The Team
Life is short…So why not just go for it!
That’s what these three did. Kirsten McKay, Barry Johnson, and Stephanie Kolkka have been talking about opening a home interiors store that reflects their philosophy for a few years– a fun, inspiring environment with a unique personality offering great style at sensible price points. Did the current economic situation hinder their enthusiasm? No way. That’s just not the spirit of these Brick Monkeys who are passionate about creating beautiful spaces and helping others do the same. So instead of more talking they decided, “Let’s open it!”
Kirsten McKay – Passionate Forager
Leads a Dual Life: “I do marketing consulting for high-tech companies by day and interior design and artifact hunting by night. I am a design junkie obsessed with finding curious, quirky interior objects.”
Can’t Pass Up: “A flea market, auction or back-alley shop offering the promise of an unusual find.”
Wants You to Know: “Redwood City is the next great downtown destination on the Peninsula. Have you been there lately? There are great outdoor cafes, a historic museum, the renovated Fox Theatre with live music, and now Brick Monkey.”
Best Design Advice: “Just try it. Experiment with incorporating your own finds in nontraditional ways to create a home that speaks of you, not a catalog. Visit me at Brick Monkey and I’ll share my passion for the hunt with you and show you what I’ve uncovered.”
Barry Johnson – Distinctive Designer
A different Direction: “My parents said be a doctor like your uncle so I was a Pre-Med major at UC Davis. All good until I took an entry level design course and the professor gave me enthusiastic feedback on my first design project. I realized it was time to change majors.”
My Design Point of View: “I’m zealous about insuring the structure of a space is well thought out. My strength is in creating environments where people can entertain and relax. I design interiors with a sense of restrained luxury.”
Furniture Too: “Three years ago, I began designing a collection for Kolkka Furniture and find it extremely rewarding. Taking an idea and seeing it come to life is truly exciting. You’ll see some of my designs at Brick Monkey.”
Wants You to Know: “I live in a Mid-Century Rancher with my wife, two teenage children and our standard poodle Bruiser. I’ve created an Asian-inspired home with a tropical garden – yes, you can mix disparate styles and have a chic living environment.”
A Parallel Universe: “I’ll be moving my Interior Design office to the Brick Monkey store and am looking forward to offering my clients the convenience and fun of being within a lively well edited retail environment.
Stephanie Kolkka – Creative Visionary
Her Mentor: “My mother was a designer, fabulous home renovator and art teacher and her passion for inventing clever design solutions rubbed off on me. In fact, my first job after high school was managing her retail store in Palo Alto. I loved it.”
World Influence: “when I was in my 20s, I moved to Saudi Arabia with my husband, John. I was surrounded by Bedouin artifacts and Eastern textiles – art that has continued to influence our work.”
Wants You to Know: “John and I launched Kolkka Furniture in the mid 80’s and have established a national reputation for our design, custom manufacturing capabilities an excellent customer service. What’s more, we remain committed to producing all of our products here in California.”
Full Circle Moment: “Brick Monkey brings me back to the future. I’m now creating inventive furniture designs for our own retail environment. I look forward to sharing our latest designs with you first and hearing what you think.”