Happy Earth Day
Design Courtesy of Ni.acki
With many people spending most of their days indoors in front of a screen, it’s no wonder there’s
a pervasive sense of feeling disconnected from nature. It also isn’t a surprise that spending even
a little time regularly in nature does wonders for our health, outlook, and well-being. In honor of
Earth Day we wanted to explore and learn more about Biophillic Design.
“The Green Grid” Courtesy of Kulenturato Carpets
The term “biophilia” was developed by Eric Fromm in the 1960s to describe the human affinity
for the nature-based world. In design, this principle helps guide design decisions to include
elements of nature or pieces that evoke the shapes, textures, and feelings of the natural world.
In layperson’s terms this translates into using rugs made from materials such as sisal or jute,
integrating pieces of art that transport us to dense forests or peaceful beaches, creating spaces
that allow for the most natural light possible, even choosing antique furniture that display the effect of time.
Design Courtesy of Massive Design
Photo Courtesy of Interior Design
We can’t wait to continue exploring biophilic design and it’s power to enhance our connection with the spaces we live in, and creating chic, personal, and practical homes and offices that respond to our natural need for repeated engagement with nature.
Happy Earth Day!
We’ve Got a Whole New Look!
We have been hard at work over the past few months totally overhauling our website, adding more to the services we offer, introducing our online store, and even launching a brand new design platform.
The new and imporoved sarahillery.com
We are so excited to officially debut our new and improved website. We have been working hard upgrading not only the look of our website, but the services we offer. Now you can fill out a design request online, allowing us to get right to work making your house the home you always dreamed of. We have expanded our portfolio with some of our most recent projects. And you can pick from three design services that will suit your unique needs!
Sara Hillery Curated Collection
The Curated Collection is a carefully selected grouping of furniture, case goods, art, accessories, and lighting for sale online as well as the full line of Sara Hillery Home textiles. Our working relationships with vendors across the US and abroad ensures our customers have access to an extensive variety of new, antique and one-of-a-kind products.
Design Delivered by SH
We have launched an innovative design platform called Design Delivered by SH which brings the design process directly to homeowners who want to work at their own speed. The launch of this platform represents a new approach to home design projects and comes during a shift in the design industry as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic.
Completely contactless, Design Delivered is a web-based platform that gathers an individual’s home project information and design needs and produces a new design all within six weeks. Whether it’s a complete room re-design or a simple space refresh, Design Delivered produces a comprehensive package put together by Sara Hillery and her team of designers. The package comes with various pricing options, based on the size and scope of the project, and includes a floor plan, a color storyboard and proposals for window treatments, art work, lighting, fabrics, upholstery and paint plans. After a Zoom consultation and accessing a private design portal to upload inspiration images, a questionnaire and how-to measuring guides, the client then receives in the mail a final design box with a plan of paint colors, fabrics, wallpaper, draperies, furniture, accessories and of course a floorplan - all within six weeks.
While you’re here, you might be interested in Five Reasons to Hire an Interior Designer
My Top Five Trends From High Point Market Fall 2020
We’re officially back from High Point Market (the largest home furnishings industry trade show in the world), and we’ve put together a list of the top trends we spotted in home décor for the rest of 2020 and 2021!
Extra Deep Sofas
One of the most interesting trends we saw all over market was extra deep sofas. With so many of us spending more time at home, working from home, binge watching television, and lounging about it makes sense that sofas are getting even more comfortable.
Imagine taking movie night to the nesx level of coziness with this chaise lounge!
2. Global and Travel Inspired Accessories and Materials
We saw a huge amount of global and travel inspired decorative accessories and materials this market. From rattan wrapped light fixtures to painted pottery, to worldly looking figurines and sculptures.
Our favorites were definitely the textural rattan lighting, each fixture is totally unique a will add interest to any space. Check out this chandelier from the Laura Kirar Collection
These rustic figures, masks, and pottery pieces are a perfect option to round out a space. They are great for accessorizing, filling in holes in bookcases, or standing alone as striking art.
Woven wall hangings have been popular for the past few years and the trend is still going strong. Often times, more affordable than paintings, wall hangings are a great alternative!
We are obsessed with these antique plaster molds repurposed as art pieces! Their well-worn wood has so much character and would add interest to any wall or bookshelf.
