Design School 101, SJI Features Sarah Schwuchow Design School 101, SJI Features Sarah Schwuchow

Paint Sheens 101

So you’ve selected a paint color! But now you've got another decision to make, what sheen to use. You pull out the little chart that shows the gloss levels increasing, but where to start? You decide that semi gloss is durable, and buy enough for your walls, ceiling, and moldings, one easy decision - right?

So you’ve selected a paint color! You’ve even researched what brand of paint to buy that will keep your home healthy! But now you've got another decision to make, what sheen to use. You pull out the little chart that shows the gloss levels increasing, but where to start? A quick Google search will tell you to never paint your walls in high-traffic areas with anything less than semi-gloss. So you decide that semi-gloss is durable, and buy enough for your walls, ceiling, and moldings, one easy decision - right?

YIKES - this is a disaster waiting to happen. You will end up with a shiny, reflective envelope full of imperfections. I guarantee you will not be happy with this choice.

I see this dilemma far too often with homeowners. Choosing the right finish the first time can save you time, money, and headaches.

Many factors go into selecting the perfect sheen for your application. First, let’s review the basics of sheen. Keep in mind, every paint company will have a different version of these terms and the order of increasing sheen intensity may vary.


The Basics of Paint Sheen

Flat Paint/Matte Paint - No Shine

Flat paint provides a rich depth of color and is great for less than perfect surfaces. Flat paint has the most pigment and will provide the most coverage. Since there is no shine, the light is absorbed rather than reflected. Matte paint is one step up in sheen from flat, but still very low luster. Typically, Flat or Matte finish is the least cleanable option and not good for high traffic areas.

Eggshell - Slight Luster

Not surprisingly, this finish is similar to egg shells. Eggshell offers a real depth of color with a soft and polished look. Good quality Eggshell paint is easy to clean, covers wall imperfections nicely, and is good for moderate to high traffic areas.

Satin - Velvety Luster

Satin is easy to clean, great for high traffic areas, but shows imperfections on flat surfaces. Can be used on walls of high traffic areas or on wood elements.

Semi Gloss - Subtle Shine

Semi Gloss is durable and stands up to repeated cleanings. This finish is often recommended for molding and trims, but can easily show imperfections on flat surfaces.

High Gloss - The Most Shine

High Gloss paint offers a durable finish. It is typically the most easy to clean out of all the paint finishes. High Gloss paint is super shiny and light reflecting. It’s often used for wood elements like cabinets, trims, and doors. Be careful with high gloss though, as it will show all imperfections! While it can be a beautiful look if your walls or ceilings are prepped correctly, it can turn into a disaster very quickly. Surfaces that take high gloss must be perfectly flat with zero imperfections. High Gloss paint requires preparation and a lot of labor to create the perfect end product.


 

Designer Secrets

A good rule of thumb is that the higher the sheen, the higher the shine and the easier the surface will be to clean. But many advancements in paint technology today allow for lower sheens to be just as durable and cleanable as their shiny counterparts. I’m going to share some tricks of the trade and what I typically use on my client home projects.

 
 

Ceilings

For ceilings, I always use flat paint. Since there is no sheen, it hides imperfections and has a beautiful depth of color. Ceilings tend to be uneven and a flat paint will hide those problem areas and will make the surface look uniform. My absolute favorite product for ceilings is Benjamin Moore Ultra Flat Water Borne Ceiling Paint. It provides a flawless finish and is the flattest finish offered by Benjamin Moore. It is Zero VOC and Engineered with Gennex® Color Technology. Check out my previous post “What’s in Your Paint” for more information on selecting a paint for a healthy home.


