As I met Kate at her beautifully decorated Cook Street home, I鈥檓 greeted enthusiastically by her two Dachshunds, Grizzly and Oscar.
Originally from North Vancouver, Kate has called many places across Canada home, including Nova Scotia, where she went to university; Toronto, where she worked in shopping centre marketing; Grand Prairie, where her husband worked as a cowboy on the rodeo circuit; and finally to Victoria, where she and her husband plan to stay.
鈥淚 love Victoria. It feels like the country鈥檚 little secret and I鈥檇 love for no one to find out about it,鈥 she says, laughing at the irony because her job happens to be about bringing people here. 鈥淚t鈥檚 funny. When I first moved here, I was going to Vancouver every weekend and now I never leave. Every weekend trip is to somewhere on the island 鈥 there鈥檚 so much to see.鈥
Passionate about adventure, Kate鈥檚 happy place is exploring the island on the weekends.
鈥淚 love paddle boarding all year. In the summers, we do a lot of fishing off our boat in Bamfield. There are so many cool islands to explore around here.鈥
Originally brought to Victoria to work in commercial leasing for Uptown shopping centre, Kate specialized in finding local tenants for it. But although she found it very rewarding, she eventually moved to residential realty.
鈥淚 get so excited by the potential I see when I look at homes. People don鈥檛 always see what I see; I just can鈥檛 help but get excited about that sort of stuff.鈥
Asked what qualities have led to , she says, 鈥淚 was always told, 鈥業f you鈥檙e going to be in this business, you have to be hard.鈥 But I鈥檝e found that the best approach is to just be open and honest with people and go about it in a respectful manner. I feel like people trust me and my opinion because I鈥檓 so open and honest.鈥
Realtor Kate Gray at home. Lia Crowe photography. |
With a 鈥渓ess is more鈥 approach to her style, Kate says her everyday look is driven by comfort.
鈥淚 like clean lines and a simple, classic style. I鈥檓 also guilty of being a total Instagram follower when it comes to fashion. I get a lot of style inspiration from there, but I never take fashion too seriously.鈥
Fashion
Uniform: Comfy jeans, tank top, blazer and some heels.
All-time favourite piece: Nude .
Currently Coveting: Pink . 鈥淚 love bags!鈥
Favourite pair of shoes: .
Favourite Day bag: 鈥淢y go-to bag is my .鈥
Favourite jewellery piece or designer: 鈥淢y favourite piece is a necklace by , she is also my favourite jewellery designer.鈥
Fashion Obsession: 鈥淔ancy dresses. I have a closet full and not enough places to wear them!鈥
Accessory you spend the most money on: 鈥淚t is 100 per cent bags 鈥 they always get me in trouble.鈥
Beauty
Necessary indulgence: 鈥淢y eye lashes extensions are a guilty pleasure that I have tried to give up but can鈥檛 seem to live without them.鈥
Moisturizer: Reset Well Shield Cream from . 鈥淚t鈥檚 life changing and all natural.鈥
Scent: Coco Mademoiselle by .
Must-have hair product: 鈥淧urple shampoo; it keeps the brassiness out of my blonde hair.鈥
Beauty secret: 鈥淐olorescience Sunforgettable SPF 50 mineral sunscreen powder from . It鈥檚 an effortless way to incorporate sunscreen into your morning routine.鈥
Style Inspirations
Style Icon: . 鈥淏eing confident in your own skin is such an inspiration.鈥
Favourite Artist: .
Piece of art: 鈥淭he Queen Bubblegum鈥 by .
Favourite Musician: Garth Brooks.
Film or Movie that inspired your style: Clueless.
Life
Favourite local restaurant: .
Favourite Cocktail/Wine: 鈥淚 honestly love a virgin mojito; it鈥檚 so refreshing.鈥
Album on current rotation: The soundtrack from The Greatest Showman. 鈥淚 love musicals.鈥
Favourite Flower: Wild lilacs.
Favourite city to visit: Buenos Aries, Argentina.
Favourite Hotel: .
Favourite App: 鈥淭he ParkVictoria App. No more tickets 鈥 or at least less tickets!鈥
Favourite place in the whole world: 鈥淚 have travelled the world and lived in four different provinces. is my favourite place in the world.鈥
-Story and photography by Lia Crowe
Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
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