We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Sarah Barnett. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Sarah below.
Sarah, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Looking back, do you think you started your business at the right time? Do you wish you had started sooner or later
This is something I think about a lot. On one hand, I wish I had started my business sooner so that I could be younger in my field, learn some of the lessons I recently learned a bit earlier, and most of all, so that I could have worked alongside my mother who was an interior designer in Atlanta for over 30 years. She and my dad owned their own architecture and interior design business that they ran out of our converted garage offices in Decatur so I grew up in and around the business. I was always accompanying my mom to meetings and often offered my opinion on paint color choices or what sofa “was the best”. I’ve always known I wanted to do something creative – it’s definitely in my blood. However, up until a few years ago I didn’t know what form that might take. I dabbled in photography, advertising copywriting, and after college, I ultimately found myself in marketing & tech sales. I knew this wasn’t my passion, but I was good at it. Then I found myself at a bit of a crossroads at the beginning of 2020. I had just gotten a job out of necessity and knew I would be miserable doing it every day. I decided enough was enough and truly woke up one morning thinking “the only thing I really enjoy doing is helping my friends decorate, design, and outfit their homes. I guess I should try that?” I went in relatively blind and relied on pure gut & grit. This brings me to the other hand of it all. Which is to say that I don’t think I would have been able to set a solid foundation and approach this whole design world with a bit of a left-brain if I hadn’t worked in the corporate/ agency world. My upbringing and family provided me with the spark, but my work experience allowed me the ability to get it going.
Sarah, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I’m an interior designer based in Atlanta. I’ve always had a love for color, art, and styling spaces. I started SB Home in the spring of 2020 which shockingly happened to be fine timing. While the world was paused, people were at home, and all the sudden they needed a home office or they decided that they were finally going to get rid of that chair they hated – enter me. Those smaller projects snowballed, and soon enough I was busy! What sets my approach to interior design apart is two-fold. I am both incredibly organized and logical, while also having a penchant for whimsy & nostalgia. This results in an efficient workflow and client communication while also making sure that we highlight your grandmother’s vintage lace collection in as chic a way as possible. I like to enter into a new project with a bit of a therapist’s hat on. Sometimes you have to really dig to the root of what a person wants in order for that to come out in their space. My brand is evolving literally everyday and I love collaborating with other small and womxn owned businesses. I have projects all over the country and hope to continue being able to pair my love of traveling and exploring new places with my work.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
A massive lesson I’ve had to unlearn (and am still unlearning) is that you don’t have to go it alone. While I am technically a company of 1, I don’t have to do it all myself. Growing up, I was oftentimes in situations where I had to lead by default or necessity and even though I am the one making the final decisions at the end of the day, you can, and should, ask for help. From your community, your peers, your family, your neighbors – everyone has something to offer and a different perspective to give. In that same vein, inspiration is nestled in everything. While going to a museum or furniture showroom is a great way to spark ideas, I sometimes get just as much energy from taking a walk or listening to a podcast.
What’s been the best source of new clients for you?
The best source of new clients is referrals! Design is such a deeply personal process (more than people realize) and collaboration is so important. Nothing makes me happier and more grateful than a current or previous client passing my name along to someone else or rehiring me! I’m now on my 4th project with one of my oldest clients and its been incredibly rewarding to watch that relationship grow and change.
Contact Info:
- Website: sbhomeatl.com
- Instagram: sbhomeatl