 
 
Water+Born+ceiling+paint.jpg
 
 
Paint sheens, Interior paint finishes, Exterior paint finishes, Gloss paint, Matte paint, Satin paint, Eggshell paint, Flat paint, Choosing the right paint sheen, Paint sheen guide, Understanding paint finishes, high gloss, semi gloss
Paint sheens, Interior paint finishes, Exterior paint finishes, Gloss paint, Matte paint, Satin paint, Eggshell paint, Flat paint, Choosing the right paint sheen, Paint sheen guide, Understanding paint finishes, high gloss, semi gloss
 

Walls

For the walls, I like to use an eggshell finish. It allows for easier clean-ability, but is not too shiny. For walls, I love to use Benjamin Moore Aura in Eggshell finish. It’s a rich and thick paint that provides full coverage, and a beautiful finish with great durability. Good for high traffic areas and it can stand up to repeated washing with no color rub off. It’s a paint and primer in one, mildew resistant, and Zero VOC.


 

Doors, Baseboards, Trims, Casings, Moldings

I like a satin finish for these wood elements. It’s very durable so it will hold up to normal every day wear and tear. My favorite product for this is Benjamin Moore Aura in a Satin Finish. It’s also great for high traffic areas and it can stand up to repeated washing with no color rub off. It’s also a paint and primer in one, mildew resistant, and Zero VOC.

 
 

Bathrooms

Painting a bathroom can be tricky, especially if you don’t want to use a glossy finish everywhere to avoid mildew! Benjamin Moore has a wonderful line of paint called Aura Bath and Spa in a Matte finish. It’s specially formulated for high humidity environments and is mildew resistant. It can stand up to repeated washing with no color rub off. I use this paint on both ceilings and walls in bathrooms for crisp low sheen look.

 
 
Paint sheens, Interior paint finishes, Exterior paint finishes, Gloss paint, Matte paint, Satin paint, Eggshell paint, Flat paint, Choosing the right paint sheen, Paint sheen guide, Understanding paint finishes, high gloss, semi gloss
 
 

Cabinets

Painting kitchen cabinets is a very technical skill and requires proper preparation. Kitchen cabinets are one of the most commonly touched surfaces and get the most wear. Cabinets must be prepped properly by an experienced painter, primed twice, and then painted. Advance by Benjamin Moore is my “go to” for cabinet painting. As for finish, a paint with some shine is the way to go for durability, so I would avoid Flat paint for this application.

 
 
Paint sheens, Interior paint finishes, Exterior paint finishes, Gloss paint, Matte paint, Satin paint, Eggshell paint, Flat paint, Choosing the right paint sheen, Paint sheen guide, Understanding paint finishes, high gloss, semi gloss
 

Need More Help with Paint?

Paint sheens, Interior paint finishes, Exterior paint finishes, Gloss paint, Matte paint, Satin paint, Eggshell paint, Flat paint, Choosing the right paint sheen, Paint sheen guide, Understanding paint finishes, high gloss, semi gloss
 

Need help selecting paint colors, finishes, or environmentally friendly products?

Paint sheens, Interior paint finishes, Exterior paint finishes, Gloss paint, Matte paint, Satin paint, Eggshell paint, Flat paint, Choosing the right paint sheen, Paint sheen guide, Understanding paint finishes, Best paint sheen for [specific surfaces or rooms], Pros and cons of different paint sheens, How to apply different paint sheens, Paint sheen recommendations, Paint sheen comparison, High-gloss paint, Low-sheen paint, Semi-gloss paint, Durable paint finishes

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Interior Design and COVID-19

COVID-19 has impacted us all in different ways. We are learning new ways to cope, connect, and move towards a new normal. Through all of these changes and isolation, we have learned just how important it is to have social support from our friends, families, and colleagues. One of the big questions we face as interior designers is “How will the architecture and design community be impacted by COVID-19?”

 

COVID-19 has impacted us all in different ways. From tragic loss of lives, to lay-offs and business closures, the strain on our emotional, physical and mental health has been incredibly difficult for each of us in our own way. We are learning new ways to cope, connect, and move forward towards a new normal. Through all of these changes and isolation, we have learned just how important it is to have social support from our friends, families, and colleagues. We’re all missing human bonding.

Our lack of in person contact can trigger what Vivek Murthy, a physician and former surgeon general of the US calls a social recession - “social isolation that has a negative impact on physical and mental well-being of people and can even put us at risk for premature death.” There is reach that links social isolation and loneliness to poor health outcomes such as heart disease, dementia, sleep loss, depression and reduced life expectancy. 

