In the early 1980s, she founded Kiddoworks, designing and manufacturing children's educational toys and furniture. Those products were sold in the Bay and distributed across Canada and the USA. From this accomplishment, she went on to design electronic computer toys that were produced in Hong Kong.

In the 90s, she returned to interior design as the director of a large multi-disciplinary design firm and won several awards for retail design. In 1994, Kate created Design Matters, a unique firm specializing in innovative design for retail merchandising. Kate also taught design at Kwantlen and Langara Colleges.

In 2000, Kate founded Lifestylewest Design Inc. and focused her attention on clothing and jewelry (corporate gifts were designed and made for such dignitaries as former Lieutenant Governor of BC Iona Campagnola and former Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin). Creating her own clothing patterns to fit the aging baby boomer figure, the company began producing her own collection for men and women. From this vantage point Kate correctly anticipated the market for travel wear - clothing that is comfortable, simple, fun and easy to travel with.