Montclair Interior Designer Talks all Things Design in our Town

Sarah Elizabeth Design - Photo Carly Jara

My design philosophy is understated elegance—really tailoring to our clients' needs and taste. It's design that's approachable, yet thoughtful using furniture and items that are just well made. We do a lot of custom furniture so that it’s tailored to a specific room, but also so it’s different—not something you’d see in your neighbor’s home. 

Projects in Montclair are definitely across the map in terms of the style people are gravitating toward. Some clients come to us with a clear vision or a theme, and others I educate and help discover their design style. Many people moving from the city come with DWR and Room & Board furniture - so more modern, clean lines, not a lot of color. Whereas we love color—especially for families—as it’s so inspiring and can evoke so many emotions. Changing out light fixtures is a great way to bring your personal style into the home, whether it’s classic, modern, whimsical, vintage, etc. It can really set the stage. We do more kitchen refreshes than full renovations, since many kitchens in these homes have already been updated. So we come in and choose new paint colors, pulls and knobs, lighting, and so on.

For clients who aren’t ready to take on a full renovation, there are so many ways to make small changes that create big impact. Almost across the board, we refinish the floors—most homes are pre-war with gorgeous original oak that just needs a medium walnut stain. Then paint colors throughout, new light fixtures, and, if the budget allows, window treatments.

Sarah Elizabeth Design - Photo Carly Jara

More and more clients come to us because they see we aren’t afraid of bold color and pattern, and we always add a touch of whimsy to a space. You’ll see this a lot in powder rooms and dining rooms. If someone wants to add color and fun, a powder room is the perfect place to start.

Paint colors make such a huge difference—I can’t say it enough. If repainting the entire home isn’t an option, I’d strongly recommend using a designer or color expert to focus on a few rooms you actually use. Same goes for redesigning them. We’ve done this in a number of homes, just starting with a few rooms, and the clients LOVE them. They become special places, whether as a reprieve or a space for entertaining.

Sarah Elizabeth Design - Photo Carly Jara

If your kitchen is already functional and neutral, I always recommend starting with either your bedroom or your dining room. Your bedroom should be a sanctuary—somewhere to unwind after long days. And your dining room, especially if you entertain like many of our clients, should feel refreshed and inviting. If you don’t entertain, go with the room you use most—like the living room.

For clients feeling overwhelmed about where to start—especially right now, when things feel more expensive and uncertain—I always recommend beginning with the rooms mentioned above. Then, once time and budget allow, we often return a year or two later to renovate the basement or create a full primary suite. Many pre-war homes don’t have large primary baths or closets. They were built with more—but smaller—bedrooms. We don’t design around trends, but for longevity. People tend to redesign rooms about every 12 years, so my approach is always thoughtful and intentional. I’m constantly asking: will they still love this in 5 or 10 years?

When tariffs were first announced, we got countless emails from vendors explaining upcoming price increases. Yes—plumbing fixtures are significantly more expensive. A contractor mentioned Kohler went up 20%. Hardware from China has doubled in cost. There are tile shortages across Canada, Mexico, and China. Cabinetry is up due to wood prices. We’ve been leaning more into U.S.-sourced materials, something I’ve always been conscious of. And honestly, I’ve been saying this for a while: the future is vintage! We’re finding creative ways to meet our clients' needs despite the shifts in cost and availability.

Something interesting happened during the pandemic—clients just aren’t in the same rush anymore. Maybe it’s because everyone is so busy, but there’s more of a “it’ll be finished when it’s finished” mindset, which, honestly, is great for us designers, lol. With fewer people buying and selling due to the current market, more of our clients are staying put. So we’re redesigning the spaces they didn’t previously have time to focus on—whether that’s creating a dream primary suite, or expanding the kitchen and dining area. We’re seeing a lot of interest in kitchen renovations again.

For homeowners who’ve never worked with a designer before—it is an investment, but one that’s so worth it. I always say, if I weren’t a designer, I would hire one. It ensures everything comes together in a harmonious way—scale, color, finishes—so that it flows and works with your home. I truly believe it saves time, money, and even decision fatigue. I say it all the time, but hiring a designer or color consultant for your home’s facade makes all the difference. Night and day. We know color inside and out and can select a palette that creates real harmony, rather than homeowners guessing and hoping it works.

Sarah Elizabeth Design - Photo Carly Jara

What really makes a designer-client relationship successful is communication and alignment from the beginning. We have a really great, foolproof interview process with a series of questions we ask to make sure we’re the right design firm for their project. It helps set expectations early, and makes sure the collaboration feels natural and productive for both sides.

One recent project that really excited me is a living room renovation we’re currently working on, which includes a moody custom bar. It’s been such a fun one! I love a theme, or anytime we get to bring in a little old-world glam—and of course, a good dose of color.

Sarah Elizabeth Design - Photo Carly Jara