To help prevent isolation and a social recession, we need to ensure we are connecting with people outside our home for at least 15 minutes a day. Whether that be a phone call, video chat, or safe distance visit. It’s also important that we take time to help other people, be more conscious of others, and see the bigger picture of how we fit into our community. There are many beneficial health and wellness outcomes associated with acts of generosity, charity, and community bonding. A main one being increasing our sense of belonging and decreasing feelings of isolation and loneliness.


Office Spaces

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One of the big questions we face as interior designers is “How will the architecture and design community be impacted by COVID-19?” This is a loaded question, but ultimately, I believe this situation has given the design community the opportunity to be creative in new ways. 

As we begin to reopen and return to offices at reduced capacity, new protocols are being implemented, as we disinfect our desks, chairs, keyboards, mouses, and phones daily. Our perspective and safety views on the office environment has changed, as we have all adapted a heightened sensitivity to touch and awareness of social distance. Even with new cleaning policies, there are still challenges with our current office layouts, conference room sizes, elevator capacity, distancing capabilities, and privacy that need to be addressed.

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This is where designers and architects come in. We design spaces for people, and the way we design these spaces is going to change.“We’re coming to realize that as designers, architects, and building managers, we have a critical role to play in public health.” (Rachel Gutter, President of IWBI). We will be designing safer work spaces, with social distancing protocols, re-imagined office layouts, specifying materials that are easily cleanable and implementing maintenance schedules. The effects of COVID-19 will impact the way we think about and design spaces of the future. 


Work From Home Life


This world wide social experiment of “Can we all really work remotely?” has sparked conversations among many companies on if they even need to return to a physical office. Companies like Google, Twitter and Facebook have embraced the option of the remote work lifestyle permanently. This opens the opportunity for people anywhere in the world to work for these companies since you don’t need to be present at a physical office everyday. Businesses have learned to adapt to the work from home life, and some are even working more efficiently than they did in the actual office. Benefits of remote work are: 

 
 

Less Time Spent Commuting

Improved Employee Retention

More Independent Employees

Reduced Operating Costs 

Diverse Candidates

Efficient Use of Technology

Increased Productivity

Positive Environmental Impacts

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Better Work Life Balance

Healthier Employees

Less Stressed Employees

Financial Savings

Customized Home Office 

Healthier Employees

Improved Creativity

More Time with Family

 
 

Many businesses are seeing these great benefits and investing more in their work from home employee support. A company's ability to do this depends on it’s type of work, flexibility, culture, access to technology and the ergonomics of the employees home. Even after the pandemic, work from home choices will be more of an option than ever before. Studies show that employees with the highest level of satisfaction are those who have options of where, how and when they work.

 

Residential Interior Design and Wellness 

 

With more people working from home, this will change the way we design residences, specifically by creating a designated office space. Things to consider are layout, placement in the home, acoustical privacy, storage, supplies, sustainable components, ergonomics, clean-ability, healthy building materials, and incorporating strategies to avoid burn out. Creating a new lifestyle where home and work life co-exist in the same space. We’re seeing a major need for these newly developed, creative and healthy spaces in the home.

With a progression towards health and wellness in all facets of our life, and a desire for a cleaner and safer environment due to COVID-19, the Design and Architecture industry is taking great strides to incorporate human health into our environments. WELL Certification is about placing people at the heart of design and enhancing the human health and well being experience. It’s a certification process for buildings, backed by evidence based health and scientific research with leading physicians, scientists and industry professionals.

Over the last few months, I have seen the positive value that the WELL Certification can bring to me as a designer and to my clients. I am working towards earning my WELL AP certification to be able provide health and wellness education and support in our interior design projects. “A WELL AP denotes expertise in the WELL Building Standard and a commitment to advancing human health and wellness in buildings and communities around the world.” (wellcertified.com) 

The WELL certification provides me with a unique understanding of how the human body is impacted by our indoor and outdoor environments, and how to create a healthier home for my clients. From contaminants in our water and air, lighting consideration and temperature controls, to healthy eating and fitness, WELL Certification covers all this and more to ensure buildings and their occupants health and wellness take priority, increasing the quality and longevity of our lives. 

