We spoke with interior designer, Sara Bederman. As a professional, a mom, and a wife she understands the importance of sensible living spaces, which combined with her inherent desire for quality and beauty, results in impeccable style for every interior she crafts. We found out the easiest way to make a big impact, where to spend and where to save, and how to handle the most stressful part of the designing your home.
How do you define and deliver your own brand, but work with your clients’ needs and tastes?
Each project is an opportunity to create a home for my client, not for myself. Throughout my work, I am constantly reaching for this ultimate goal. I look to this client-centered approach to help develop my brand, as a flexible, thoughtful designer concerned with creating effortless living spaces my clients can embrace and inhabit comfortably.
What’s the difference between a house and a home?
A house is a structure that offers shelter and comfort. It has all the necessary amenities but lacks character and personality. To me, a home offers shelter and comfort, but it also embodies characteristics of the homeowner and visions that shape their lifestyle. These elements might radiate through their sculpture and art collection, accessories, unique pieces of furniture, heirlooms and other curated items.
Can people design for longevity or do you need to follow trends and change often?
Designing for longevity is essential in many areas of the home. Construction and decor is costly and time consuming to work through – it can also be quite stressful for people who do not enjoy the process. I believe there are key areas where longevity should be achieved such as major pieces of furniture, millwork and art. I save trends for smaller ticket items that can be switched out to add a fresh edit to the space.
We think the kitchen is where a family belongs together. What design do you incorporate to make it a warm, fun gathering place instead of just appliances and storage?
My favorite addition to a kitchen space is a banquette eating area. Banquette seating automatically creates a more intimate experience when gathered around the dining table. Sharing seating, rather than having one’s own chair, promotes relaxed behavior and casual conversation.
What is your favourite room to decorate?
Dressing spaces where my clients unwind and welcome guests in to their home is one of my favorite decorating opportunities. Family rooms and informal living rooms are often rooms people will feel most comfortable making bolder choices. These are spaces where they feel relaxed and open and ready to step outside of their comfort zone.
How do you approach designing a space for those that demand the best of everything? (Referring to eco-touches, low VOCs and such, obviously)
I am committed to providing eco-aware solutions whenever possible and I try to promote safe, healthy living environments as part of the dialogue when getting to know new clients. Many of my trades and suppliers practice a significant level of eco-commitment and will offer my clients a walk through their workshops and workrooms so they can experience their commitment first hand. When a client specifically requests a complete eco-design approach, I filter all of my resources to present only those that will satisfy the degree of commitment my client has requested.
Where do you find inspiration for your work?
I am constantly on the lookout for inspiration, regardless of where my day takes me. I might find an interesting graphic that entices me on a restaurant menu – a quick photo on my iPhone and off I go to the fabric showrooms to find some fabric reminiscent of the graphic for a client’s home. I find inspo in the most unexpected places and when I least expect it.
What’s your favourite social platform to use?
Instagram is by far my favorite social platform. I love how quickly I can breeze through my feed and how easy it is to find interesting people, brands and organizations to follow. Messaging people through tagging is a fun way to start a conversation with some of my most favorite design masters.
What is a small change we can make to a room for big impact?
A fresh coat of paint (no VOCs, of course) is the first thing I recommend when my clients are feeling like they want to revitalize their space. This is also a great time to rearrange wall art and other decorative pieces in the room.
For more information, visit sarabederman.com. Tweet with Sara at @SaraBedermanID, Like her on Facebook, and follow her on Instagram, too.
