: a studio driven by craft, curiosity, and an earth-first approach to beautiful form.