If you want to create an escape within your own home, look no further than this jungle themed wall mural. The colors and fine detail will definitely make you feel like you are on safari or in the tropics (without all those pesky mosquitoes)
3. Blonde aND wHITE wASHED fINISHES
Blonde and light wood finished are back in a big way! With the rise of boho chic and coastal cool aesthetic on the rise over the past several years, lighter wood finished have been in high demand. We love the way their tones can be easily mixed in with other materials, colors, and textures without overwhelming a space.
Blonde and lighter finishes are so versatile and buildable! Consider swapping out your dark dining table with a lighter option, the depth that can be created by layering textures and tones allows investment pieces, like a dining table to grow and change with your style for years to come!
Coffee tables and dining chairs are also absolutely stunning in light wood, allowing for the finer details of each piece to be highlighted in a way that feels fresh and new!
4. Rich Earth tones
We saw burnt orange, deep greens, and vibrant ochres everywhere!
We were so inspired by this burnt orange velvet sofa! It would look amazing in a room with light, airy walls or it could be right at home in a traditional study with rich, darker materials.
We swooned over these sienna colored leather pillows and poufs. The color is so versatile and could be used as a more dynamic neutral.
Shades of Persimmon offered a softer take on the burnt orange trend.
We found another swoon-worthy velvet sofa in this deep olive green hue. The classic silhouette pairs perfectly the the statement velvet for a cool, classic look. Green has been very popular the past few years, and we are so happy to see that it will continue to show up in home décor!
5. The Marble and Alabaster “Look”
We saw faux and genuine alabaster and marble all over market this season and couldn’t be more excited! With all the difficulties the world is facing during the pandemic, supply chains too have been impacted driving the price of materials through the roof. Faux alabaster and marble products hit market hard and we are so impressed with their quality!
This faux alabaster statement pendant is a show stopper for sure! These curves would cost a small fortune to create out of genuine alabaster, so this faux piece is a stunning alternative.
We found this natural marble occasional table and loved the idea of each piece being totally unique. This simple design is elevated by the use of natural marble and would look amazing in any space.
This planter has son much subtle dimension, it won’t take away from the beautiful plant it holds, but offers so much visual interest.
Easy Halloween Decorating During a Pandemic
It’s safe to say that Halloween 2020 is not going to look the same as other years. In some communities, trick-or-treating is banned outright, and in others, the festivities are feeling more than just a little subdued. If you have little ones in your life, however, cancelling Halloween is simply not an option. You can still celebrate this fall favorite and herald the beginning of the holiday season with some home-focused activities.
We are also fans of this modern pumpkin hoop wreath. Both of these can carry your décor through Thanksgiving.
Decorate Outdoors!
Putting up some Halloween decorations well in advance of October 31st will set the festive mood in your neighborhood. We love this dried golden wheat wreath, it’s unique texture will bring warmth to your front door.
Whether your decorations skew creepy, like these oversized spiders, or slightly more playful, like this trio of bate garden stakes, you can create a eye catching display that’s a visual treat for me than just one night.
Encourage friends and neighbors to decorate ahead to make the holiday atmosphere last for several weeks: seeing the spirit of Halloween will cushion the blow of a having a less traditional celebration this year. Your family can walk or drive by decorated houses, perhaps making a game of counting the number of spiders, ghosts, or bats along the way.
Bring the Holiday Home
Especially if Halloween ends up being a home-based affair this year, adding little holiday touches around the house can actually go a long way in keeping the mood feeling festive.
A cozy plaid throw will be in heavy rotation this fall (and is the perfect thing to hide under during the spooky parts of Halloween movies).
We also adore this chic, subtle ghost tassel banner for adorning fireplaces and doorways.
Grab a Pumpkin (or several) and Get to Work.
If pumpkin patches are open in your area and have set up appropriate precautions, going to select your own pumpkins is a time-honored tradition. If not, head to a nearby grocery store and select different sizes or colors, then come home and decorate! Add your finished beauties to your porch or steps to add to your house’s decorations. Even left au natural, pumpkins look great when grouped together. But first…
Make Roasted Pumpkin Seeds.
We love roasted pumpkin seeds: by the handful, folded into granola, sprinkled on salads. We promise they won’t last long however you decide to use them. Here’s a tried-and-true recipe that you can spice up as necessary
Play With Your Food
Halloween-themed food is so easy and so much fun to make, your kiddos may even forget all about the candy. Just kidding, they will definitely remember the candy, but at least they can nosh on these creations in between getting their sweet fix.
