Q & A With Our Lovely Katie Bear

Katie Bear has a name that just makes you want to hug her.  Since joining us in 2019 as one of our Location Coordinators, Katie has brought endless joy to the team with her big smile and easy-going attitude. Katie’s role is to keep the Light Locations office running smoothly, liaising with clients and owners to assist them with their shoots and enquiries. Katie also helps keep our social media profiles alive and kicking.

With Madeleine now on maternity leave, you will see and hear more from Katie as she steps into a more senior role in the team. For that reason, we thought now would be an excellent time for you all to find out a little bit more about our Katie Bear.

What did you do before working at Light Locations?

Before working at Light Locations, I was at home raising my two children and working part-time in a local giftware shop as a window display and in-store merchandiser.

Before that, I worked in a jewellery studio in Walton Street, Knightsbridge, liaising with clients, working through their ideas to create a design brief for the goldsmiths, who would then, in turn, create a stunning bespoke piece of jewellery.

My very first job was when I finished my degree in fine art. I was running a small business workshop with a friend, designing and making handblown glassware, from tableware to chandeliers (not glass animals!) which was exhibited and sold worldwide, including in Barney’s in New York and Liberty London.

What does a typical day at Light Locations look like for you?

Before the essential first cup of tea (Lapsang Souchong for me!), we have a daily catch up to make sure we are all aware of everything going on in the diary and all the shoots taking place that day just in case we need to help with any enquiries from crews at the locations.

Then it’s straight into emails, suggesting locations for client briefs, answering questions, checking options in the diary, making sure we have updates from clients and liaising with our lovely owners about upcoming shoots.

Lunchtimes are always entertaining as we come together with Design By Timber, prepare and share food, swap stories and generally relax and catch up with each other. Back at our desks, the afternoons seem to whizz by, and before we know it, we’re packing up at the end of another day! 

What is the best thing about working at Light Locations?

The people I work with. They’re such a lovely team, and we are so lucky to work in a beautiful office space surrounded by countryside – in the summer we all eat lunch outside at the picnic bench in the orchard and in the winter we go for brisk welly walks across the fields with the office dogs, Kuma and Cookie.

We are really lucky to work with such wonderful location owners and clients alike, and no two days are ever the same. I love going to visit our locations which not only means seeing some stunning houses and meeting our lovely owners in person but also a day away from the laptop. 

How did you find being away from the team and working virtually since lockdowns began last year?

Once the novelty of working from home had worn off, I did miss being in the office and seeing everyone. I think we all adapted quite quickly, but working virtually does not allow for running an idea or quick question past one another or discussing things as and when they come up. I missed the interaction with the others in the office and found work and home life at times merged into one with no definite start and end to the working day. 

Did you love working from home, or would you rather be in the office?

I think the combination of three days in the office, Monday to Wednesday and two at home, works well as it allows us to catch up in person, discuss the diary for the week ahead, and bounce ideas off each other. It provides structure and routine to the week. Then we have two days at home with no commute and the opportunity to work peacefully whilst being able to throw a wash in the machine at lunchtime and be around when the children come and go. 

What did your work from home set-up look like, office, kitchen table, garden, bed?

When we first went into lockdown, I was working from a desktop computer on a little table in my bedroom. It was okay, if a little cramped, but when Sophie suggested buying work laptops for us all, it made such a difference. I moved my ‘office’ downstairs to the kitchen table and sometimes even the garden! 

Describe your dream house?

My dream house would be a converted barn, wood-clad with one large open living, kitchen and dining space, double-height to show the exposed roof beams, a couple of bedrooms and bathrooms, all with a clean, minimalist interior.

I like simplicity and calm in my surroundings as life seems so busy and hurried much of the time, so a home that provides a haven of peace and tranquillity and allows the space for friends and family to come together would be my dream house. 

Do you have a favourite Light Location (or 2?)

I love all our locations for different reasons and their different features. But if I really had to choose, I would say Ham House and Dower House. Although on another day, I might say Bath House and Oxfordshire Barn!! 

What emoji do you use the most?

Probably ‘thumbs up’ 👍🏻

If you have to eat one meal every day for the rest of your life, what would it be?

My mum’s spaghetti bolognese please! 

What book, movie or tv programme have you read or seen recently that you’d recommend?

I’ve recently finished watching the entire series of ‘Call My Agent’, and I’m now waiting for the film and the next series due out in a couple of years. I can’t wait! I’m reading Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens, so far I’m really enjoying it. 

If you could take 3 things to a desert island, what would they be?

If it’s a luxury desert island, my two children and our family dog, for a holiday. But if it’s a real desert island, then a SUP, SPF 50+ and a wind-up radio.  

Katie is super shy in front of the camera so these were the only pictures I could get or find of her!!