People pursue a career in Interior Design for a number of reasons. For some it is the challenge of form versus function, for others it is a fascination with furniture and textiles but for Sarah Baker, it’s about bringing joy into people’s homes. While this is indeed her philosophy, it should never be dismissed as a glib tagline, it is in fact a profound and deeply resonant approach to design.
One look at her website and it is clear that joy is Sarah’s middle name. Her playful yet courageous approach to colour instantly elevates the status of an interior from a mere house to a home. Her thoughtfulness and her adept ability to truly hear what the client wants and more importantly, what they need, results in spaces that have literally brought tears of joy to her client’s eyes.
Sarah’s road to interior design began in advertising. She started by studying Media Production in university with the intention of doing something creative. When a Producer position arrived, Sarah was delighted to move into the field but as time went on, she realized she had become settled into the administration side of the business which within advertising circles, can often feel like admin versus the creatives, making it almost impossible to traverse. But when Covid hit, things would change for Sarah. Like much of the rest of the world, she began working from home. Sarah’s husband works in the creative arts and during covid, he too found himself at home. It was then he saw first-hand how frustrated Sarah felt in her work.
With the support and encouragement of her husband, Sarah discovered the British Academy of Interior Design, and made the difficult decision to leave her career and re-train.
Nothing worth doing comes easy
But, because life likes to test us, the timing turned out to be incredibly challenging. Her children were at home due to lockdown, and they not only moved house, but upped sticks and relocated to a whole new town. But it wasn’t long before Sarah found her groove and soon, she was fully committed to the course. It was the first time she had done something just for herself and she found she was focused, diligent and loving it.
Deep down Sarah had always enjoyed interior design and having redesigned three homes, she had already received lots of praise from friends. It was only when a friend suggested she should pursue a career in design, that the penny dropped. Sarah has the vision and the courage to go big and go bold, to break protocol and experiment with colour and play around with different periods and styles. While colour may be her trademark, she is acutely aware how personal a home is and how the interior must reflect the life and tastes of the people within.
Starting her own Interior Design business has always been on the cards for Sarah, but she wanted to complete the course, give it the best she could, and then she would refocus her efforts on the business end of things. She started with web design, then social media as well as branding and learning more about SEO. She has also joined the Interior Design hub where like-minded designers offer guidance and support.
Obstacles – or opportunities?
Her approach is eccentric and bold and while she understands the client has their own needs, she is secretly hoping to attract like-minded clients or those who want something different. Being advised to tone it down goes against everything she stands for and her authenticity will not allow it. While trends are interesting and everything comes in cycles, Sarah doesn’t believe in following a trend just because it’s on Instagram or on a magazine cover. She believes the home should be timeless and should age well. Trends alone can become very dated very quickly whereas a space that reflects your own style that is unique to you, is one you are less likely to tire from.
During her time at the Academy, Sarah’s greatest challenge was when they began sketching. She does not describe herself as naturally talented with a pencil and although she sees the value of learning the level of detail and patience that comes with hand drawing, she was very happy to move onto CAD.
But as a person who is constantly learning and upskilling, she is now in the process of improving her drawing skills. This is mainly based on Sarah’s human touch. When consulting with a client, she wants to be able to whip out a sketchpad and scribble an idea in real time. For Sarah, a laptop at initial meetings is a little too impersonal and formal.
But her absolute favourite assignment with the Academy, and the project that won “best in class”, was her bathroom design. The task was to design a bathroom with accessibility for all needs. But rather than see this as a compromise on design, Sarah saw it as an opportunity. Her positive mental attitude shines through this bathroom where the focus is clearly on what a person with a disability can do, not what they cannot. There is no need to sacrifice beauty in the name of function.
A path paved in colour
In Chez Baker’s lifespan so far, Sarah has consulted with clients on colour and has completed a huge project where she designed a children’s bedroom, a master bedroom, hall stairs and landing and lounge room. This turned out to be a deeply emotional experience that reinforced her belief that Interior Design can genuinely bring joy to a family and improve how we live. Her client was previously embarrassed of her cluttered home and just didn’t have the vision or the design skills to know where to start. When Sarah began suggesting colour, the client couldn’t get enough! The client’s newly designed home brought her so much joy, she threw a New Year’s Eve party and welcomed all her friends and family.
Sarah’s process is to begin with a questionnaire, but this is not to be mistaken for a simple box ticking exercise, it is in fact an opportunity to uncover the truth about the client’s needs. Sometimes it gets a little personal, but this is where the magic happens. Her goal is to understand how the client lives, what are their needs, and what she can bring that they may not have seen or considered. It’s all about improving how people feel.
Sarah has no ambition to run an empire and while she is not averse to the idea of working in hospitality, her focus is currently on residential, working with local craftspeople and helping families find a more comfortable and happy home. She wants to work on her own terms and enjoy a rich quality of life as her own boss, with her husband and her kids. But do not mistake Sarah’s humble goals for complacency or a lack of ambition. On the contrary. She is currently talking to another designer with the idea of joining forces to provide various kinds of workshops. She is also studying colour psychology along with her many other business enhancing learnings and is not a financially greedy person, she values quality of life and the joy of people far more than money.
Sarah is a ray of sunshine in a world of grey and beige. Her values and her style exude authenticity and grace. She may only be starting out, but already she has achieved success that many only dream of.