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Stay tuned for more on my journey to becoming a WELL Accredited Professional and follow SJI on Instagram for #WellnessWednesday

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Design School 101, SJI Features Sarah Schwuchow Design School 101, SJI Features Sarah Schwuchow

What Paint Sheen Should I Use?

So you’ve selected a paint color! But now you've got another decision to make, what sheen to use. You pull out the little chart that shows the gloss levels increasing, but where to start? You decide that semi gloss is durable, and buy enough for your walls, ceiling, and moldings, one easy decision - right?

So you’ve selected a paint color! You’ve even done your research on what brand of paint to buy that will keep your home healthy! (Check out my last blog post “What's in Your Paint?”) But now you've got another decision to make, what sheen to use. You pull out the little chart that shows the gloss levels increasing, but where to start? A quick Google search will tell you to never paint your walls in high traffic areas with anything less than semi gloss. So you decide that semi gloss is durable, and buy enough for your walls, ceiling, and moldings, one easy decision - right?

YIKES - this is a disaster waiting to happen. You’re going to end up with a shiny, reflective envelope full of imperfections. I guarantee you will not be happy with this choice.

I see this dilemma far too often with home owners. Choosing the right finish the first time can save you time, money and headaches.

Many factors go into selecting the perfect sheen for your application. First, let’s review the basics of sheen. Keep in mind, every paint company will have a different version of these terms and the order of increasing sheen intensity may vary.


The Basics of Paint Sheen

Flat Paint/Matte Paint - No Shine

Flat paint provides a rich depth of color and is great for less than perfect surfaces. Flat paint has the most pigment and will provide the most coverage. Since there is no shine, the light is absorbed rather than reflected. Matte paint is one step up in sheen from flat, but still very low luster. Typically, Flat or Matte finish is the least cleanable option and not good for high traffic areas.

Eggshell - Slight Luster

Not surprisingly, this finish is similar to egg shells. Eggshell offers a real depth of color with a soft and polished look. Good quality Eggshell paint is easy to clean, covers wall imperfections nicely, and is good for moderate to high traffic areas.

Satin - Velvety Luster

Satin is easy to clean, great for high traffic areas, but shows imperfections on flat surfaces. Can be used on walls of high traffic areas or on wood elements.

Semi Gloss - Subtle Shine

Semi Gloss is durable and stands up to repeated cleanings. This finish is often recommended for molding and trims, but can easily show imperfections on flat surfaces.

High Gloss - The Most Shine

High Gloss paint offers a durable finish. It is typically the most easy to clean out of all the paint finishes. High Gloss paint is super shiny and light reflecting. It’s often used for wood elements like cabinets, trims, and doors. Be careful with high gloss though, as it will show all imperfections! While it can be a beautiful look if your walls or ceilings are prepped correctly, it can turn into a disaster very quickly. Surfaces that take high gloss must be perfectly flat with zero imperfections. High Gloss paint requires preparation and a lot of labor to create the perfect end product.


Designer Secrets

A good rule of thumb is that the higher the sheen, the higher the shine and the easier the surface will be to clean. But many advancements in paint technology today allow for lower sheens to be just as durable and cleanable as their shiny counterparts. I’m going to share some tricks of the trade and what I typically use on my client home projects.

 

Ceilings

For ceilings, I always use flat paint. Since there is no sheen, it hides imperfections and has a beautiful depth of color. Ceilings tend to be uneven and a flat paint will hide those problem areas and will make the surface look uniform. My absolute favorite product for ceilings is Benjamin Moore Ultra Flat Water Borne Ceiling Paint. It provides a flawless finish and is the flattest finish offered by Benjamin Moore. It is Zero VOC and Engineered with Gennex® Color Technology. Check out my previous post “What’s in Your Paint” for more information on selecting a paint for a healthy home.


