Home Styling - How To Guide To Style Bookcases And Coffee Tables

Sarah Elizabeth Design - Photo Carly Jara Photo

While styling bookcases and other surfaces like coffee tables and cabinets are some of the last tasks when we design an interior, the importance of styling these areas isnt to be overlooked and commands just as much attention as any other part of the design. Styling shelves is innate at this point and excited to share our tried and true methods for doing so starting with a list of 5 design elements to use, either from your existing collection, or to buy. The most important things to remember are to use a mix of new and collected - so the finished look feels more rich and layered, not like you bought everything new off the shelf, as that can feel sterile and unapproachable. The idea for any bookcase styling is to add interest, color (unless you are doing a neutral palette!), curiosity and warmth to a home. Over the past 15 years, I have styled countless bookcases and surfaces, with some of my favorites being a design project with 300 linear feet of custom built-ins we designed in a New York family home (above), that we needed to style within 24 hours of the shelves being installed, and the clients coming back from a long trip, who we wanted to surprise 💚 Below you will find an our recipe for designing bookcases we know you will truly love - lets get started!

Sarah Elizabeth Design - Photo Carly Jara Photo

Bookcase Home Styling Shopping List:

1. Candles - Both scented candles in beautiful jars, think ceramic or glass that you can reuse, AND taper candles in crystal, brass or interesting wood taper candle holders - I like using varying height candle stick holders.

2. Books! Both coffee table books and novels are important to mix in, I also love finding vintage books with lovely worn jackets to add interest. For a curated list of our favorite coffee table books, see our 15 Best Coffee Table Books for Your Interior blog post.

3. Picture frames - A few family photos can be mixed in, but shelves aren’t the main place to have a large collection of frames, that would be better positioned on a cabinet or buffet top - or our favorite application is hung along a wall in a stairwell or long hallway.

4. Paintings - These can be antique oils or watercolors, black and white photographs, or prints - family heirloom or garage sale found doesn’t matter, its all how you place items.

5. Flowers - An orchid’s blooms can last 1 month +, dried flowers in a vase (see below), or a well done fake silk floral arrangement - pricey but worth it as you’ll for the long run.

6. Interesting vases - Think ceramic or glass, new or vintage. I like using a trio of vases in varying heights, combined with interesting ceramics found over time, and blown glass vases. ere

7. Misc accessories - These can be anything from a pocket watch that was once your great grandfathers, interesting items from travels like a hand-made pot or other handmade art, shells from a beach vacation, binoculars, porcelain figures, an hour glass, etc. The idea here is to think out of the box and many times we are able to place and highlight something that a client couldn’t find a home for anywhere else in their space.

8. Bookends - We like to use glass or marble book ends, but really any will do that dont scream Staples and make you think of your office…

Sarah Elizabeth Design - Photo Carly Jara Photo

Where To Start When Styling Bookcases:

As mentioned above, more is not more when styling shelves, and like to start by placing 2-3 items I find interesting on each shelf, then standing back. That way I can see if the colors are distributed evenly, likewise with varying heights of objects. If an object, like a small dish for example, seems too small for a shelf, I add a stack of novels or coffee tables books under it. Next I add a few books to (most) shelves, making sure some shelves have books laying horizontal, always with book spines out and titles reading the same direction - with titles from left to right, while making sure books arent upside down. This is where bookends come in handy, though a heavy quartz crystal, or sturdy vase can also hold a few upright books in place. Again, a key is to step back and make sure there are no unwanted blocks of the same color, that you have varying height objects and there’s not a feeling of clutter - think of the shelves as displays for your treasures (which include books!) For areas that feel blank, I like to place a book resting on the backsplash with the cover facing forward as it does the same thing as artwork - adding visual interest in the graphics - I love to do this with artwork and photographs also.

If the above still feels a bit abstract or out of reach, here are a few other tips for fool-proof bookcase styling:

1. More isnt more, its really how you place items, balancing different height items with a mixture of accessories, and always books.

2. Think in groups of 3 - 3 is a magic number for objects and furnishings a like. It feels harmonious and complete to the eye, and could include a group of 3 vases put together, or 3 objects on a single shelf.

3. For top shelves, use stacks of books large to small laying horizontally, or a large tray or sculpture that fills the entire shelf. A lot of times this kills two birds with one stone, meaning you now have a place for your book collection overflow, likewise with the beautiful long ceramic tray you were gifted, or even a silver platter that was passed down.

4. Dont be afraid to use all or mostly books if that is what you have the most of, or a passion for. If you or someone in your home are a book collector and need a place for them to live, fill the shelves up with them. I like to place them both horizontally on some shelves and vertically on others, and when vertically i like to see them from tallest to shortest - but you can also sort them by color if you have the time! If you are doing all books, i like to add a short ceramic vase between the last book and the stile. This feels a bit thoughtful, or even unexpected and breaks up the heaviness of the books.

5. Bottom line, innately we all know if something looks balanced or not, or if something is top heavy (meaning 1 side of a bookcase for example having more or larger items on it), and stepping back to view the whole space is helpful to then tweak. If one side of the bookcase has a tall object on the far right, like taper candlesticks, then think about adding a tall accessory to the opposite side, for balance.

Sarah Elizabeth Design - Photo Carly Jara Photo

Thank you so much for reading and truly hope this design tutorial helps add beauty and interest to your bookshelves, home and life! If you would rather a design professional do this, please reach out to us! Look forward to hearing from you all in the comments!

15 Best Coffee Table Books for Your Interior

Interior Design: Sarah Elizabeth Design - Photo Carly Jara Photography

I cant say enough about the effects books have on a space. A home just isn’t complete without them, and the more the better to add warmth and character. Nearing the end of each project an intergral part of our job as interior designer is to find accessories and many times books for our clients. This can range from a few great coffee table books, to suites of books to fill newly built bookcases we designed, or to put into pretty piles with a bud vase or interesting ceramic piece on top, placed on a bookshelf or coffee table for example. Seeing that finding the best coffee table books may not come naturally to many, we compiled a list of our favorites from over the years, ranging from design and art books, to photography, fashion and travel books. Hope this edited grouping of books brings you some joy and ease in starting or adding to your collection, and offers your space the finishing touches needed to make a house truly a home filled with personality.

Interior Design: Sarah Elizabeth Design - Photo Carly Jara Photography

ART AND PHOTOGRAPHY BOOKS:

Described as painted poetry - Cy Twombly’s work never stops inspiring, whether seeing his work in person at a museum or gallery, or in the pages of one of his books. Unlike other painters, his unique use of lines and at times writing, combined with vibrant colors is wonderfully unexpected, and unlike other art from the 60’s and 70’s, or even now.

Slim Aarons, the iconic 60’s-70’s photographer’s newest book is a must purchase, transporting you to exotic islands and chateau’s alike, while you find yourself wanting the outfits worn by his models that seem as relevant today as they did a half century ago.

Because everyone should have some pop art in their home and Andy Warhol’s book gives a bite size dose of that.

An all-time favorite artist who’s influenced so many since, who’s brilliant use of color instantly inspires by simply opening a page, De Kooning A Retrospective is a must addition to your home library, and perfect to place on a coffee table.

The trailblazer who didnt conform to norms and paved the way for women artists everywhere, Georgia O’Keefe’s work is ever inspiring and relevant.

Spotted in Rizzoli Bookstore last year, I was mesmerized by Anne Brigman’s magical photographs and had to have her book. Prepare to be enchanted.

interior design books:

Kelly Wearstler’s maximalist style is so captivating, while filled with bold color, texture and vibrance, it supplies endless inspiration even just flipping through a few pages. You’re bound to be awed and inspired by her fearly designs.

Ilse Crawford’s book Home Is Where The Heart Is is the first design book I ever bought 15 years ago when it came out. I poured over the pages and find the interiors just as beautiful and timeless now as i did then, not to mention the lush red satin book cover…

Jacques Grange is another long time favorite interior design and one I always thought should be a household name for design with his masterful mix of French furniture mixed with important contemporary designs, something i hadnt seen done so well before viewing his work.

Not like any other designer or tastemaker, Madeleine Castaing seemed to invent her own style using neoclassical elements mixed with pure whimsy in the turn of the twentieth century. She was a trailblazer who countless looked to and continue to for design inspiration to this day.

Lastly, French House Chic has some of the yummiest authentically French interior shots out there. I stumbled on this book at Rizzoli in New York, and dont think I’ve seen a more beautiful book cover, let alone unique French interiors.

fashion Books:

If you have seen a Dior gown in person, then you just know and will want any book with their masterful designs in your life. I’ve had the pleasure of seeing shows both in Paris and at the MET in New York, and they’ve always left me completely speechless. The level of detail, hand emrbodery and how they fit, and drape, I’d never seen until viewing his gowns. No wonder there is a movie about his gowns, Mrs Harris Goes to Paris, with designs so fabulous I had to include a second book of their designs, below.

Following suit, Valentino is another iconic designer of some of the worlds most gorgeous gowns. As anyone has seen when walking by one of their boutiques, or seeing their gowns in a museum, like the MET, their designs are flawless and the epitome of haute couture fashion. What better than to bring a tiny piece of it home, if not a gown itself.

