Known for her modern, organic-inspired interior designs, Sarah Sherman Samuel’s creations are always popping up on our design radar. She founded her studio, SSS Design, in 2014 in Los Angeles before eventually moving it to the woods of West Michigan. In that span, she has worked on countless residential and commercial projects.
Sarah has partnered with companies like West Elm, Lulu and Georgia, and Semihandmade and has created designs for the stars, including Mandy Moore, Nacho Figueras, and Vanessa Carlton. She even has her own furniture line, SSS Atelier. So, what makes her designs SO appealing? In this article, we’re rounding up a few of our favorite design ideas borrowed from Sarah Sherman Samuel herself.
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Warm Wood
You would be hard-pressed to find a design by Sarah that doesn’t include wood. From classic wood furniture to wood flooring and wall paneling, she loves this natural material’s warm look and authenticity. Medium-toned woods, like oak, set the backdrop for her designs, creating texture and tones that play off her paint and decor choices.
Earth Tones
Similar to this, you’ll find earth tones in every room she designs. She often uses burnt orange, olive green, mauve, sage, and charcoal colors. These create a soothing, grounded atmosphere that draws from the natural world.
Check Mate
By scrolling through her Instagram, @sarahshermansamuel, you can quickly identify a recurring pattern in her designs–checkerboard. From tiles to wallpaper to rugs, like the Sarah Sherman Samuel Irregular Checkerboard Rug, checkerboard adds interest and dimension to any room. It’s classic and minimalist enough that you can mix it with other patterns or let it serve as the focal point.
Statement Wallpaper
Sarah knows how to make an impact. Many of her spaces bring the drama with statement wallpaper treatments. From prints of crouching tigers to lush forests and botanicals, the wallpapers she chooses are always theatrical and filled with color. They make the room exciting, setting the stage for her memorable design.
Organic Details
In an interview with Clever magazine, Sarah said, ‘I am always inspired by nature and the grounding qualities it has when bringing those elements indoors.’ It’s not hard to see the influence of the outdoors in everything she touches. Every room nods to the natural world down to the smallest details, like a rattan-wrapped pendant light or a vase filled with foraged branches.
Arches
Curved elements, particularly archways, are prevalent throughout Sarah’s designs. From architectural elements like doorways to bespoke arched cabinetry, Sarah uses this classical shape to transport us to another realm. This recurring motif adds softness and splendor to a space, making it feel distinctive.
Vintage Furniture
Sarah is not shy about her love of vintage furniture, and neither are we! We love how sustainable her designs are. Like Kaiyo, she gives a second chance to beautiful pieces that truly add to the overall mood.
Low-Slung Beds
The only pieces that Sarah tends to buy new are beds. She likes a bed with a profile that is low to the ground, making it easy to lie down. Her beds typically lack ornate elements, opting instead for modest headboards and crisp linen sheets. Instead of many layers of pillows, she uses only one or two or perhaps an extra-long bolster.
Shop Sarah Sherman Samuel Furniture on Kaiyo for Less
We could pull out so many more elements from Sarah’s design style, but we’ll leave it here for now. We hope you’ve enjoyed this round-up of her most popular design elements. In the meantime, take a minute to explore Kaiyo’s collection of Sarah Sherman Samuel furniture. You might find the perfect piece to add a bit of artful inspiration to your home!
