The Goods with Karie Higgins
On the best of Portland, career evolutions, New Zealand style and getting sh*t done.
Name: Karie Higgins
Age: 42
Location: Portland OR
Kids: Lo Goldie Gibson, 5 (turning 6 in July), Rue Banks Gibson, 2 (turning 3 in July)
I was introduced to Karie Higgins through my first job out of college. I was working for People’s Revolution in fashion PR and Bing Bang NYC, a cool jewelry brand, was one of our clients. Karie was my contact for pulling samples and all the day to day PR stuff and I always thought she had this incredibly cool, low-key but very stylish vibe to her. Cut to years later when I opened my shop in Portland, I knew I wanted to carry Bing Bang NYC and contacted Karie, only to find out that she had also relocated to Portland (more details on that below). I’ve loved watching her career evolve from the Brand Director for Bing Bang to her own incredible entrepreneurial businesses including an epic Airbnb (which was featured on The Cabin Chronicles) as well as styling and design projects under her Karie Higgins Studio umbrella. Read on to hear how her career evolved to where it is now, her tips on getting out of a creative rut, how having kids impacts her approach to work, her favorite spots in Portland and so much more!
First of all, what led you to Portland in the first place? It’s a pretty major departure from New Zealand!
Yeah, it’s a bit surprising to have found ourselves living in Portland! Lee (husband) and I were living in NYC when he got his dream job offer to design footwear at Nike. Leaving NYC was tough because we loved it so much, but this was such an amazing chance for him, especially with his architecture background—it was a big and exciting career pivot. (He actually told his mum when he was a kid in a tiny rural town in NZ that one day he wanted to design shoes for Nike!).
When I first met you when we both lived in NYC, you were the Brand Director for Bing Bang NYC, which now feels like a lifetime ago! Now you have Karie Higgins Studio as well as River Cabaan, both of which are super multifaceted projects. How would you define this era of your career?
The River Cabaan has grown into a thriving Airbnb and shoot location, connecting me with an amazing community. Creating my own studio though (with my name), instead of hiding behind the more well-known brand of River Cabaan, was scary, but I realized I needed to follow my passion and put myself out there properly. The River Cabaan is both a business and a creative playground, offering a special place for many. It’s our anchor in the US, a mix of luck and hard work we’re grateful for. It's also a way for people to experience my style and point of view firsthand.
This era for me is about rediscovery, tapping into what really fulfills me artistically, blending my love for interiors with meaningful connections and creativity. It’s also about stepping forward as my own person aside from the River Cabaan and former Brand Director, and embracing new opportunities.
From an outside perspective, it feels like your career has organically evolved over time and where you are now totally makes sense. Does it feel that way for you? How did you know when it was time to shift focus to something new or evolve a project?
Yes, absolutely. People who know me well, and even acquaintances, have often said, "I'm so glad you're doing this! It makes so much sense." I once read something that really changed my mindset—essentially, it said that others can see your unique superpowers more clearly than you can. The things you find easy and enjoyable aren't necessarily easy for others, and just because you naturally gravitate toward something doesn't mean it lacks value. We can get so stuck in what we've always done, but there's real freedom in putting yourself out there and seeing what happens.
I've always been in the creative world, but transitioning/returning fully into interiors (I went to design school for interiors in NZ) became a super strong calling. I had lots of people reaching out, wanting me to work on projects for them, which gave me the momentum and confidence to make the shift.
You have such an incredible eye for design. What do you attribute that to? Where do you look for inspiration?
That's very kind—I'm blushing, thank you, Whitney! Growing up, I was constantly redesigning my room and obsessed with seeing inside people's houses. My parents definitely nurtured my creativity, which I’m thankful for.
My inspiration mostly comes from my antipodean upbringing. In NZ, we have a minimalist sensibility with warm, raw, honest materials and form that I love. We embrace natural light, brightness, and simplicity. NZ is a newer country, and we don’t have the ornate traditional architecture and interiors typical of the rest of the world, so we feel really comfortable in more sparse, simple spaces. We blend contemporary minimalism with earthy, natural materials, creating a unique, grounded aesthetic. I also love Scandinavian design for its clean lines and focus on materials.
At design school, we studied a lot of mid-20th-century architects and designers, and I still feel inspired by their work, especially icons like Charles and Ray Eames, Alvar Aalto, Le Corbusier, and Charlotte Perriand. I love how they mixed innovative furniture designs with functional, beautiful spaces - and it still feels chic and cool, truly timeless. I also look to modern furniture designers from Europe and NZ/Aus for a huge chunk of my inspiration. Locally, I love art and seek it out as much as possible. Unique art that speaks to you is the best way to add personality to your interior and elevate it.
How has having kids impacted your career or lifestyle choices? How do you balance entrepreneurship and your family?
Having kids became a major goal for me after going through infertility and IVF. So, during the years of starting our family, I guess I obligated to stay in the current lane career-wise and focus on family and keeping a steady income. I always liked my job, but I would have likely spread my wings a bit sooner if it weren’t for the uncertainty during those baby-making years.
After baby number two (a surprise! Lol), I felt an insane rush of inspiration, clarity, and energy to follow my passion during my maternity leave. I thought I'd be tired, but the time away from work mentally crystallized that I was ready for a new challenge. However, I often feel like I'm only half a person on a good day! Projects I want to immerse myself in 24/7 and get obsessive about are interrupted by the reality of parenting—pickups, daycare bugs, interrupted sleep, etc.
