Only the best

Kate’s Ice Cream chooses Clayhaus tile for its newest shop

Voted the best vegan ice cream spot in the U.S. (by those who would know), Kate’s Ice Cream selected the best handmade ceramic tile (in our humble opinion, at least) to adorn their newest location.  

Kate’s first opened in Portland in 2019 on eclectic N. Mississippi, a popular destination for those seeking a taste of the local flavor that makes Portland so… ‘Portland.’ Kate Williams’ self-created recipes for plant-based ice cream and gluten-free waffle cone mix quickly made her shop a favorite among two-legged herbivores and omnivores alike.

Kate’s second location, which opened in June 2024, is on NW 23rd in Nob Hill, which has been a staple of Portland’s eat/drink/browse scene for decades. A few blocks to the east, the Slabtown neighborhood is rapidly transitioning from an underused industrial area into a walkable, livable, desirable residential/retail community, blurring the lines that once clearly distinguished it from well-established Nob Hill.

To design the new shop’s interior, Williams turned to those who created the ambiance of Kate’s original shop — Casey Keasler and her design firm Casework. The two share, as Kate’s website puts it, a “focus on collaborations with local, woman- and minority-owned businesses, with the goal of making the best…”.

Keasler didn’t say whether it was that ethos or the artisanship and broad array of colors that first drew them to Clayhaus. But when asked why they ultimately chose us for the project, she said, “You’re based here in Portland. That was a plus. We like local. And we really liked the colors, the materiality…”

With an eye for solid branding, Casework incorporated several features from the flagship store into the design, notably the order counter with its tricolor face of 4×4 field tile. For the NW location they chose matte Cream, glossy Butter Yellow and glossy Mango to make a bold, cheerful statement amidst the pink, greens and yellows that surround it.

We simply love everything about it. Afterall, we all scream for ice cream! Right?