I‘ve always had a fascination with Japanese Street style as its like no other fashion movement, with a maxamilist mindset, and is showcased from top to bottom of a person, with hair accessorized or dyed a fun color, down to a person’s shoes adorned and accessorized. It all reads as fun and whimsical, with nods to Japanese cartoon characters and anime, and bring a sense of curiosity and playfulness - something we all need more of!

Favorite Interior Design Trends of 2024 Wrapped

Design: Sarah Elizabeth Design. Photo: Carly Jara Photography

We see interior design home trends come and go, and just like fashion, they always repeat themselves. Some say trends repeat themselves every 20 years but my professional opinion is closer to 10 to 13 years. When we do use trends in our interior designs, they are very thoughtfully chosen as more often trends are short lived and do not repeat but die, whereas our interiors are designed to last. The past few years we have seen a strong wanting for biophilic designs, meaning natural elements and materials and even trees and plants in design, bringing the outside in, and an overarching theme of wanting to be cozy and even feel held. Here’s our favorites wrapped whereas we would love to hear if you agree:

Incorporating Vintage items into interiors

Many people have heirlooms or items passed down from parents or grandparents, but many dont. When design an interior with all new furniture, its important for us to add interesting vintage or antique items to add depth and warm, and feel approachable. That’s when we source through our trusted antique dealers as well as antique websites and even e-commerce sights like Etsy, or in-person which can be the most fun as we always come out with a few interesting, unexpected pieces we’re able to use. Some favorite antique finds are small mirrors with ornate frames, interesting glass vases and dishes, ceramic vases or containers, and mirror glass trays with silver rims and mismatching brass taper candlestick holders. We recommend hunting for things you love that catch your eye whether a stack of vintage hardcover books with interesting covers, or an original watercolor painting. Like our design philosophy goes across the board, we only use and present items we truly love, that call to us, otherwise they getting weeded out.

Design: Sarah Elizabeth Design. Photo: Carly Jara Photography

The Color Purple:

Purple has seemingly always had a love/hate relationship - moreso than any other color out there for a variety of reasons. Two clients we’ve worked with in the past few years have stressed they do not want purples in their interior design schemes, but open to all other colors. That said, over the last year purples in softer tones like lavender, amethyst, periwinkle and even mauves that lean purple, have felt so fresh - and will not be going away any time soon. Color evokes emotion, and creates a mood whereas amethyst are known to bring calm, and positive feelings, that feel more calming than red tones. We suggest using it in muted tones for wall paint colors, in the bedroom for tranquility or if that feels like too much, start with accessories or artwork with these colors. Seen below we used an amethyst crystal and brass accent table near the, with deep blush tones in the custom artwork we commissioned for this primary bathroom renovation.

Design: Sarah Elizabeth Design. Photo: Carly Jara Photography

Earth Tones:

Flesh tones - think powder pink walls and mauve upholstery - have been trending since the start of the pandemic, yet each year the soft pinks and mauves have expanded into deeper hues like clay and terracotta, while incorporating more brown tones - thus you have the now trending earth tones. Where you would once see a small collection of velvets or performance fabrics offered in the expected colors including navy blue, forest green, maybe a trendy teal, and something random like a yellow which was always puzzling, you now have a few earthy tones which says huge things about the once-misunderstood warm tans (think carmel), peaches and flesh tones. These tones are also wonderful as wall colors as they can literally feel like a warm hug, while grounding, and less stark than the bright whites and warmer than greys. They are great for upholstery and hide dirt better than their counterparts lighter tones and add interest reminding us of warmer climates during say the east coast winters or grey days in the UK for examples and a bit unexpected unlike more predictable colors like tans, blues and greens. Seen here is a dusty pink velvet sofa in our Montclair NJ interior design studio, offset but colorful pillows and blue accents and brass details to help ground the area.

Design: Sarah Elizabeth Design. Photo: Carly Jara Photography

Understated Elegance:

Understated elegance has always been one of our most important design directives, and cornerstone of our interior design company. More recently its been dubbed quiet luxury - meaning spending on well made, quality pieces, that dont necessarily look expensive (meaning flashy). We design a lot of custom furniture as we may want a certain shape and size sofa, headboard or certain design we have sketched that are not on the market, with customizations we can have included when furniture is custom made. This type of thoughtful design is also matched in its quality as higher end materials are used, or could be custom wood and metal pieces made by artisans, not from big box stores, like tables and even art and accessories, that fit just right in an interior. Moreso or to summarize, with understated elegance you get what you pay for and its really felt in the details as the items are made to last, and tailored specifically for a room and their inhabitants. This doesnt have to mean custom and can also span luxurious bedding that may cost more, but made with higher end and even cleaner and more sustainable materials like organic cottons and viscose.

Design: Sarah Elizabeth Design. Photo: Carly Jara Photography

Textured Walls:

We collectively seem to want less bare walls, and craving more texture and movement on them. Textured surfaces provide warm and interest, whereas materials like grasscloth add a natural element which helps ground a space. We’ve used grasscloth wall coverings for this reason probably since the day we knew they existed. We have also always worked closely with a decorative painter who creates multi-layered treatments using plaster or a lime wash, and even mica (all naturally derived materials) to create texturally interesting, and completely unique, layered surfaces. This can be included in quiet luxury as well, as these custom treatments can cost more, but you have something rich in feel unique to your home, taste and style.

In summary, all of the trends we are seeing go back to the earth and biophilic in some way, whether reusing items like special antique and vintage pieces, to plaster hand applied finishes on walls, and the use of earth tones.

Design: Sarah Elizabeth Design

Our Montclair Interior Design Studio - Speed renovation (love story)

Portrait post-renovation in our downtown Montclair interior design studio

Our Montclair interior design studio renovation, a love story

As some of you know who have followed us for a while and to give you some context to our Montclair interior design studio, I started my then New York City interior design studio right after graduating design school in New York City, almost a dozen years ago. Fast forever a decade, upon my son’s birth and realizing he’d need a yard and more green space (we all would!) I relocated to the Montclair NJ area, thus starting my then new interior design company all over from scratch. While we do accept projects in new york city (and the tri-state), most of our clients are right here in town. Thankfully as our clientelle grew from mainly word of mouth and saw that we needed an office, whereas I called a tiny studio in downtown Montclair home of SED for 3 years that lets be honest was taken over by our vast fabric, rug and material library. Seeing that we needed more space and a place we could welcome our clients, and offer more than our full-service interior design options - including a place where people can book a 2 hour in house design consult - i began looking for the right place. Fast forward 1 year, and many days filled with hope, and also doubt that a place existing with great natural light, an open floor plan and on or near Bloomfield Ave and Church Street in Montclair, late one evening an email popped up with a new office listing. The next morning i saw the space, and upon the landlord agreed that I could remove walls and renovate and within 24 hours of seeing the listing, i had signed a 2 year lease.

Because this post wouldn’t be complete without the fabulous BEFORE photos below:

As a longtime interior designer, I saw so many great qualities and the beautiful “bones” of the space that had been broken up into 3 small offices. The large pre-war windows bringing in the natural light we need to see fabrics and materials well, combined with the location (the exact place I’d imagined in downtown Montclair) and knew I could make it a dreamy interior design studio. As the renovation work it required was not structural, it is after all on the 2nd floor of a pre-war building with offices on either side and below us, I knew we could have it done in weeks rather than months. The work included the demolition of the interior walls, which meant relocating all of the outlets and electric in the walls, which also meant major repairs to the ceiling and tearing out the faux-wood flooring. Like many homes including my own, I need to see the walls “whited out” to start, before planning anything on the walls including a painted accent walls or wallpaper, which is what we did. That said, my original vision was an all-white studio, and when i say all white i really did mean floor to ceiling, which I had for all of 24 hours…see below:

Once the floor was painted white and the vision of an all-white office like you see in Soho lofts and photographers’ studios around the world, i instantly saw that shoes left large shoe prints on the floors, so we took off our shoes, to find even bare feet left footprints on the floors. To my dismay my dream was shattered quickly as I rushed to sweep and mop each time myself or the contractors entered the space, and knew we needed a take-two. Simeon Day of Days Painting, being the amazing contractor that he is, allowed and even encouraged me to have their team repaint the floors in a medium grey, our backup color, as it’s still neutral and even reads as concrete, still in line with the clean, expansive look i was going for where our materials and furnishings would do the talking. What this did require was moving a very heavy, solid wood top conference table, sofa, and the dozens of boxes to one side of the room while the contractor painted half of the floor, making sure the coats dried with several hours in between coats, then moving the furniture and boxes to the dry side of the room, to do the other half of the floor, as our movers couldn’t switch delivery days, and furniture and boxes were crowding the common areas of the office building which we couldn’t do for long.