Mini Pumpkins: Peel a bunch of clementine. Chop up a celery stalk into small pieces to resemble a stem. Stick a celery piece into the clementine and voila-snackable pumpkins!
Ghost Bananas: This is such a simple and sweet idea. Add two chocolate chips as eyes to a peeled banana.
Mini Mummy Pizzas: Place am English muffin half or a mini bagel half on a sheet pan. Spread on some tomato sauce. Pull apart a cheese stick into shreds and layer/cross the shreds on top to look like mummy bandages. Finally, add two black olives slices as eyes. Toast until warm if desired.
We hope that everyone has a happy and spoooooooky Halloween Season!
5 Reasons to Hire an Interior Designer
In a world of Pinterest boards, readily available internet design apps, and design savvy homeowners, people often wonder why they would even hire an interior designer and if it’s “worth it”. We absolutely think that experienced, professional designers are worth their weight in gold, and we’ve outlined 5 reasons why you should think about hiring one!
1. The price of a good designer is offset by the connections, time savings, and reduction in stress levels!
Decisions, decisions, decisions! When designing a room or a house, you have tons of choices regarding styles, colors, textures, and more. Thinking about designing or redesigning a house or even a room can be so overwhelming that people often end up giving up and living in a space that doesn’t serve them or their interests. We get it: many decisions can’t be taken lightly. Buyer’s remorse, especially for big- ticket items like custom furniture or a whole house paint job, is painful and real (especially because they are often nonrefundable). By talking through the process of what to expect and things to consider as well as using our years of skill-building and expertise with a huge variety of clients, designers can help make the decision process much easier and streamlined. As we get to know you, we can quickly identify what best suits your personality, preferences, and budget and connect you with the resources you need. We also help ensure your projects proceed in a timely, predictable manner and that the final product is one you absolutely adore.
2. We can broaden your style horizons.
There are a multitude of options beyond mass-produced versions such as those at Crate and Barrel or Pottery Barn, and we are constantly learning about new vendors through trade shows, word of mouth from other designers, antique distributors, and social media. The result: your home looks and feels personalized and unique. Instead of having the same pieces as everyone in your neighborhood, we can help you find artists and artisans that perfectly reflect you and your family. Some of these smaller, independent vendors are often able to customize pieces!
3. Our senses of scale, functionality, and proportion are well-honed.
While many people have a great sense of color, getting a sense of scale and size within a space can be tricky. In addition to our formal training, we’ve worked in a huge variety of homes and living spaces and pride ourselves on our ability to make sure a space feels balanced, fresh, and serene. We know all sorts of tricks to make spaces appear bigger, lighter, and more open, and we create rooms and homes that feel comfortable and chic. As a company proudly run by a mom-of-three, we are experts on stylish, family-friendly living and choosing design elements that durable, sustainable, and hardworking.
4. We can help with projects big and small.
On one end of the spectrum, we offer full service interior design for whole house renovations and new construction. We guide you through the whole process from soup to nuts! Having a professional act as your liaison to help handle logistical issues as well as aesthetic ones keeps the process manageable. Tackling whole house redesigns is a challenge we are happy to accept, but we also don’t underestimate the power of even a single room refresh. Whether through adding new window treatments, helping to select new art, or finding the perfect paint color or wallpaper for an underutilized room, we love taking a space that needs a little TLC and make it functional and livable.
5. Designers work WITH you and the pieces you love and don’t push unnecessary changes.
The job of the designer is NOT to clean house entirely and start from scratch with entirely new pieces and products (unless, of course, that’s what your heart truly desires). We strive to incorporate the elements and pieces you currently have and love into the final edit. Because of our expertise and experience, we have innovative ways to incorporate the collections, keepsakes, and new purchases that tell your story. Our clients love that they end up with a marriage of some of their “favorite things” alongside impactful additions or changes. Our specialty: creating a space that still feels like home…but newer, fresher, more inspiring, and representative of the life you and your family are living.
BONUS REASON!
We recently launched another service that brings interior design right to your mailbox, Design Delivered by SH is a flat fee room by room design and decorating service and a great option for all those do it yourself-ers out there. Click the link below to learn more!