 
 
Water+Born+ceiling+paint.jpg
 
 
0524_Aura_Eggshell_US_large.png
Aura_Satin_2000x_6bd7b13f-0b4f-48e7-9afe-963d541c49c3_2000x.jpg
 

Walls

For the walls, I like to use an eggshell finish. It allows for easier clean-ability, but is not too shiny. For walls, I love to use Benjamin Moore Aura in Eggshell finish. It’s a rich and thick paint that provides full coverage, and a beautiful finish with great durability. Good for high traffic areas and it can stand up to repeated washing with no color rub off. It’s a paint and primer in one, mildew resistant, and Zero VOC.


Doors, Baseboards, Trims, Casings, Moldings

I like a satin finish for these wood elements. It’s very durable so it will hold up to normal every day wear and tear. My favorite product for this is Benjamin Moore Aura in a Satin Finish. It’s also great for high traffic areas and it can stand up to repeated washing with no color rub off. It’s also a paint and primer in one, mildew resistant, and Zero VOC.


 
 

Bathrooms

Painting a bathroom can be tricky, especially if you don’t want to use a glossy finish everywhere to avoid mildew! Benjamin Moore has a wonderful line of paint called Aura Bath and Spa in a Matte finish. It’s specially formulated for high humidity environments and is mildew resistant. It can stand up to repeated washing with no color rub off. I use this paint on both ceilings and walls in bathrooms for crisp low sheen look.

 
 
bath.jpg
 
 

Cabinets

Painting kitchen cabinets is a very technical skill and requires proper preparation. Kitchen cabinets are one of the most commonly touched surfaces and get the most wear. Cabinets must be prepped properly by an experienced painter, primed twice, and then painted. Advance by Benjamin Moore is my “go to” for cabinet painting. As for finish, a paint with some shine is the way to go for durability, so I would avoid Flat paint for this application.

 
 
Capture.JPG
 

Need More Help with Paint?

Not all paint is the same. Make a conscious effort for your families health by choosing a high quality paint and doing your research on it’s environmental impact. Need help selecting paint colors, finishes, or environmentally friendly products? Schedule a consultation with Sarah Jacquelyn Interiors today! No project too big or small, I love helping my clients specify the perfect paint for their home!

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Colorful Creatives Sarah Schwuchow Colorful Creatives Sarah Schwuchow

Colorful Creatives: Xced Design Build

Happy Friday! This week’s feature is a boss babe killing it in the construction industry! I had the pleasure of meeting Chelsey Jackel right after I graduated interior design school. She was a natural mentor and taught me so much about the construction industry. She’s incredibly personable, talented, and cares deeply about doing her absolute best everyday. Chelsey and I recently reconnected upon the opening of her new business, Xced Design Build. Their new studio space is absolutely incredible! Fully designed showroom, studio kitchen, collaborative work area, and a design library.

Happy Friday! This week’s feature is a boss babe killing it in the construction industry! I had the pleasure of meeting Chelsey Jackel right after I graduated interior design school. She was a natural mentor and taught me so much about the construction industry. She’s incredibly personable, talented, and cares deeply about doing her absolute best everyday. Chelsey and I recently reconnected upon the opening of their new office, Xced Design Build. Their new studio space is absolutely incredible! Fully designed showroom, studio kitchen, collaborative work area, and a design library. This space has it all! Their Logan Square studio was designed to serve as a collaborative work space for their Power Partners; independent Chicagoland Interior Designers who strive to learn, grow, and provide exceptional design service to their clients. I became a Power Partner in January and I love being a part of the community. I benefit tremendously from the relationships, co working space, and learning opportunities. They created exactly the space the independent designer community needed. This partnership also creates a trustworthy relationship with a build team you can depend on.

I hope you enjoy learning more about Chelsey and her process of developing her business and herself. One of my favorites quotes from her:

 

“I am working all the time on me, my journey, my business, my family, my feelings, my purpose and my overall satisfaction in this thing called life! I want that for everyone.”

