I had the absolute pleasure of getting to sit down with Sarah Moore for a cup of coffee, an AWESOME bagel at Proper Bagel, and a little Q&A. This girl is going to blow you away. Her creativity is inspiring, and her designs are killer. I can say this from personal experience since she designed the coolest draperies for my home. I hope you enjoy getting to know Sarah a little more as you read through our Q&A time.
How did you get started in Interior design? - I am a rare bird who started with my major freshman year in college and stuck with it. Picked it in High school and never looked back. After college took a job with a commercial design firm and quickly realized residential interior design was for me. 12 years later, I am still doing what I love.
What was the most exciting thing about starting your own interior design business? - I love getting to know my clients and the excitement of them seeing their homes transform. It's an exciting day when the draperies come in or when we build a nursery for them to start their families. And my ability to use my creative talents, the sky is really the limit of what I can dream of and do.
Tell me about your style and strengths? - My design style is very Southern Living meets Anthropologie. I have a little southern touch with a transitional style between traditional and contemporary, but I love to throw in an eclectic flair... hence, my living room is pink.
What is your biggest dream or goal for your business? - I want to open a store... which scares the crap out of me. I run into clients all the time who need an item here or there, and I feel like I can fulfill that need through a well-curated store. A store that reflects my design style and has items like lamps and coffee table books. It would fulfill a need between a full-blown design client and small projects.
Any funny stories from being on the job? - It always helps to be friendly with anyone that I contract out because it always pays off in the long run. One time, we had this huge sectional going into a room, we put down the rug, and then assembled the entire sectional. I immediately decided to move it 6 inches. They had to completely break down the sectional and move it a whopping 6 inches. My movers wanted to kill me. I flashed a smile and a promise of a 6-pack of beer. We got the job done.
Time to brag, some of your biggest accomplishments? - Melissa's house it was my favorite project. I could move in there myself. My favorite accomplishment was one of my very first projects. It was a barn out in Kingston Springs that my client built for his farm toys, dirt bikes, etc. He decided to double the size of the barn to create a family space. I took an empty shell and turned it into a beautiful family home with bunk rooms, a kitchen, a living room, and a gorgeous master bedroom. It made it into Southern Living Magazine, Country Living Magazine. This was a fun moment for me.
What inspires you or keeps you inspired? - I love finding new sources. Like anyone else, I keep up on Instagram and magazines. But the real thing that drives me is the hunt for always finding something new: textile suppliers, fun new tiles, new hardware. I love working with small vendors. It allows you to find unique items, and when you bring several unique items together, it can really make a project.
What is one pro tip you can give? - Rule of thumb when hanging draperies: typically bring rods 4-6 inches past the window frame. When deciding height placement for the rod, always split the difference between the top of the window frame and the ceiling/bottom of the crown molding. Just be sure not to hang them right on top of the window. Ok, two tips. ALWAYS paint a sample on the walls in the room before picking the paint color for that room.
What is your favorite paint color right now? - Odessa Pink and Violet Blue by Benjamin Moore. They are such fun colors. That said, if you need a go-to paint color, Benjamin Moore's Ashwood. It is the best color and works everywhere.