Fast forward a long weekend to let the floor completely dry, we had a week of installs at the studio, hauling boxes from around the corner where our former interior design studio was located, by car, foot and truck - depending on who was available to help. In the weeks to follow we setup our vast fabric libraries in a series of tall cabinets, setup the material library, while designing the seating areas so that our design clients feel welcome and comfortable once they enter. Wallpaper came once i was able to fully take in the space and see how my team moved around in it, whereas a grasscloth was used to add texture and depth to the otherwise white palette. As with our design projects, lots of color was brought in through artwork and pillows, while using a mix of classic pieces (our armchairs) mixed with modern (our pink velvet sofa) to achieve a harmonious and well designed space. The room is anchored by area rugs adding pattern and texture, and happy to hear that each person we welcome into the studio comments on how calming yet inviting it is. Hope you liked our mini tour, for an in person design consult at our design studio, or at your home, drop us a line here!

Top New Jersey Designer shares tips on how to design a dream bedroom

Designing bedroom for us means learning as much as we can about how our clients want to feel in the space, and how they live. Like the rest of their home we want to gather as much information as possible, including their favorite color palettes, design elements they gravitate toward, and if they like bold patterns or a more neutral palette. All rooms in a home should flow and have a common thread or ribbon as I like to say, throughout them, so nothing feels “random”. No two projects are ever alike, and some clients may come to us with a vision, or even a favorite item like an area rug they’d like worked into the design - while others ask that we come up with a scheme as they aren’t sure. In that case, like designing other rooms in a home, we come with a collection of favorite fabrics that we may use for their drapery, upholstered bed or headboard, a reading or accent chair, and even long bolster pillow for their bed, like the above bedroom we designed for a client’s second home. Here we pulled green tones to bring the outside in, complimenting the surrounding pine forest, combined with vivid textiles as a nob to our clients’ love of fashion.

As a top New Jersey interior designer, we have designed everything from primary suites, to children’s rooms and guest rooms throughout New York and the tri-state around. Here are some of our favorite bedroom designs with examples of what we cover in this post.

design checklist & things we look for we use when designing a bedroom:

• Is there a place for wallpaper, whether an accent wall, the ceiling, or the entire room?

• What is the mood of the room, restful, harmonious, spa-like, moody, energizing, unexpected?

• What is the color palette, whether neutrals like an ivory paint color, or would like clients like more color brought in?

• What lighting designs can we utilize - sconces or hanging pendants for around the bed combined with a statement ceiling fixture is the combination we like to use whenever possible.

• Is there room for a large dresser for additional clothing storage? Most times this is combined with a walk-in closet, and a great place for favorite objects, photo frames, vases, with artwork or a mirror centered above it (or TV if desired).

• Is there space for a reading nook?

wHERE TO START WHEN DESIGNING A BEDROOM:

When designing a bedroom we start with the design phase, designing a cohesive floor plan that tells us what furniture items are needed, while also working on preliminary mood boards, furniture, flooring and fabric options. We note any furniture or items the client would like us to work into the design, as well as work on any built-in designs or millwork, as well as electrical work whether we are adding wiring for sconces, a ceiling fixture, any recessed lighting, or more outlets for example.

interior design TIPS TO CREATE A LUXURIOUS bedroom:

• Use lush carpets. Its the first thing your feet touch as the beginning or end of a day and should feel soft and luxurious.

• Add multiple sources of lighting most importantly sconces around the bed to for reading and mood lighting. At the end of the day having the subtle light from a sconce rather than overhead lighting creates a more relaxing environment. If you cannot do wall sconces a pair of lamps with a 3-way switch does the trip.

• Most clients do not want a television in their bedroom but in some bedrooms, mostly in second homes, we have added picture televisions which now have wonderful frame options.

• Paint the walls a flattering color thats also soothing. For some that might be a moody dark blue where they feel cocooned, while others it's a subtle ivory or off white. We also use pink tones often, as even the slightest hint of pink create a flattering glow in the room.

• Add a soft throw blanket to the foot of your bed. While adding color and texture, it’s also great to add another layer on cold evenings or curl up in while reading in bed or in a stollen quiet moment during the day. Pro tip: I like to rotate my throw blankets not just in and out of the closet during different seasons but also rotate them between rooms to change up the decor.

interior Design tips to enhancing a bedroom using current furniture:

If for example a client has hired us to redesign their entire home and has a guest bedroom or kids room they'd like finessed more than entirely redesigned there are go-to tricks to finishing the rooms:

• When using what the client already has as far as bedroom furniture, sometimes it’s just about moved the bed and rug around so that the room flows better. It’s amazing how much simply moving a bed to the correct wall, and laying an area rug starting just in front of the nightstands does for a space.

• Add custom window treatments - we come up with a color palette to use on the drapes thats harmonious with the rest of the room - normally we do custom roman shades inside mounted, with a pair of drapes over them for max privacy and black out for sleeping.

• Update the bed linens - this also does wonders for a room, think new duvet cover and throw blanket for end of the bed, paired with fresh white linens. It’s amazing the different this simple update can do!

• Reposition the area rug like stated above - or add one. Many times a well made or even heirloom rug has been passed down to our client, or the clients’ first large purchase as a married couple for example - so meaningful for them. Instead of laying the rug under the night stands and bed as may seem natural, lay the rug so the end starts just in front of the night stands. That way the room looks larger, and the rug covers more area space, and simply looks purposely placed. It may mean turning the rug 90 degrees so the length runs the length of the room, or vice versa depending on the room shape.

• Add a wallpaper accent wall. We do this often when the clients are happy with the wall color, and just want something that pops or feels elevated, whereas a wallpaper accent wall, most times on the headboard wall, make a small investment a large impact.

• Put up sconces to flank the bed. This doesn’t have to mean cutting up the wall to hardwire sconces as there are so many great looking plug-in sconces out there and if you are low on outlets you can get creative with an extension cord under the bed, or even have a handyman hide cords in conduits.

2023 Design Trends Wrapped

We are always humbled when a publication or popular blog asks my interior design firm to share our expertise on a design topic, whether certain design styles we are seeing throughout the year, our current go-to interior or exterior paint colors, or to chime in on a new design trend. When asked for a 2nd year in a row to contribute design-related insights for Redfin website, we were thrilled. We see first hand the countless innovations each year as it's important for us to stay up to date on new products, working with hundreds of not thousands of design-related companies and vendors, where we are using these new materials in our various design projects, thus love to weigh in and share what works and what we are currently loving.

Innovations develop yearly in our industry, in everything from wallpaper, textiles and tile, to broader categories like appliance upgrades, smart technology being added to everything from drapes to appliances. Keeping up with our market, combined with seeing similarities in what our design clients are asking us for in order to make their lives easier and richer when it comes to their homes, make us experts in the field of design trends and even future predictions.

As we look back on 2023, Redfin reached out to design experts from Boston, MA, to San Francisco, CA, including my New Jersey Interior Design company, to share 23 of our favorite and not-so-favorite design trends of the year, Redfin’s 2023 Design Trends Wrapped.

Top New Jersey Designer Shares The Best Home Design Stores in New Jersey and Beyond

Carly Jara Photography for Sarah Elizabeth Design

Rugs:

As a busy New Jersey interior designer, we have a roster of high-end, dependable vendors to source from and prefer a one-stop shop over running to multiple vendors in the NJ area. For area rugs and wall-to-wall carpeting alike, we use J and S by Stark in Morristown, NJ who offers everything from hand-made area rugs in every style and color from around the world ready to purchase off the floor, to many custom lines, both modern and traditional. For a more intimate shopping experience Ampersand Interiors in Upper Montclair, NJ has a high-end beautifully curated offering of area rugs made to order in any size and color, and high-end broadloom as well. Their offering of Scandinavian and Turkish made rugs are unlike any we have seen, and a true treat to visit the store to see whats new. The Rug Co in Fairfield, NJ is also an excellent area rug and broadloom vendor, wheres their customer service is excellent and they are quick to respond, going the extra mile to try to source exactly what you are looking for if they do not have it in their showroom, likewise with meeting your budgetary needs. 

Fabric:

While the fabric vendors we use are all to the trade, some vendors will sell to consumers direction charging retail prices. J and S by Stark in Morristown, NJ has a large selection of to-the-trade fabrics from a variety of fabric companies we know and love. If you are not working with a New Jersey interior designer like our firm, you can ask if you can buy the fabrics you see and love through them. Calico is another vendor who sells to the public, as well as Ethan Allen. We started and built our company in New York City a decade ago and know and love our NYC-based vendors just as much as our New Jersey ones where our interior design office currently resides. The reps at Kravet at 200 Lexington ave in NYC have taken great care of us the last decade and have one of the widest selections of fabrics anywhere, offering transitional brocades and toile, to the ever popular boucle, and colorful indoor/outdoor fabrics that we use 75% for clients with kids and pets. It is truly a one stop shop not stopping with fabric, where we get everything from window treatment fabrics, upholstery fabric, wall papers, to even rug selections. 

Furniture:

White House Lux in Wayne, NJ has taken great care of us over the years, who offers high-end customizable furniture lines like LEE Industries, and Century Furniture, and also has a wonderfully vast fabric library. We try them first for our upholstery needs including sofas and armchairs, or the ever-popular swivel chairs we do so many of, and what is special about them is they have access to countless vendors who we previously only knew through the New York Design centers, wheres you can skip a trip to Nyc buying through them. Their customer service has located tough wood and material samples for us for case goods like coffee tables and even dining tables and chairs, a huge reason we use and trust them for our decreeing clientele. Another wonderful resource is Schwartz Design Showroom who is similar to White House who are colleagues know and love.

