Sarah Richardson - Sarah Style

This book is dedicated to my family.

Thanks to all of you, home is my happy place because its where we are together.

To my parents, who taught me to appreciate art, history, architecture, design, craftsmanship, style, and creativity, and imbued my spirit with a passion for beautiful objects and interiors.

You encouraged me to chart my own path and build a career doing what I love.

To my husband, Alexander, who encourages, nurtures, and fuels my creative spirit, champions my ideas with blind faith, and inspires me to always go further.

You take me places where the skies are always blue, no matter what the weather on the ground, and there is no better adventure than life with you!

To my daughters, Robin and Fiona, who dazzle, delight, and amaze me daily with their sweet, joyful creations and unbridled enthusiasm and zest for life.

You have inspired me to design homes that are youthful and happy, and you have filled our home with joy and love.

xo

My goal is to create interiors for modern living that are informed by a classic perspective with timeless appeal. In order to design spaces that work for who we are today, I think its important to reflect on where weve been and how we got here, to think about how we want to live today and into the future, and what we want to live with. This blend of past, present, and future, and the curation of materials, finishes, furniture, and art is what makes a house a home, and inevitably drives the design process and the path that any renovation or redecoration project takes.

I strive to make every home a genuine reflection of its inhabitants and provide a backdrop for the stories that will be told within it. No matter how simple or grand, your home is a sanctuary, and you have the power to define how you want to live in it. Over the course of five television series, Ive tackled more than 300 rooms, and Ive been given the opportunity to explore a wide variety of styles, palettes, and architectural influences according to each clients needs and tastes. My signature style is not always immediately recognizable by a colour or a theme (though I do certainly have my favourites...), but I feel theres a consistent style in how I approach design and the mix of elements I infuse in any space.

If I were to distill my design aesthetic down to the most simple recipe or formula, I would describe the ingredients and the ratio for their use as followsmy favourite rooms are...

One part masculine : one part feminine (since I often work with couples and believe in a democratic design process)

One part vintage or antique : one part new and now

One part traditional : one part contemporary

One part bold and exciting : one part calm and reserved

One part colourful : one part neutral

And, of course, one part practical : one part indulgent, exotic, whimsical, or fun.

Breaking hundreds of fully designed rooms down into a succinct list might be overly simplistic, but Sarah Style is my way of sharing what Ive learned in my design career about the concepts that work and the ideas that endure. Design should be accessible and enjoyable. My goal is to deliver insights and advice, tips and inspiration to help you achieve the best results in your home, and to give you the confidence and enthusiasm to make your home everything you want it to be. Sarah Style is divided into chapters by type of room to allow you to peruse a variety of homes and see which styles and ideas speak to you. I hope you will find helpful suggestions and insider knowledge to make your planning process run smoothly, and make every project you tackle a triumphant expression of personal styleyour personal style!

I think of the entry, foyer, or front hall of your home as a sort of calling card for style. Open the door, cross the threshold, and the first room you encounter sets the tone for what to expect in the rest of the house. Whether your style is formal or casual, contemporary or traditional, the scene is set as soon as the door swings open. Yet these front of house areas are often overlooked and considered merely a transition zone to more important and grander areas. Forget the fact that you dont lounge, eat, entertain, or sleep in your entrance and embrace your ability to create a first impression that speaks volumes about the design direction of your home.

Period details and traditional accoutrements are often eliminated in the pursuit of contemporary city chic style, but this home proves that a renovation plan can embrace the old while ushering in the new to achieve a sympathetic blend thats well suited to modern family life.

If youre holding on to a family heirloom and wondering how to breathe new life into an antique frame, try using a big, bold print. Victorian ladys and gentlemans chairs can seem dated and dour in fussy needlework coverings, but a large zebra print offers a contemporary juxtaposition of then and now, while presenting a striking sculptural silhouette in the entry.