Interior Design Feature: Sarah Vaile
It took all of two minutes after discovering Sarah Vaile to email her straight away to ask to feature her work. Immediately, we were hooked! Her classic, whimsical & inspired style is entirely unique to her and she stands strongly by her ethos of being true to yourself.
After training at Parsons New School of Design and interning for Celerie Kemble, Sarah Vaile Design was initially launched in New York City in 2008. She shortly moved the studio back to Chicago and has since expanded into a collective of creative and independent-minded women, each finding themselves at different stages of life.
Sarah Vaile Design / Lake Forest Showhouse
Garnering a significant amount of inspiration as a young child from her grandmother, Sarah believes that your space should make life a little more fun! Effortlessly, Sarah fuses antique pieces with contemporary design and unforgettable punches of colour, following what she loves most, such as vividly colourful colonial inspired art, exotic animals galore, greenery, benches, ottomans and more benches. She says, “there is always a spot to pull up a small seat!” and we couldn’t agree more!
"I follow what I love which tends to be vividly colourful colonial inspired art, exotic animals galore, greenery, benches, ottomans and more benches." - Sarah Vaile
Sarah Vaile Design / Lakeview Townhouse
Despite a fresh coat of paint, pops of colour and vibrant uses of textiles, family heirlooms have been reinstated into their Lakeview Townhouse project, and effortlessly blends in with the colours and placement within this space. We can't help but notice Bunny Williams Home Zebra Lamp, which sits beautifully in the corner on a console table in the right image with its slender body with hand painted swirls of charcoal. An eclectic collection of art sits on the mantlepiece, drawing in the eye with Michelangelo’s bust of David, but on its side!
Sarah Vaile Design / Lakeview Townhouse
In Sarah Vaile’s ‘Indian Hill Road’ project, a young family with children sought to update the interiors while remaining true to the spirit of the house’s history. A cozy yet formal living room was top of the clients’ wish list, along with an intimate, jewel box dining room and a comfortable, fun family room.
Sarah Vaile Design / Indian Hill
The combination matt and lacquer hunter green walls with natural wooden accents and animal print creates a whimsical space with a traditional foundation. Often, hunter green and darker woods are associated with masculinity, but this airy and spacious family room is quite the opposite!
The jewel box dining room is an homage to the Orient, with marvellously styled ginger jars as an exquisite centrepiece, Chinoiserie wallpaper and beautiful gold shell-like wall lights, creating a cosy, yet airy dining experience.
Sarah Vaile Design / Indian Hill
"I would describe my style as classic, whimsical, inspired." - Sarah Vaile
Below, Sarah layers interesting and dynamic Oriental backgrounds pieces throughout the design process with tribal swords, shipping artefacts and other antiquities taking hold in the rooms SVD installed.
Sarah Vaile Design / Indian Hill
Sarah Vaile Design / Lakeview Townhouse
Last but not least is Sarah Vaile’s exquisite apartment, which she as a blank canvas during her formative years as a designer. As most designers’ homes go, it evolved into a hodgepodge of collected pieces and a testament to her taste as it evolved.
"There is always a spot to pull up a small seat!" - Sarah Vaile
Sarah Vaile Design / East Lakeview Vintage
Sarah’s "must have" interior item is a bench, since it cosies up a room by inviting guests to take a seat, often filling nooks that might otherwise sit empty. The large, ceramic Turquoise Lamp sits proudly in this living room.
Sarah Vaile Design / East Lakeview Vintage
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