Accessories:

Shopping local and supporting local businesses is very important to my company, and Montclair just happens to have an excellent selection of home decor boutiques that are all unique and offer something special, where we are sure to find something to finish a project. Ampersand Interiors in Upper Montclair, as mentioned above, is our go-to shop for unique hand-made ceramics, throws and throw pillows, and even gifts and hand poured candles, helping create the most beautiful vignettes in our clients homes. The owner Polly has an exceptional eye and works hard to bring one of a kind pieces to her shop, and is a Farrow and Ball paint stockist to boot, where our contractors and I order all of our Farrow and Ball paints and wallpapers from. 

Howell, also located in Upper Montclair, is our go-to for unique, globally sourced items like colorful wool blankets, plant and floral-inspired serving trays, and beautifully unique glassware. They also started offering the ever-popular Formob French cafe-style outdoor furniture. Between these 2 shops, within just 1 block of each other, we are able to find so much for client projects. 

Window Treatments:

Alex Upholstery in Verona, NJ is our go-to for window treatments whereas we do mainly flat roman shades and drapery panels to create warm, add a softening element, and to finish a room. Romans work for almost any room from a powder room and kitchens, adding the finishing touch and look more finished than traditional roller shades or blinds. While we are both hyper-local and dedicated to helping give business to other small businesses, The Shade Store in Montclair and surrounding towns can also be a great resource as they sell most types of window coverings including solar shades, roman shades and drapery panels.

There are some rooms where motorized solar shades are the best option like sunrooms for example, where we would use Lutron brand shades sold through DVT in Paramus, NJ, for their quality and versatility, and can be programmed to your phone or remote, either battery operated or hard wired. DVT while being on the high-end price wise, is reliable, quick to respond, and thorough from start to finish from ordering to installing Lutron-brand shades. 

Lighting:

Circa Lighting at 200 Lexington Ave in New York is a one-stop shop for lighting for all areas of the home. We use sconces generously in our projects as well as chandeliers and ceiling fixtures over recessed lighting, and they carry one of the widest ranges of lighting spanning every style from traditional to super modern, glam to understated elegance. We buy table lamps to finish a room, and use them for their vast selection and various price-points as well as their countless in stock options, so our contractors arent ever waiting for the lighting to arrive. Other places we like to source light fixtures in New Jersey are West Essex Lighting Studio, Capitol Lighting and even vendors at the Short Hills Mall like RH and Crate and Barrel.

Paint:

As we love supporting local businesses, combined with the fact that we have such great vendors who are both kind and helpful, while having a vast knowledge of the projects they sell. Red Star Paint on Bloomfield Ave in Montclair is where we go for both Benjamin Moore paint samples and paint when ready to purchase. For Farrow and Ball colors which is the other paint brand we use, we order from Ampersand Interiors in Upper Montclair, NJ who can get any color within a few days.

Carly Jara Photography for Sarah Elizabeth Design

Top New Jersey Interior Designer's Guide On Where To Spend And Where To Save In Your Home

Carly Jara Photography for Sarah Elizabeth Design

As a top New Jersey interior designer, I’d like to help you get real clear on where to spend in your home design, and where you can save. Over the course of a decade plus designing home in New Jersey and beyond, we’ve developed methods in the way we choose furniture and decor for homes and want to share the reasons why, and how you can implement the same methods. Many of our clients are busy professionals with young children and pets, which means durable fabrics and floor covering are needed, and items designed to last - which is how we design most all spaces. This can mean investing in custom items like a sofa with a washable velvet you love and will all dive on after a long day, paired with a washable pattern rug, that can be switched out as your kids grow - remember that patterns hide stains like a pro… Another scenario we see are young professionals who crave an elevated design, requesting some luxury items to mix with apartment and budget-appropriate furniture, knowing they will eventually move out and move up in the next 5+ years. Here I recommend saving on the bed frame for example as you can get lovely upholstered beds on One Kings Lane and even CB2, paired with pricier sheets you cant resist for the quality and feel, or maybe its the lovely bedding thread color in the stitching that just ties the bedroom together…

A few other notes to keep in mind: The old saying - you pay for what you get -does ring true in terms of furniture especially the larger pieces you use the most. Meaning the more you spend on say a quality sofa (which could mean made in America using a hardwood frame like the photo above and below) the longer it will last. Another bit of advice: While we can tell you where to spend and where to save, if something makes your heart happy, you should have it in your home - whether a spectacular chandelier you saw in a showroom on your way to the subway that cant stop thinking about, or a vintage piece you saw browsing the 1st Dibs website late one night... Certainly sleep on it, and but if it would make you happy seeing it in your home, meaning add richness, than its truly priceless.

Vanessa Casella for Sarah Elizabeth Design

Where to Save:

• Area rugs for your living room, dining room, mudroom - think high traffic areas. We like Revival and Ruggable for higher-end looking and seriously washable rugs, with some great patterns!

• Accent furniture - Remember, for main pieces including your sofa, where you plant your b-hind most evenings after a long day, you want something that’s not only going to last, and hold up but look and feel good for the long run. Accent furniture are by no means an afterthought, yet we have found many great looking metal side tables and drink stands, and even marble coffee tables at West Elm and CB2.

• Decor items including kids room decor - There is such great ceramic and glass vases, candles and candle holders, and objects out there to style your entry console, coffee table or kids rooms. For kids rooms there seem to be endless fun and even hand-made wall art and decor out there from Crate and Kids and even Etsy. This can also include cotton or linen throw blankets for the arm of your sofas during the warmer mosts.

• Your bed frame and head board, not to mention your kids beds and even guest room beds: We have seen and used lovely upholstered bed options at mid-priced vendors like Lulu and Georgia, Crate and Barrel and One Kings Lane, who offer a selection of velvets and linens with not so long lead times. Below is a great examples of high and low, using a bed from One Kings Lane paired with lux bedding from Ann Gish.

Sarah Elizabeth Design

Where to spend:

• Wallpaper and a good painter - Wallpaper can easily cost as much as the cost to install it as you want a pro to do it, which I cant stress enough. Likewise with finding the right wallpaper pattern - one you gravitate to and keep going back to is the one you should go with. Wallpapers are sold by the roll or by the yard, and cost between $150 and $300 a roll normally. That said, you will have the wallpaper for what could easily be a decade - many clients call us back 10-13 years later to redesign their home for example. So that few hundred dollars you might spend for the pattern you love the most will not make a difference in the long run - but what would make a difference is liking VS loving it! The powder room below is a great example, the client and i kept going back to a show-stopping Australian artist’s wallpaper design that cost more than the others but SO worth it.,

• Lighting for dining rooms and other main rooms - These are direct reflections of your style and personality and should be designs you love and ones that will last. While exposed-bulb trending lighting can be cheap and sold at big box stores, after having an electrician install it its going to be costly either way, and chances are you will tire of the style, so why not pick something made well, that you love and will last ✨.

• Window treatments - They are the finishing touches (think the perfect jewelry to go with an outfit). You want to budget $800 + per window for fabric shades.

• Artwork (and a professional art hanger to hang it) - Artwork is very personal, much like wallpaper, where each of us is drawn to different colors and patterns. In my professional opinion, giclees and prints are never as powerful as the real deal. Dont get me wrong, there are many up and coming artists, many who we partner with, who’s work ranges in price and can start at as little as $1000 for an original piece. Using a professional art hanger so that your artwork is hung right is also imperative - the first thing I notice when entering a home is the artwork height, if the artwork is hung too high (or low) it’s distracting, your eye and brain sense something isnt right and it takes away from the room’s overall look and feel.

• That goes with any professional - Choose the most qualified person so the job is only done once. As you would want the most qualified dentist, or the most educated lawyer or financial planner, same goes with your home projects.

• Your mattress AND your bedding - You work hard, you should be surrounded by something that feels luxurious and elevated when climbing into bed. Bedding isnt as pricey as people might think and when it’s great quality, like most things, it lasts.

• Beautiful wool or cashmere throws - They will last forever and feel so indulgent when curling up on the sofa during the cooler months.

Iris Bachman Photography for Sarah Elizabeth Design

Sitting Down With Apartment Therapy to Talk About Kitchen Trends of 2023

Photo by Carly Jara for Sarah Elizabeth Design

To our delight, our Montclair interior design firm was asked to share some of the biggest kitchen trends of 2023, recently published in Apartment Therapy. See a few highlights and what we shared below:

On a related note, designer Sarah Elizabeth, the founder of Sarah Elizabeth Design, has witnessed an influx of more colorful tile choices in 2023. “The tile should reflect the homeowner’s style, and we are seeing that come through more,” she says. When designing a young professional’s kitchen recently (pictured here), she used a triangular-shaped marble tile with blue and metallic lines woven throughout it. “The impact is immense, reading like artwork and adding a ton of personality and interest,” she says. 