I'm starting to come out of the really ‘little kid’ phase, where every day was a marathon and it took everything I had to just parent and try to be a semi-professional person. I feel like I can see the light and am finding ways to adapt to mum life and work life that help me stay productive and learn when to lean in on one side or the other. It feels absolutely hectic a lot of the time, and I just don’t know realistically if there is any other way! That said, I know I’m not personally cut out for staying at home and doing mum-life full time. I need space away from home/kids and to be creative + stimulated by my career, so the juggle is worth it for me.
Plus - being a parent makes you super productive, every hour without kids on the clock counts —there’s no time to F around, and mums know how to get shit done!
I imagine there isn’t really a ‘typical’ day but if you had to walk us through what an average Tuesday looks like these days, what would you say?
There isn't a typical day; it depends on what I'm working on. If it's a big styling project, the week before the shoot, I'll be driving around Portland like a madwoman, picking up furniture and art, dropping things off, packing, unpacking, and sending mood boards to the photographer—basically, lots of schlepping. If I'm not in full-swing shoot mode, I'll usually be at my computer, chipping away at a longer lead design project, sourcing, working on client proposals, handling admin tasks, and fitting in the odd Zoom call or fun meeting with a local artist.
I'd love to start time chunking with a content day, a design day, etc., but the cadence of what I do is so random. That’s definitely a goal, though, and I really love working for myself so I can bend and shift to whatever needs to be done without sticking to a strict clock-in and clock-out mode.
What excites you most about living in Portland? What are the biggest challenges?
I love our art and creative community; there are incredibly talented people here, which is one of the reasons why Portland is such a cool city. The culinary scene is also amazing, with accessible and incredible restaurants and bars. Portland has a cute community vibe; people are friendly, kind, and supportive.
In terms of challenges, I'd love to have more design options, especially showrooms and stores. We don't have the population to support it, so it feels quite disconnected from the amazing resources in cities like LA and NY. I miss the big city buzz and the multitude of options, like stepping into an incredible furniture showroom or an amazing retail fit-out that gets you so hyped.
What’s on the horizon for you that you’re particularly excited about?
I'm starting a little collective (name TBD!) with my friend Annie of WILMA Vintage and a couple of my favorite photographers. We plan to offer an all-inclusive package to style, source, and create elevated editorial imagery and content for designers, realtors, and architects. I love the idea of collaborating with people I enjoy working with and offering a polished result that doesn't feel overwhelming to the client. They hire us, we make it look beautiful, and we handle the full production, taking the stress out of the process. I love getting into people's spaces, capturing them, and dreaming up possibilities.
Rapid Fire One Sentence Answers:
Coffee or tea? How do you take it? Coffee! Flat white or cappuccino with oat milk. But I also drink a ton of English breakfast tea at home, with milk!
Favorite restaurants + coffee shop in Portland? No Saint is our neighborhood woodfired pizza spot—casual, cool, fave. Gabbianos is a heavy hitter for atmosphere, vibes, and food. Cafe Olli is a go-to lunch spot, Xiao Ye is delicious with a really unique menu, Phuket is amazing Thai, and Sweedeedee is a Portland brunchy institution. Duality Brewing is an epic newcomer with a great atmosphere and fancy delicious Mexican. Coffee shops: Proud Mary, an Aussie café, is our 2-minute walk local fave.
Favorite kid-friendly hangout/activity in Portland? Pizza Jerk Northeast—NY style pizza by the slice, slushie margaritas, and a sunny outdoor area with kids playing on a big slide and running around like little maniacs with no judgment because everyone's kids are doing it!
If you could live anywhere else in the world, where would it be? Paris or back to our homeland of New Zealand.
Are you more of a skincare or makeup person? Any must-haves? Not much of either, but I love Berlin Skin’s Blue Tansy Moisturizer—it's dewy, rich heaven. My favorite beauty brand is Merit. I love everything they do—very easy to apply and pretty packaging. Their mascara, foundation stick, and flush balms are my must-haves.
Current read? I'm an Audible gal. I love listening while driving and on the go—nonfiction at 1.3 speed, rotating about 10 books. My favorites are The Big Leap, Eat That Frog!, Big Magic, and Atomic Habits. (I realize this sounds a bit psychotic.)
Current show? HACKS—I love! Also, the new series of The Jinx is great. But honestly, BRAVO shows are my go-to when I need to let my brain go to sleep! Give me some Housewives, Summer House, Vanderpump, and I am happy.
Current podcast or favorite artist if you’re not a podcast person? I love podcasts, For LOLS: Deep Dive, Ride or Bitch Sesh. For work: The Expert, Imprint, The Interior Collective, Homing In. For great interviews with inspiring cool older ladies: Julia Dreyfus’s Wiser Than Me is so great.
Favorite self-care spot in Portland? I’ve recently started gifting myself a monthly membership facial at FACEBAR—it’s an express one, no frills but nice products, affordable and so convenient. Loyly SE for a sauna session with girlfriends is a fun treat too.
Tips for getting out of a funk or creative rut? Get off Instagram and stop comparing yourself. Take a break, invest in books and magazines by creatives you love, and go down a book/magazine wormhole. The same book will give you different inspiration depending on your project. Getting off a screen is key. Have lunch/wine with fun, creative friends you admire without an agenda—just soak up their energy. Collaborate! Sometimes being on your own can send you into a tailspin. A fun side project or collaboration with low stakes can break you out of ruts. The energy of bouncing your ideas off someone else and realizing that together you create something greater or different than you could alone is so much fun. And travel! It’s one of the best ways to reset and find new inspiration.
Hi Whitney
I love getting these in my inbox, always inspiring. My favorite piece is learning about new podcasts and books.
Such a fun one! Loved to read the backstory on your connection and always happy to add a few new spots to our rotation while in Portland. Keep up the good work Whitney!