DESIGNER DIALOGUES - SARAH BARTHOLOMEW
- 2 days ago
- 6 min read
In a recent conversation, Steve and I were discussing design trends.
It feels like every day, a new one pops up and demands attention. All of a sudden, you start to see it everywhere, and homes begin to feel less like a reflection of the family who lives there and more like a snapshot of the current moment. Soon enough, another trend takes hold, and it feels as though everyone is racing to refresh their taste so they aren’t stuck in last season’s “look.”
When we are designing homes, Steve and I aim to stay away from the trendy and lean into the timeless. Today, we are excited to introduce you to Sarah Bartholomew, another Nashville-based designer who also strives to create spaces with an enduring sense of beauty.
Her projects are elegant and timeless while also being practical and family-focused. Utilizing classical proportions, thoughtful pattern mixing, bright colors, and curated collections, she creates spaces that transcend trends and feel deeply connected to the families who dwell there.
In today’s Designer Dialogues, she shares her design philosophy, her advice for mixing patterns and bold colors, how she approaches each project, and much more. I hope you find her answers, along with the photographs of her delightful homes, as inspiring as I did.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR DESIGN STYLE, AND HOW HAS IT EVOLVED SINCE YOU FIRST BEGAN INTERIOR DESIGN?
My design style is a fresh take on timeless interiors. I’m drawn to classic architecture and traditional decorating, but I always want spaces to feel current, collected, and deeply livable. I love layering color, pattern, texture, and antiques in a way that feels elegant yet approachable.
My goal is to create homes that are polished without feeling overly formal, spaces that reflect beauty, warmth, comfort, and the way people truly live. I’ve always considered myself a lifelong student of design. From the very beginning of my career, I’ve been deeply inspired by the legendary decorators and architects who shaped the world of interiors and classical design. I continue to study their work constantly — the way they used proportion, scale, color, layering, and architecture to create spaces that feel timeless and enduring. There is always something to learn from the greats, and I believe that kind of education never really ends.
Travel has also played an enormous role in the evolution of my style. Experiencing historic homes, gardens, architecture, and interiors firsthand has given me a much deeper appreciation for the details and craftsmanship that make spaces feel authentic and lasting.
At the same time, having a family of my own has profoundly influenced the way I design. It has taught me that a home should not only be beautiful, but also comfortable, functional, welcoming, and truly lived in. That perspective has brought a greater sense of warmth and ease to my work over the years. I’m more thoughtful now about how spaces support everyday life and how interiors can feel elegant without being overly precious.
YOU LAYER COLOR AND PATTERN SO BEAUTIFULLY. WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE SOMEONE WHO LOVES BOLD DESIGN BUT IS AFRAID TO COMMIT?
My advice would always be to start with what you truly love. The most memorable and personal interiors are the ones that reflect confidence and individuality. Bold design does not necessarily have to mean overwhelming — it can be as simple as a beautifully patterned wallpaper, a lacquered room, an accent fabric, or a bold piece of art that brings personality and energy into a space.
I also think people are often surprised by how much they enjoy living with what might feel like bold choices once they take the leap. Rooms with color, pattern, and character tend to feel layered, collected, and alive over time. If committing to something permanent feels intimidating, start smaller, like adding a pop with pillows or experimenting in a powder room, and build confidence from there.
At the end of the day, a home should tell your story and make you feel something. The spaces people remember most are rarely the safest ones; they are the rooms that feel personal.
WHEN BEGINNING A NEW PROJECT, WHAT COMES FIRST FOR YOU: ARCHITECTURE, COLOR PALETTE, FURNITURE LAYOUT, THE CLIENT’S LIFESTYLE, OR SOMETHING ELSE?
For me, it is always the place and the people that come first. I begin every project by thinking about the architecture of the home, the region in which it is situated, and most importantly, the people who will live there and how they want to live. I believe the best interiors feel deeply connected to their surroundings and authentic to the lives of the people inside them.
The architecture provides a key foundation and helps guide many of the design decisions. A coastal home, for example, should feel very different from a historic city house or a rural country property. I want the interiors to feel appropriate to the setting and to have a sense of permanence, as though they naturally belong there.
At the same time, understanding my clients’ lifestyles and needs is essential. I spend a great deal of time learning how they live, entertain, gather as a family, and move through their daily routines. Those conversations shape everything from the furniture layout to the materials, colors, and overall atmosphere of the home.
Once those foundational elements are understood, the rest of the design begins to unfold naturally in a way that feels cohesive, personal, and timeless.
CAN YOU SHARE A RECENT PROJECT YOU LOVED WORKING ON, WHAT MADE IT ESPECIALLY MEANINGFUL?
One recent project I especially loved working on was a home we recently completed with Architect Brandon Ingram in Charlotte, North Carolina. What made the project so meaningful was the level of collaboration and care from everyone involved. Working alongside an architect, contractor, and tradespeople who were all deeply invested in the details of the project made the entire process incredibly rewarding.
The architectural details throughout the home are what truly make it special. There is such a richness and warmth to the house, and that kind of thoughtful architecture gives us an unmatched foundation to build upon as designers. When the bones of a home are that strong, every layer of the interior feels more intentional and cohesive.
Projects like that are always a reminder of how important collaboration is and how much craftsmanship matters in creating timeless homes. We have not photographed the project yet, but I am very excited to share it soon!
WHEN SOMEONE FEELS STUCK ON A HOME DESIGN PROJECT, WHAT IS ONE PIECE OF ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE THEM?
If you are feeling stuck on a home design project, the best advice is to start with a single unifying anchor piece and build around it. That could be a fabric you love, a beautiful antique, a piece of art, or a rug. Having one element that you love can help give direction to the entire space and make the decision-making process feel much less overwhelming. From there, the room can begin to evolve more naturally and cohesively.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ROOM IN A HOME TO DESIGN?
That is such a difficult question for me to answer because I rarely think about a room in isolation. For me, a home is a larger puzzle, and the most rewarding part of the design process is creating the intentional interconnectedness between spaces. I love thinking about how one room flows into the next, how color, texture, scale, and atmosphere can create a sense of cohesion throughout an entire home.
When a house feels thoughtfully woven together room to room, it creates a feeling that is both natural and timeless. That overall sense of harmony and continuity is often far more exciting to me than designing any single individual space. I think the homes that feel the most successful are the ones where every room has its own personality, yet still feels connected to the larger story of the house.
WHAT IS THE MOST VALUABLE PIECE OF DESIGN ADVICE YOU’VE RECEIVED, AND HOW HAS IT SHAPED YOUR WORK?
One of the most valuable pieces of advice I ever received came early in my career when I had the incredible opportunity to have cocktails with Albert Hadley in his New York apartment. He was asking me about my work, and at the time, I was just getting started. I told him I had a few “small” projects, and he immediately told me never to call anything I did small.
That advice gave me the confidence I needed early on. It reminded me that good design is not defined by square footage or grandeur, but by the quality of thought behind it and the impact it has on the lives of the people who experience it. I still carry that perspective with me in every project I take on today.
WHAT’S THE BEST WAY FOR PEOPLE TO STAY CONNECTED AND FOLLOW ALONG WITH YOUR LATEST PROJECTS?
I would have to say Instagram, although I must confess I’m not very good at posting. I have amazing help keeping up with my content, but it’s not something that comes naturally to me or that I especially enjoy. To me, luxury is living in the moment, unplugged, creating beauty without always having to document it through a device.
Thank you so much again to Sarah Bartholomew for taking the time to share her insights with us. I hope her answers help you think of design differently.
xx,
Brooke