In our Poconos, PA vacation home design (shown above and below) our client wanted the home to be a sanctuary for her and her family and friends to gather in. Knowing she would have her large family there for holidays, we knew the kitchen would be a main point of convergence for them, therefor wanted it stylish yet comfortable, with durable finishes and enough space for people to get around, and mingle, while the food prep goes on.

Our client is a young professional and noted her excellent taste and style from our very first meeting, therefor we wanted to design her vacation home, including her kitchen, to reflect these same traits, as an extension of who she is, as a retreat away from the hustle and bustle of city living when needed. Read the full article here, and let us know what you think in the comments below. 💚

Photo by Carly Jara for Sarah Elizabeth Design

15 Chic Throw Pillows under $150

Photo Carly Jara for Sarah Elizabeth Design

As an interior design firm that specializes in custom furniture and decor, we do countless custom pillows where we shop our design studio’s fabric library as well as shop the design centers for the perfect patterns to compliment our clients’ spaces. Throw pillows are the anecdote to a living room design for a designer, using pillows as the final touch for sofas or armchairs adding a pop of color or texture, or added to a window seat to make it feel more inviting, or even using a long (lumbar) pillow for a bedroom to compliment bedding. We also understand sticker shock is real and therefor source ready-made pillows (think in-stock, no lead-time!) for certain projects or areas of the home. Sometimes we come across some pretty awesome options from big box stores like CB2 and Lulu and Georgia to name a few. While there’s nothing like custom pieces with just the right pattern or texture, store-bought pillows can be great options to mix in with higher-end pillows, or for high traffic comfy areas like family rooms, mudrooms, playrooms and kids rooms.

Scroll through for our favorite store-bought pillow options hand-picked by our interior design team, and let us know what you think 💚.

Small scale pattern pillows:

Large Scale pattern pillows:

Solid throw pillows:

Textured pillows:

Top 5 Design Updates To Make When Buying A New Home

Vanessa Casella Photo for Sarah Elizabeth Design

We have countless interior design clients who have moved to the suburbs for the many perks of owning a home in our area from the diverse community to the countless restaurants and parks, let alone the proximity to NYC💚. The scenario we see go’s often times like this: Family buys a home 2 - 3 times (or much more) larger than the apartment they had in the city - I’ve also been there myself. Its the most exhilarating experience to buy what could be your very first home, but also daunting and stress-inducing thinking of the chore of furnishing it, let alone any renovations that might be needed, and what to do first VS what to do down the line. These updates will also add value to your home, In a nutshell we will break down the tasks to tackle first, and what you can do in the years to come. Also read to the end for a video recap of the 5 interior design updates to expect to make when moving into a new home.

Carly Jara Photography for Sarah Elizabeth Design

We are often brought in as the interior designer on a project during a home’s inspection, where we get detailed measurements, site photos and walk through with our clients making a wish list. From there we sit down with our team, do some number crunching, view our client’s desired timeline and budget, and zoom in on what’s possible. While every project is different, our list of initial updates to make when moving into a new home in the burbs many times looks like the below:

1. New paint colors throughout:

   The reason this is important is for one it’s easier to paint without having to cover, protect and/or move furniture. As an intregral part of the interior design process we are choosing paint colors (and wallpaper a lot of times) while developing the color palette for each room and the overall home, creating room layouts and choosing the furniture that goes in them. You will always have a paint schedule when working with us!

2. Refinish hardwood floors or replace flooring when needed:

   This goes without saying this is a zillion times easier if the home is empty. Our go-to stain is a medium walnut stain made up of mixing two stains together while minimizing any red tones, but we also love a natural oak or bleached oak for a sophisticated Scandinavian (or beachy!) look. This can be done in as quick as a few days for a full home, but you must note the high amount of dust the sanding before staining will create and have your flooring team protect accordingly.

3. New light fixtures throughout:

   Chances are you aren’t going to love the former owners lighting choices, or they are just too dated. We are choosing light fixtures as an intregral part of the design process while choosing furniture and decor for each room. The light fixtures should relate and compliment the room, light it well (unless the client is opting for a moody vibe), and should always have a dimmer which is easy and inexpensive to install. This is also the time we would add sconces to rooms when needed, having them hardwired before painting. Lighting is important as you want your dining room chandelier for example to reflect your distinct style, whether that be a modern multi-arm fixture, or a more transitional glass chandelier. Changing the lighting is priceless in adding your unique taste to the home.

4. window treatments:

   We bring in a team to measure your windows so we are in the que, as window shades can run a few weeks to be made or up to 10 weeks. Shades run from $800 and can go much more per window, but are something you have for years to come. If this sounds daunting you can opt to install them in sleeping rooms, powder rooms, and anywhere you need privacy to start, or in the main rooms like the living and dining to elevate the look and feel of the rooms. Pro-tip: to hold clients over we use home Depot $7 paper accordion shades you can cut to size to fit over each window in sleeping rooms to keep light out. The window shades we do most are roman shades with a cord, whereas many clients do not close the shades except for in the sleeping rooms. We will also bring in Lutron or another motorized shade for sunrooms, beach homes and other areas where light filtering is needed. You can always layer Lutron or motorized shades with a fabric window treatment over them for a softer, more tailored look.

5. Kitchen and bath updates:

   A kitchen renovation may be on your list of immediate updates depending on the condition your new homes’ kitchen is in, and what your needs are. If you are able to absorb the additional cost - whereas a kitchen can easy run you $150,000 for a full renovation, depending on the size of the kitchen. For a galley kitchen it can be much less, and mixing custom and store-bought options can also save, as well as choosing mid-grade yet durable fixures and finishes - things to discuss with your interior designer and contractor.

   Note: Even a kitchen renovation can wait if for example you have young children where its important to have daily access to your kitchen (meaning not having your fridge located in your dining room with a hot plate and makeshift kitchen for 2-3 months!), or you have a strict budget, and your kitchen has decent storage (note you can always get a tall cabinet or armoire to store items in in the interim), with some counter place. If you have a newer kitchen or one with solid wood cabinets and a decent layout (think dynamic working triangle) which many homes we decorate do have, you can also opt for aesthetic updates like painting the cabinets and replacing the countertops, changing out the knobs and pulls, and retiling, a beautiful and more economical facelift that does wonders for a space.

Vanessa Casella for Sarah Elizabeth Design

If the above feels daunting, a loved professor at New York School of Interior Design told me years ago something very simple. To move clients in, think of what they will need right away, which includes a bed(s), a dining table and a few chairs, and some living room seating which can be your current sofa, armchairs etc. This simple concept is important to remember when things feel daunting or out of reach either because of your budget or desired move in date. We also reference this when ordering new furniture for a home - key pieces we need in order of importance.

While we are well-versed in hitting the ground running working on gut renovations when our client’s opt to have everything done before moving in, as they may have a secondary home or lease to finish out, we do complete many projects in phases. If the above feels daunting, rest assured while scrolling through the list below:

Carly Jara Photography for Sarah Elizabeth Design

What you can wait on:

1. HVAC - If a new hvac is needed, this can arguable go on the list of things to do when you move in, but I’ve seen it done at many stages. If you add duct work it should be done before the aesthetic updates like paint and wallpaper and any other design elements added.

2. We are called back a year to two years later to renovate basements - whether they are usable but the aesthetic not desirable, or its unfinished space (think a series of wood columns and the concrete foundation…) where layouts and space planning are needed, as our new flooring, sheetrock, etc whereas a blank slate can be exciting yet costly.

3. The other interior design tasks we are often called back to do are stair runners as we educate clients on pricing while working with them, and if its more important to them to get for example living and bedroom furniture ordered, and live in their home for a bit, then a runner is something very simple to add later but that ties the design all together.

4. We get called back for all kinds of other things, from converting an existing room into a baby’s room 👶 , a home office, adding a gym or built-in bar for entertaining family and friends, and even consulting on artwork for the space.

Carly Jara Photography for Sarah Elizabeth Design

We hope this summary of what you can do now, and what you can wait on, was helpful! If you would like to discuss this and how our interior design company can assist you with your new home design, please reach out, we’d love to hear from you!

What To Expect When Working With An Interior Designer

This topic feels so relevant as like many trades, there is a lot of mystery around what an interior designer actually does. Especially now when there is a seemingly endless list of designers that pop up in a google search, we want to shed light on what you can expect when working with a full service design company like ours.

We interview a lot, as we want to make sure the project is a great fit for our team, just as much as it’s the right fit for the client, and what their design needs are. For that reason we offer a complimentary design consult over the phone, think speed dating, but for designers. Its important to do these initial calls for many reasons but primarily to explain how the process works, and what you can expect, as many people have never used a designer before, or they have, except that many interior designers have different ways of working, as well as specialize in certain things (like kitchen design for example). We have heard from clients and colleagues a like that there are at least 10 ways interior designers bill. While we wont go into all of the fee structures here (that would take a while!) we will list what you can expect when working with our interior design company - which hopefully brings clarity to some of the nuances and the unknowns of using a decorator!

