Designer Picks: Sarah Jefferys, Sarah Jefferys Architecture + Interiors

Favorite Room in the Home to Design

I love to design kitchens. The kitchen is typically the center of the household and the heart of the home, serving as a place for people to gather, cook fabulous meals, entertain, and more often now than ever, work or do homework. I love to cook for people, whether for my three boys and their friends or our family friends; a typical dinner in our house is for 10-16 people! The kitchen needs to flow, allowing for many people to gather and cook. We prioritize designing areas for cooking and an open island for socializing, all while making it feel like one space. Since kitchens are such social spaces, often visible from living and dining areas, we love to design them in a very sculptural, streamlined way, almost masking that it is a kitchen. Appliances are concealed by custom panels that blend into the surrounding cabinetry, and countertops are kept clear with most small appliances hidden away, creating minimal, elegant spaces.

Favorite Place to Travel

Hands down, India! India is the most incredible country, filled with gorgeous architecture, bright colors, extreme heat, enticing smells, and warm people, an overload and stimulation of all the senses. I adore everything about India and never tire of visiting. Each trip is a unique experience and has had a great influence on my work. My designs seek to engage all the senses through my use of natural light, connection to nature, use of rich materials, and bright warm colors.

Favorite Color Schemes

Inspired by these travels, orange, yellow, red, and pink have become my favorite color scheme to design with. These colors make me feel happy and create a warm and cheerful space. Just a pop of one of these colors can transform a space from cold minimal to joyous.

Item I Cannot Live Without

Natural light. I love large windows and doors with a lot of natural light flooding my space. The connection with nature and the world beyond is relaxing and centering. The infusion of natural light in a home makes all the difference to one’s mood. I am so much happier and grounded in airy, light infused spaces, compared to darker interiors.

Favorite Design Trends

A trend I hope will become the norm – passive house design to make a home highly sustainable and energy efficient. When designing a gut renovation or new build, passive house design is a no brainer! The principles are very basic: high levels of insulation, airtight construction, no thermal bridging, high performance triple pane windows and doors, and a fresh air exchange system. Passive homes are quieter, healthier spaces with cleaner air that require approx 70 percent less energy.