Highlighting a Local Interior Designer in Charlotte, NC

We have been working closely with several local interior designers and wanted to highlight young, professional, vibrant, up-and-coming talent. We sat down with Sarah Murphy from sarah catherine STUDIO OF DESIGN to find out a little more about her vision and style.

Sarah Murphy, a Charlotte native, founded her full service interior design studio in 2009 with an objective to emphasize a modern eclectic, yet classic approach in the design community. Her love for creating all things beautiful became apparent at an early age when simple trips to local home stores became her playground for visually merchandising their vignettes. 

Since graduating from The Art Institute of Charlotte, Sarah has spent the past seven years exploring her talents while working for area designers, and has had the opportunity and pleasure of working on a variety of interior design projects. Drawing inspiration from travels, fashion, research, and life’s unique flashes of unexpected beauty, each project established an arena for creativity and distinctive design, allowing her to define a personal style that was collaborative with the vision of each individual client.

DSC: What are your goals with interior design?

Sarah Murphy: With all spaces, I want the rooms to come alive and tell a story. For my residential projects, I simply want to create a "home" - a place that welcomes its inhabitants each time they walk through the door and evokes a positive emotion. With each project, I am able to drive my passion for interior design, while developing both personal and professional relationships throughout the design process.

DSC: What is something you should never skimp on when designing your home?

Sarah Murphy: Patience - you do not have to wait until you have enough money saved to begin designing your home...all you need is patience and an idea. A well designed interior is one that continues to blossom, constantly evolving and collecting pieces over time to create a beautiful composition. With patience, you know each application or each piece has a purpose and is perfect for that space.

DSC: Why do you choose to use custom built furniture versus buying furniture in a showroom such as Crate and Barrel?

Sarah Murphy: I will be the first to say I want unique pieces nobody else has! With a custom built piece you get a one of kind to your exact design, dimension and look. Another great advantage of custom pieces is time and money. You do not have to spend hours looking for that perfect piece - as a designer, I typically have a vision in my head of the perfect piece and I could spend hours researching and never find it. It is almost like having a vision of the perfect shoe to your outfit but can never find what you are looking for. So to save time and my client's money, I go straight to the source to build to my exact specifications and needs.

DSC: What is the biggest mistake people make when decorating?

Sarah Murphy: Following trends... you should definitely observe them to know what is out there, but they should not define the design for your home. Trends come and go, so I find that a classic approach that evolves with the times always creates a successful room. 

Also, skipping quality for quantity when it should be quality over quantity. When looking at the big picture, I urge my clients to think about the money they will save in the long run by going with the option that has better quality. If you have to replace the piece in a couple of years, then you really did not save any money in the first place. In addition, with quality you can see, feel, and know that its worth every penny.

DSC: What is your top tip for small spaces?

Sarah Murphy: Use multi-functional pieces! For example: sofa beds and storage ottomans.

DSC: What are the essentials for an inviting space?

Sarah Murphy: Warmth, comfort, function and mood = rich textures, comfortable seating and a combination of lighting.

DSC: What type of fabric is your favorite and why?

Sarah Murphy: That is a tough one for me, because I LOVE fabrics, textures and layers! Each fabric selected has a specific role in playing out the design of the room, but if I had to choose I would have to say wools, they upholster beautifully and are very durable. They can give the look of a knubby texture or be sleek and clean. They are breathtaking when used as a window treatment because they hang beautifully and are eco-friendly!

DSC: Do you have a solution for eco-conscious design?

Sarah Murphy: I am a sucker for anything vintage, so my favorite eco-friendly approach is finding hidden treasures and reupholstering or refurnishing them to give a new life. Not only am I recycling the old, but there is something to say about a piece with history and a story to tell.

I try to incorporate eco-friendly applications whenever I can, whether its through the fabrics, furniture or by incorporating energy efficient appliances.

DSC: What is a favorite recent project or project you consider an emblem of your work?

Sarah Murphy: I have to give credit to this years 2010 Symphony Guild Showhouse to really showcase my style. My personal touches combined with the history of Charlotte as an inspiration for the room, allowed the room the speak to each one that walked through the door. Visit my Website for more information and pictures.

DSC: Do you have any advice for aspiring designers?

Sarah Murphy: It sounds so cliche...but it is so true - never give up on your dreams. Nothing can stop you from reaching the top so set goals and work every avenue to get to where you want to be. Listen to your clients, design with your imagination and drive your passion with every design.