Initial Meeting

A complimentary 30 minute phone call scheduled with potential clients is how we like to begin, followed by an in-home consultation if we feel the project is a good fit for our design studio. This is a working meeting and will be billed at a flat fee for the first 2 hours. We listen carefully and ask a lot of questions during initial meetings to get at the core of how you want to feel in your space, while giving design advice and preliminary recommendations for each room. Our team then reviews the scope of work and includes everything in a detailed proposal that includes all phases of the design process, including furniture, fixtures and accessories we will source, the style and aesthetic, and a good faith estimate of the hours it may take. Once contracts are signed and the retailer’s sent, we start the exciting design process!

Design Process: 

Our team gets to work measuring and documenting your home to begin space planning. We are also developing color palettes and drafting floor plans, elevations, and mood boards. This is where a lot of the creativity happens, and a lot of our time is spent - laying out each room, while sourcing furniture and lighting that go with the design style established. Once we’ve presented these, revisions are made. We begin scheduling work including millwork, painting, wallpapering, window treatment installation, to name a few. Shopping trips to view furniture are an integral part of this process as well. If you are in a rush to move into your new space, we’ll advise on the most important items to order first, as lead times vary, as well as which items to invest in, and where you can save. Our goal is to make the entire process fun, dynamic and tailored to work best for you.

Next Steps:

Once furniture and fixtures are approved we begin the ordering process - approving samples and strike-offs, placing orders, tracking, shipping, and receiving. We inspect everything that arrives to trouble shoot anything that can (and does) come up. If something arrives damaged, we take care of it in real-time to ensure things continue running smoothly, as your advocate from beginning to end of the project.

When We Aren’t Meeting:

Countless things go on from designing and updating drawings, to sourcing, ordering and tracking items, and we’ve got it covered. We work closely with our upholsterers and various trades, visiting workrooms to ensure your furniture is perfect, while managing project progress with contractors and many vendors, keeping in close communication so that nothing is overlooked. Multiple site visits happen to ensure we are up-to-date on any changes to the project.

Installation:

We arrange for your furniture and accessories to be stored safely in preparation for the big install day - though one size does not fit all, and you may choose to have furniture delivered as it becomes ready. During installation, our team of movers (also art hangers, handymen, rug installers and so on) work carefully unpacking and placing furniture and accessories, prepping for the big reveal - knowing you are moments from enjoying your new space! Fast forward to when the project is completed, we are still here to insure everything looks and feels just right. It is time for you to thoroughly enjoy your new home. We cannot wait to see how you live in your space!

Truly hope our design process sheds some light on what could feel like a mystery. Please reach out to our Design Co with any questions, or to book a consult, we’d love to hear from you!

Montclair Interior Design Firm's Q and A with the founder Sarah Elizabeth

Sarah Elizabeth started her interior design company in New York City over 10 years ago, practicing in the field for over 15 years and having trained with some of the interior design greats including Muriel Brandolini - a regular in Architectural Digest and other publications. Today we thought it would be fun to sit down for a lightning round of fun facts about the designer herself, pulling back the curtain, and delving into her world in and outside of running her Montclair interior design company.

Lets start with your background:

I was born and raised in a tiny coastal town in the redwood forest in Northern California (think almost to the Oregon border). Redwoods were in our backyard and all around us. There’s something magical about the trees, and it seems to be in my veins and has shaped me a lot. At 18 years old I moved to San Franscisco where I studied fashion design, before moving to New York City to persue interior design after a mentor suggested it. The profession wasnt nearly as known - there were definitely no shows about interior design then, lol. In New York City, I lived on Riverside Drive on the upper west side for 10 years almost to the day. Until I was over 8 months pregnant with my son, whereas I read an article about Montclair, New Jersey and decided to make the jump.

What things Do you do to relieve stress:

Im a total nut… I can get big important things done, but if I have to be serious for long you might as well just check me in to the nearest (fill in the blank here).  Taking a run makes me so happy, and have my high school soccer teacher to thank making us run up the steepest hills she could find where I thought I might pass out, or worse... I also dont leave the house without doing a meditation, even if its just a few minutes, but hopefully longer! My kid knows this and while i used to try to sneak away to do them, I am glad he sees this ritual and how adults can gain clarity and regulate their emotions.

What are you currently listening to:

Sia is my number #1, has been for years. Love everything she puts out and who she is as a person. Also loving the greats like Elton John, Fleetwood Mac, but also try to keep current with new artists. Taylor Swifts is by no means new but love her new album!

Favorite colors?

Never met a color i didnt like… Though right now I’m drawn to emerald green which is more vibrant than forest green, as it feels energizing. Also dusty pinks never get old and really any pink out there… Pink forever as you might have noticed on our Instagram stories a time or two…!

Vices?

Dark chocolate (85% or more please!) and dried mangos (with no sugar). I eat them both daily the way some might pop potato chips. I dont eat sugar so these snacks help me with those cravings without feeling I’m on a roller coaster.

Some things We might not know about you:

I love our town and am hyper local - from our upholsterers, to stationary and office supplies, to clothing and our dentists, 90% of business is done in town and even within walking distance of our office. Supporting local businesses is very important to me and make sure to cast a wide net trying new places for anything we might need, exploring new shops and businesses that open, and constantly spreading the word on businesses we love!

If you werent an interior designer:

If I wasn’t an interior designer I'd be a fine painter hauled up in a studio all day (without my phone). Or an art historian, another passion of mine, and where you find me on weekends if i can sneak away - mostly to the MET as there is always a world class exhibit going on there, not to mention their endless rooms of their permanent collections.

Pet Peeves:

Wrinkles in fabric, whether on furniture, pillows, drapes or clothing, I just cant… Thats why I don’t specify linen in our designs often, unless a client would really like it, I don’t want them or I to have to stare at anything that looks like it was pulled out of the laundry bin, you get the idea! I do have a portable steamer in my car just in case though!

Sizzling Summer Style - our favorite finds for your home and wardrobe

Summer seems to bring the best of everything, with longer sun-filled days, the smell of neighborhood flowers, and a seeming buzzing in the air (cicada?). Its like an instant mood boost with so much sunshine, not to mention summer Fridays rounding out the week making way for long weekend getaways. Some say they feel renewed in the Fall as the leaves turn, whereas Ive always felt this way during the summer months, where things feel lighter, both in dress and feel, and hopeful with the freedom of going to the beach, spending more time in nature, and connecting with friends and family.

Below you’ll find some of our favorite summer finds for your home, though we couldn’t stop there without sharing our favorite summer outfits and accessories. Summer to us means lightness, cheer and color, which you will find nothing short (no surprise as color is always a good idea in our book!). We hope sharing these interior design trends brings inspiration for your home and wardrobe this summer.

For your porch (our favorite outdoor decor):

One of our interior design clients turned us onto this colorful plastic outdoor glasses line from William Sonoma that are now offered in a variety of shapes from drinking glasses short and tall, to martini and wine glasses. Nothing better than a pop of color and real glass look to enjoy your favorite beverages outdoors with!

John Robshaw comes to mind first for anything block printed, and there’s nothing more fun than a printed outdoor tablecloth. Pattern helps hide stains, and this design feels so fresh and would work just as well near a pool to house snacks atop, as much as in a garden setting for a mid-summer dinner party.

For outdoor cushions and pillows, go big and bright or go home is our motto. Sure we are well versed at creating a neutral, harmonious interior but using color is just as fun, giving a more energized feeling. With the sun in summer months so strong, you can amp up the brightness in the textiles you use as the light will wash some of it out. So add that wonderful pop of color your drawn to for a whimsical and energized outdoor space.

We have yet to see more chic little outdoor bowls then these, that are nearly shatter-proof. With a ceramic-like look and feel, these melamine bowl (Anthro also has this style in plates as well as great pattern options that would be fun to mix and match) you are bound to have something to talk about, as well as practical, without skimping on style outdoors.

We are major linen napkin collectors over here. Happy to say I have not bought paper towels in many years and use cloth napkins for almost all meals, and even cleaning. There are endless patterns printed on cotton, or solid color linen napkins have a timeless look and feel, whereas linen holds up eternally.

for your home:

Dorthy Draper is the first decorator to be attributed with the banana leaf pattern and its having a resurgence, or better yet, never went out of style. From swim suits to wallpapers, we cant get enough. Oh, and the iconic pattern is still donning the walls of the Beverly Hills Hotel, immortalizing this glorious pattern.

Holly has been on our radar for a while now, her female-centered glitter and glam original artwork just makes us, and seemingly everyone who views it, genuinely happy. And yes, she is the brilliant artist behind the infamous wall murals beautifying many iconic building facades in Asbury Park, NJ.

Joe Cariati blown glass vessels are like no other in color, shape and form. All hand-made in Los Angelos, CA and shipped all over the world, and see in the most luxurious home decor stores globally. They are the definition of old world glam (no wonder we spotted them in a boutique in Palm Springs!) and timeless - something you can collect and add to for years to come. See how we used them in one of our Montclair interior design projects.

Nothing brings to mind summer more than Slim Aaron’s iconic photographs from the 50’s and beyond. Capturing the glamorous lives of jet setters, their lifestyles filled with eye candy and wonder from their timeless summer fashion, to their homes (think Richard Neutra home).