 

 
Chelsey 2.jpg
 

Chelsey Jackel | Xced Design Build

IG @xceddesignbuild

FB Xced Design Build

Website xceddesignbuild.com

 

1. How did you get started in the design industry?

I got into interior design through the comfort of my mother’s intuition. When I was a young girl I would tell my parents they weren’t allowed into one of the rooms in our home until I was finished. I organized, rearranged and decorated. In college, I studied architecture and fell in love with the concept of building and creating. I soon moved to Chicago, got an extended degree at Harrington and have been shaping my career ever since.

2. Did you always know you wanted to be an entrepreneur?

Yes. I grew up in a small town, with a bid city attitude. I imagined running a business at age 9 when my little girlfriends were imagining their white picket house and 3 kids…I’ve always loved economics and business development. It’s so adventurous.

3. When did you know it was the right time to go full time on your business?

I think I was 2 years into my career, when I finally dropped all my other “side gigs” and focused on creating my journey as an interior designer. I sometimes reminisce about serving in the restaurant or comedy clubs that got me by while I was studying in Chicago… and those were learning lessons of how I communicate today, for sure. But today I’m developing more of my passion; nourishing the woman entrepreneur leader that I am becoming in this industry that I love so much.

 
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4. What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve had to overcome with owning your own business?

I am a partner of my company, Xced Design Build, and fortunately joined into a company where the seed had already been set and roots were planted… I’ve been nurturing the continual growth. The biggest challenge for me, which scares me to say, has been working on myself and focusing back on the elements in my life and career where I was not fully seen or heard and how I am breaking those trends today. The daily challenge is to continue to stay open, be vulnerable, assume good will, and support the feelings and thoughts that flow in me daily.

5. How did you reach your potential clients when first starting your business? Has anything changed in that process now? What have you learned?

I am proud to say that I was a FANTASTIC server back in the day. Starting out in interior design seemed like a perfect fit for me, because I care so deeply about other people and finding resolutions for them and their needs/wants. I have always been able to connect with people on a level that my mother and father taught me… since then, I am seeing how much of that connection was for them, and how little was for me. I am learning now that in order to become more satisfied with my connections with clients or business colleagues, I have to dedicate my work on who I am becoming in every moment and in every interaction. Challenge myself to lean into the uncomfortable. Trust. Assume good will. And continue to show up each day with my intention!

 
 

6. Do you feel you need to educate people on what you do? How do you handle that situation?

This is a tricky world. I am constantly battling myself in the practice of saying too much or not saying enough. Education is necessary, but it can also lead to unnecessary overanalyzing, which I believe has become a tactic of protection that our society uses. I have learned and am still learning to handle this area of the industry by educating myself on who I am speaking to in the moment. Being okay with who I am and finding the best way to connect with the other person. I assisted one of my dearest friends in his dance company years ago, and he taught me lots about how to connect with other people.  There are many personality traits, and many “personality tests” out there… for me, I listen to the person and find my elements of understanding them, speak on that, and lead them towards understanding me. It’s a tricky game, but it sure is enjoyable and adventurous.

7. What is your favorite & least favorite “hat” to wear as a business owner?

Oh geez… that’s a tough one.  I think every day there is a hat that wish I wasn’t wearing.  But each day is different, and the very next day I may love the hat I hated before! HAHAHA. I’m learning to be okay with my messiness.

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8. How do you stay motivated?

I surround myself with allies. People and coaches that support me and challenge me. My business partner is my strongest ally. He pushes and pulls me in directions and empowers me above many others. I also have a slew of women professionals from all industries who keep me focused on my path.

9. What are you working on right now?

Me! I have been studying under a foundation that has impacted my interactions for my business and for my life.  People who have known me for years are starting to say they see a difference in me, and I am grateful for that affirmation every time. I am learning to take in those words more. Let myself feel and shift my thinking of who I am becoming. Design Build wise… we are working on so many awesome projects. Each new luxury project is a chance for our team to show up and show off.  Commercial or Residential, we’ve got a team that leads with their best foot forward, and I am so proud of us all.  

