From starting her career working in the entertainment industry with the one and only Ellen DeGeneres (yes, you read that right) to now fast forwarding 10 years later, what started as a weekend hobby helping her friends design their homes sparked a prolonged passion to take the leap to make a switch in her career. As an Austin native herself, Sara made the move back to her roots, where' she is now the vision and owner behind BANDD Design.
Sara's signature design style includes finding vintage accessories to compliment different aspects of her home in a one-of-a kind way, and today, we take a step inside one of the homes remodeled by the BANDD Design team. The home is full of those rich blue tones, bold wallpaper designs, and texture all throughout the home. We have the inside scoop here as we chatted with Sara on how to channel your personal style, the steps it takes to design a home and how to do it all on a budget.
From working in the entertainment industry to now interior design, what inspired you to take that leap?
I've always had a passion for interior design, and while was working in the entertainment industry decided to do interior design for my friends as a weekend hobby. Within just a few weeks had so many clients wanting to work with me that I had to leave my full-time job.
How did living in Los Angeles influence your interior design style?
It introduced me to the 'California Casual" style, which is what a majority of BANDD's projects are themed.
In recent years, you have launched an online home decor shop, The Founders Collection. Tell us a bit about the lead up to and launch of the line.
Selfishly. I'm a vintage accessory hoarder and wanted to find a way to justify buying more vintage finds and share the happiness with people by letting them shop for them.
Where did you get the inspiration to name your company, The Founders Collection?
Since a good majority of our home collection is vintage, I wanted to tie that in with the name so I chose "founder" to emphasize that these pieces are found from throughout history,
Where do you see your business going in the next few years?
I see our business expanding over time as it already has. We're taking on more projects than ever before and it's exciting to know that we will have more opportunities to help: people turn their spaces into beautiful, long lasting masterpieces.
Where do you find design inspiration? Are there any magazines, blogs, or sites you look through often?
Traveling is one of my key sources of inspiration-particularly Sonoma County and Napa Valley wine vineyard kind of vibes. also find a lot of inspiration by visiting new hotels and restaurants around Austin.
How do you help your clients branch out and find their individual, personal style?
I start off by getting to know the client by asking them questions-what their family is like, their hobbies and interests, and what aesthetic they are attracted to most. Throughout our design process, we propose several options for each room to the client and get insight on what they like and dislike. From there, I try to incorporate elements into their design that feel authentic to them.
When looking for a home yourself, what are your must haves?
A big shower, high ceilings, lots of natural light, and lots of potential
Are there any specific pieces of furniture or home accessory staples you believe are good to invest in?
Furniture that is in high-traffic areas of the home and that are frequently used should be an investment, as should things such as a living room sofa, dining chairs and counter stools, and a bed frame. When it comes to accessories, I think that drapery and rugs are very important because you want them to be both durable and stylish. These are all elements that can bring a room together.
Take us through your process, where' do you usually like to start when designing a home?
I always like to start by taking a deep dive into the client's design preferences-we call this the design discovery phase. A client could come to me and say "I like modern." and I could say, "Me too! I like modern," but we could be speaking entirely different design languages. I use tons of visual tools to make sure we get on the same page.
Your recent project, Castle Ridge, has quite a few blue statements throughout the home. How did you decide on that specific color? Talk us through the decision-making process for some of these choices.
Our client wanted a modern farmhouse with a lot of neutral elements and colors, but we wanted to bring in a pop of color to lighten up the space. The color blue seemed subtle enough for our client and reasoned with them more than other color options, which complimented the neutral tones perfectly.
Wallpaper is now becoming more frequently used in homes, including this Castle Ridge home. Do you have any favorite patterns or favorite vendors you like to use?
I love to use Schumacher, Hygge & West,
and Flat Vernacular for wallpaper because
they always have unique, bold prints that
bring a modern yet timeless feel. A
particular favorite is the Schumacher Queen
of Spain wallpaper in warm silver, which is
used in the powder bathroom in this project.
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