For your wardrobe: Summer Fashion

Another with a fabulous print works for me. This one piece reminds me of my favorite wallpaper pattern, with a garden theme, which you know is right up our alley. One pieces feel timeless and the ties at the top give it a little extra special.

If you prefer a two piece, this one has got all the boxes checked. With a blue and white timeless, beachy feel, and tie in the front, it begs for a trip to the beach. I’m a fan of the high waisted cut on pants and bikinis, as the extra coverage feels flattering and also a bit retro.

Warby Parker has been my go-to eye glasses brand for years. Convenience is key for me whereas their many stores make it easy for me to run in if I feel like changing up my frame style, and their sunglasses which I purchased last year, I am hooked on and have worn all year long, and they are still holding up well. Mostly its me emailing their customer service asking if I can re-order the same pair I have for many years when they are lost or broken, and always have an extra pair on hand as they’re so well priced.

Been eyeing these heels for seemingly years now. Offered in multiple colors they are the perfect amount of glam needed for summer soiree and beyond. With such little extra time rushing around in this life, these seem a no-brainer paired with a solid color strappy dress for example, or even a fun romper, create the perfect pop, to look effortlessly elegant without spending too much precious time thinking it out.

Hill House Home dresses are handsdown the most comfortable dresses i have ever worn. Worn day to evening, from work meetings to evening drinks, they work for everything. Ive found myself cooking dinner many a nights still wearing one, whereas normally i rush to change into something soft when i get home from a long day. This new pattern they just launched might be my favorite one yet.

Retro roundup - Inspiration from a recent trip to Palm Springs

I recently traveled from New York to Palm Springs with my 7 year old, who’s in every way a better traveler than me, for a brief family getaway. I chose it so I could experience some of the old world Hollywood glam (the place where the stars of the 20’s thru 60’s would run off to, and the legacy in the form of brilliant architecture they left behind). That and so my kid could enjoy warm weather and swimming in a pool all day, while hanging in the desert amongst palm trees, something he’s always been interested in. If I had to choose 2 words to sum up our experience, including the retro-inspired hotel we stayed at, it would be pink and palm trees - and what more could you possibly want…? Dropped smack dab in the middle of the desert, Palm Springs truly is an oasis brimming with art, architectural gems, and great dining options - which you would only come to expect catering to such a diverse crowd flocking to it year round due to its almost always sunny climate.

As an interior designer part of my job is to have knowledge of historical styles, trends in art and design - both past and present, and be familiar with who influenced them. Scroll through to see some of my favorite homes, restaurants, and my interior design company’s own projects with iconic mid-century designs woven into them.

Its all pink and palm trees at a restaurant we loved next to our hotel, Gigi’s. Retro pink enamel lights, vinyl upholstered banquets, palm leaf clad wallpapers, sputnik chandeliers, and a glittery metallic ceiling make a perfect addition to the iconic mid-century surroundings. Plus the food and drinks were on point and the staff lovely to us.

The Architecture and Design Center is not to be missed, the architecture itself is an outstanding example of mid-century modern design well preserved as a previous bank, whereas the vault is now part of their note-worthy gift shop where I wanted one of everything.

Loved seeing the colorful graffiti seemingly juxtaposed within the mid-century buildings and signs for big brands like Sephora faintly seen in the background. These columns were spotted after walking around the museum, sadly the days we were there the museum was not open - currently open Thursdays-Sundays, possibly residual from the pandemic? But it only means we must go back.

The self guided home tour you can do in your car (or on bike or by foot) was the highlight of the trip by far. Some I cant get out of my head are below (and above). I did catch a glimpse of the facade of the Neutra’s Kaufmann Desert House with its incredible grounds including boulders and a cactus garden along the front gate (shown below). Looking back at past interior design projects, we had chosen a Slim Aarons photograph of the same home a decade ago, happy to say now worth many times what our client paid for it, Poolside Gossip, seen in the very last image below.

Not far from the Kaufmann house I spotted 2 homes on the tour with the most incredible forged metal gates. Guessing if I did a google deep dive I could find the brilliant artesian behind them, but arent they stunning? Pictured above and below.

A few more nods to mid-century design can be seen in our upper west side, nyc apartment renovation where our clients had mid-century accessories and even an original Lobmeyr chandelier we got to sprinkle into the new designs, and inspired our dining room design using Prouve chairs and a George Nelson table x 2 to make it long enough for them and their frequent guests.

Spring Cleaning & Styling Tips From Top Interior Decorators

1. When Spring is upon us we get calls from long-time clients to help switch out sofa pillows. While it seems small, it can have a big impact introducing brighter color linen or cotton pillows, or something with a fun print, like a floral. Put away the plaids and velvets, and heavier throws, and switch out for a light-weight cotton throw. Pro-tip - use reusable zippered clear bags to keep and store off-season pillows so they stay clean and fresh for next year. Likewise with your bedding, start putting your heavy duvet away and replace with a coverlet and lighter sheets. 

2. That goes with the outside also, start taking out your patio furniture and think about adding something new like those colorful paper lanterns you always wanted or strings of outdoor lights, and tie it all together with a colorful outdoor area rug. 

3. Bring in spring plants like potted bulbs to add color and fragrance to your home. Fresh flowers from the grocery store or your favorite local florist work too, bringing in fresh energy and inspiration.

4. Only surround yourself with things you really love, including artwork, accessories, clothing, Cetera, and Spring is a great time to reassess there these. If you don't equate really great feelings with something thats displayed in your home, put it away - you don't have to toss it but you also don't need to see it all the time. 

5. So many of us are busy working parents with an already large to do list. For that reason, I suggest hiring a professional organizer to work with even for just a few hours. We partner with organizers for everything from decluttering kids bedrooms or playrooms, to organizing kitchen drawers, bathroom drawers and linen closets. Its well worth the investment freeing up time and adding a sense of calm having things in order, and easy to locate. An interior decorater can also help with organizing including recommending furniture pieces to store items or even a built-in design with cabinets to conceal albums and board games for example including our interior design company.

Full article on spring cleaner by myself and many fellow New Jersey interior decorators on The Montclair Girl.

Wallpaper 101 and how to choose whats right for your home

Wallpaper is can be a very personal choice and is not for everyone, or every home. But when its used and done right, the impact it makes, and feeling it evokes can be magical. As it can feel daunting when choosing a wallpaper, now that the wallpaper vendors have multiplied with countless online companies offering eye-catching designs, we have put together a step-by-step guide on how to choose your wallpaper AND where to place it.

#1: WHATS YOUR WALLPAPER STYLE AND VIBE?

Fun, bold and bright? Look for high-chroma colors like pinks and greens paired together in oversize patterns (think Andy Warhol Flowers!). You can do fun, bold patterns, or something with lots of movement like a marble pattern thats so hot right now.

Glamorous: Think patterns with metallics, or a pattern with sparkle, some papers even have glitter on them. Look for patterns with texture, flocking is certainly back and paired with brocade it can be very glam. We have even opted grasscloth or natural fiber wallpapers with metallic threads running through them to give rooms that glam-factor.

Tranquil and Zen-like: If this is what you are trying to achieve in a room, look for tone on tone, and a subtle pattern without much movement. It could be a floral in sand-tones with a slightly darker background, or that same scenario in a blue palette or green palette. Grasscloths and natural fibers are also an easy, fool proof way to achieve this look within a space. The below wallpaper was carefully chosen in a sand color, with a very subtle shimmer, whereas the adjacent walls were painted a similar color but not exact so that the statement is still the stunning yet tranquil mantle and fireplace wall.

#2: WHERE DO YOU STICK IT?!

An accent wall is a great way to add pattern IF you have a wall for it. Normally a headboard wall in a bedroom, stairwell wall, a side or back wall of your dining room especially if you have an open kitchen and dining concept, or the longest wall if the wall doesnt have too doorways and/or windows. If there isnt a clear transition between one wall and the next, thats not the right way to accent and may be best, in many cases, to do all 4 walls. Normally we can walk into a home and know right away which wall(s) can use wallpaper, but its not so clear for everyone. The below hallway has wallpaper on the walls you see only, the adjacent walls were painted the color of the wallpaper background and blend beautifully. The reason the other walls are not papered is because there are 4 doorways believe it or not, eating up most of the other walls, so the bird pattern would be too cut up, and less impactful, thus paint was the best choice.

All 4 walls in a room can work if the wallpaper isnt too busy (unless that is the look you are going for!) and works well when a room has wainscoting, doorways and windows, and other architectural features that break up the pattern and create interest. The trim color on the molding and/or wainscot is something that you will also want to nail, to compliment the wallpaper but we will save that for another post!

Using the ceilings as the 5th wall is important to enhance the design of, and complete a space, and I have always opted for wallpapering a ceiling if its just not perfect on the walls, OR, like in this pre-war New York City apartment, if you are creating an environment where we bring the outside in, or want the eye to travel. This hand-painted water-color like wallpaper design gives the feeling of clouds and adds movement, drawing your eye across the room and out the window to in this case, the beautiful museum that happens to be right across the street = major focal point AKA million dollar view.