 
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10. Where do you look for inspiration?

Hmmm… loaded question. I think I get my inspiration from nature. I was at a client’s house in the suburbs and we all spent a moment just looking out the back patio doors, soaking in the beauty of the colors that bounce of the snow when the sun hits it.  I breath those moments in and then challenge myself to re-create those moments in design.

11. What is a piece of advice you would tell your past self on the first day you started your business?

I’d tell my young self to Breathe. Take it in and extend it out. Keep breathing and lean in… it’s worth it!!

12. Where is your favorite place to work?

Our studio kitchen. Our new collaborative design studio is fun and interactive, especially on Monday-Wednesday-Fridays when other designers stop by the atelier and grab a seat to work on their projects. I love meeting in the kitchen and walking around, discussing visionary moments with my team and making hot tea or coffee for others as we create. The kitchen was the center of my house hold growing up. It’s becoming the center of our work space here at Xced, and I love it.

 
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13. How do you start your Monday?

I head our leadership training and project “kick off” meetings every Monday morning with my business partner. Our inhouse design and build team all come together to learn more about EI and empowerment. We bounce ideas off each other, input thoughts and feelings towards the subject of the day and lean into the week knowing we are all allies for each other. The kick off meeting takes us into the busy movement for each week’s projects at hand.

14. As a busy business owner, how do you avoid burn out?  

I took a class on “soft addictions” by Dr. Judith Wright this last fall and am learning that my burn out only really happens when I find myself doing something that’s not really nourishing. It’s easy to get addicted to a tv series or constantly checking my emails… but in the moment, I’m working on what do I need and want out of this moment. Then I orientate towards that.

15. What are some colors you are connecting with right now?

There are 8 inches of snow outside: “I think white is the most wonderful color of all, because within it one can find every color of the rainbow.” - Richard Meier

 
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16. What is something you could not live without?

Eye contact. I am a big hugger and love snuggling up to my friends and all my nieces and nephews… but eye contact leads me to a space of indescribable connection. Its amazing to see what happens after a quick, but totally connected glance at an ally.

17. What are some of your favorite textures/ materials?

I’ve fallen in love with Schumacher’s patterns lately, and the textures within Holland and Sherry’s multiple textile lines.  These two lines were among the firsts to become part of our collaborative atelier for our power partners at the Xced Design Studio.  

 
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18. What’s your favorite season and why?

Fall. I love scarves, I love sweaters, I love boots, I love leggings, I love hot cocoa, I love jackets and layers for when the temperature gets just warm enough. I love the colors of the trees, the crisp air and the music in my soul as I open myself up to the love of others; ending the bright sunshine from summer and entering the cuddle-time winter!

19. What’s your favorite thing to do in Chicago?

Walk. There is so much to see and feel in 5 minutes into a client’s home, or 15 minutes to the neighborhood restaurant.  Walking my dog around the city for hours used to be the most alive moments for me… I want more of that!

20. Any inspirational books you recommend?

A few years back I read the book Good to Great. A mentor of mine suggested it. I scratched all over my copy like a text book, highlighting and creating and imagining my growth at that time. Things changed in my career and life since then, but I still remember some moments of clarity that really reached me while reading that one.

 
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21. If you could travel anywhere in the world for inspiration, where would it be and why?

Man… you’re good Sarah! I love to travel. I pride myself in having a strong passport history but, know that I’ve only been so far. I think my next journey would be Greece, Netherlands or China. I’ve been intrigued by these three cultures the last couple years and looking for my next journey to discover more.

22. What are you looking forward to in 2019?

The next adventure. 2018 was very alive for me, and I am seeing 2019 as another step into more of who I want to become. I have girlfriends having babies, a family reunion to finish planning, a community to continue volunteering and supporting,

23. Anything I missed that you want to share?

For me, life and business are one in the same. I don’t live to work, or work to live… I am working all the time on me, my journey, my business, my family, my feelings, my purpose and my overall satisfaction in this thing called life! I want that for everyone.

 
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