#3: THE SIZE OF THE WALLPAPER PATTERN MATTERS:

So a common rule in design I learned while in interior design school, and will never forget is: Only once you learn the rules can you break them. I mean, lets really leave that to the pros, as they can, and will be major (did i say costly?!) issues when you try to bend the rules without a strong design sense (and degree!!)

This rule applies big time when considering pattern size, as the general rule is that you use a large-scale pattern for a large room (or long wall) and a smaller-scale pattern for a smaller room (think laundry or powder room). Larger scale wallpaper include any murals, whereas you must always check the heights of walls before ordering a mural to make sure nothing in the scene will be cut off if your wall is too short for example - seems like a simple concept, but it does happen… The reason the above rule is so important is if for example you use a small pattern (say small black and white hearts for example) on a long wall, the pattern tends to get A.) lost and wont be seen unless you are relatively close to it and B). can sadly make you feel dizzy when you enter the room, and have several known cases where a homeowner had to strip wallpaper after seeing the dizzying effect in a narrow hallway, or powder room (and called us in to help them re-chose which was costly for them). Many of our clients have expressed that they dont want their rooms to look like an “acid trip”, totally get that, and dont want that either, yikes…!

This large-scale pattern below works beautifully for this double-height stairwell and begins at the base of the stairs (not shown) and ends on the second floor, for a dramatic look combined with the 3-foot chandelier. The back upper wall showing was painted bright white to be the backdrop of large scale artwork (photo taken before it arrived!).

This below pattern works beautifully as its proportional to the room, whereas we used a dusty pink paint color for the sloped ceiling to flank the wallpaper walls and white-washed the teak wood trim.

#4: MORE PRO TIPS:

1. Dont rush it! Before committing to a wallpaper make sure to order not one but a few samples of the wallpaper pattern. Tape them up on the walls you plan to hang them on, and live with them for a few days (or more!) before committing to one!

2. Do not be afraid of temp wallpapers. They now come in removable peel off options, but the impact is the same as permenant papers - its just gotten more convenient for renters, growing kids, offices and commercial spaces.

3. The difference in the pricing of wallpapers doesn’t necessarily mean one is better than another, or higher quality etc. We have been told by trusted vendors that sometimes designer patterns are just more pricey. We do use many artisans who’s designs are only offered to the trade and they make small batches of their wallpapers so their overhead and printing fees may be more - part of what makes them so special. It really comes down to choosing the pattern you love most.

4. Do use a wallpaper hanger. Get recommendations, but leave it to the experts to safe time, frustration, and even money. Once you give them the size of your wall(s) and the pattern you will use, they will tell you the correct amount to order, and you will have the piece of mind that the wallpapers installed correctly.

5. When in doubt, hire an interior designer. When my design company has the capacity, we are happy to consult on smaller jobs that may take just a few hours or a few visits, like choosing wallpaper for a few rooms, and the bonus is we provide paint colors for trim and other areas that go with the designs, and share so much other design advice to finish your rooms, so you are left with beautiful result that last for years to come.

Note-Worthy Design Trends of 2022

2022 was a unique year in the design world. We saw influences from the pandemic linger, while aesthetic revivals and new trends emerged throughout the year. While some trends are sure to stay, others may soon disappear, burning out as quickly as they had sparked interest. 

As we look back on 2022, Redfin reached out to us and other noted interior design experts to share our favorite and not-so-favorite design trends of 2022. From wallpaper to zellige tiles to checkered prints, you are sure to enjoy and get inspiration from 2022 Design Trends Wrapped. Make sure to scroll down to #20 to see our go-to fabric designs that are as timeless as a Chanel tweed women’s jacket re-emerging last year and still going strong.

Year in review at our Montclair interior design studio

Our first commercial interior design space in manhattan

When asked to redesign a vast textile showroom space in midtown Manhattan, for a brilliant houseware textile design team, we emphatically accepted. Keeping the company’s textiles as center stage, we created an inviting, ultra chic seating area in the main showroom where our clients can show their textiles in a welcoming and collaborative environment. The large surface spaces including the coffee table design were key as that’s where the products will be shown, pulled from surrounding walls. That and having ample dynamic tables for laptops and beverages. Below is a sneak peak of the main space, as well as snips from other areas, as we near completion on this midtown redesign gem.

in the press

As with any potential interior design client reaching out to inquire about our services, we are always truly humbled by a blogger or publication reaching out to to collaborate with us. Below are two places you can hear Sarah Elizabeth, the principle of Sarah Elizabeth Design, talk about everything from the best color palettes to use in your home, to her favorite interior design trends, and even books, to help inspire your home.

our year of interior design projects in a nutshell

While most of our interior design projects are located in Montclair, we do keep projects going throughout the tri-state area especially in New York City as that’s where our company started a decade ago, and still feels like home. As a fun recap of the year in photos, including two sweet tween bedrooms we redesigned, a custom bar in a 1920’s style dining room, our debut New York City showroom project, a kitchen renovation, and many others, we made a short reel. Hope you enjoy!

interior design video of sarah elizabeth design in 2022. dining rooms, kids rooms, custom bar, custom furniture included.

Going Beyond The Latest Color Trends

When explaining the design direction of a new project I found myself telling my assistant that we will be using greens and blues, “but please NO forest green”. I was struck by the conviction in what I was saying, that forest green is trendy, and that I do not want it used in our future projects, as it is not rooted in classicism, but rather just a trend. As you have most likely noticed, everyone from big box stores from West Elm to Wayfair, has a forest green (normally velvet) color option in their quick ship furniture line. The idea is not to avoid color trends, if you are drawn to them, but to look beyond them at other colors that will withstand the test of time rather than out of place in a few short years. More importantly you want your home to represent you, and not look like other peoples homes. Seen below is a kiwi green velvet we opted for, for a custom designed dining room settee.

Mauve is right behind it. Don't get me wrong, Ive never seen a pink I didnt like, a testament being a project where I clad a New York City living room in mauve from walls to ceiling (seen below) but that was 8 years ago, when it was not a trend nor a well known color. Since then I have designed a half dozen home offices in some shade of mauve, but as it became the hype we moved away from it into deep powder pinks that are more sophisticated, without feeling like children’s room colors. The same can be said for navy blue (think navy blue kitchen island trend) but I digress.

I understand the draw toward these shades and people craving them especially during the pandemic, pinks bring us back to the heart, they literally represent love, and make people feel this, while deep greens remind people of the outdoors and nature, which are all wonderful things. Dont get me wrong, I have not met a color I didnt love, but I beg you to look outside the box and to other colors, even similar, rather than following the trend. You would not want to look at your ‘home in 3, 5 or even 7 years down the line, and think, oh that was “pandemic mauve” for example, or for you or guests to be able to label a year or period to your homes aesthetic.

The third color I keep thinking we have finally moved beyond for obvious reasons are shades of grey, especially during the pandemic - as they can literally make you feel down, as they are normally void of any warmth, or feeling, and yet they keep popping up… My feeling is unless you're a chic Parisian aristocrat type with a Hassman-era pied-a-terre on the Sienne, with an heirloom art and antique collection to boot, or simply a true master of color, chances are you may not be able to pull off greys anymore. A classic case are homeowners selling their homes and advised to paint the walls in various shades of grey. Fast forward to when we are brought to design the home for the new home owners, and they have to pay to paint every room in the home having us create a new color palette - to undo the sellers outdated color choice. Many realtors I've been told are still suggesting greying out your home before selling to which id suggest simply painting the interior white or light ivory, more on our paint guide blog post.

Below is another example of one of our projects with two gorgeous emerald green velvet chairs we had made. We initially shopped for deep forest green velvets, mostly as that was what was flooding the market, and offered from our fabric vendors alike, but something just didnt feel right - or original. Once we pivoted to emeralds which were more rare, and took the time to seek them out, hunting to find the perfect shade, the room became special, looking and feeling more purposeful, and unique to our client and her family. We have been asked countless times where we bought those chairs (if it were only that easy).

I'm not saying to simply avoid the color trends, but instead look to similar colors that you may find you are drawn to, for a more personalized, true representation of you and your homes taste and style. For example instead of mauve you can look at the spectrum of flesh tones whereas most have a pink undertone, or sophisticated pinks as mentioned above. Instead of opting for grey walls (for either selling - or staying in your home) don't be afraid of light creams, sand tones, and pale yellows. Uttering the word yellow for interiors sadly has a stigma (think your great aunt Ema’s home that seems a time capsule) but it can be beautiful in subtle hints making a room feel more light-filled as the yellow tint acts as sunshine in a room with low light like rec rooms, basements or north facing rooms. Below we developed a palette of sand tones, using a light cream color for the moldings and mantle, creating a timeless, opposed to trendy, space.

If you don't have confidence in color you cant go wrong with white, or light cream tones for walls as mentioned above, as you can always paint them a color later as I tell new home owners. Then using a designer to direct you in a color palette for your furniture to move outside of the current color trends, into what is more authentically you, and designed to last beyond the trends forecast.