The Custom Framing Process
Go behind the scenes with SJI to see how we design custom frames for our clients.
our top 5 favorite white paint colors and how to use them
With all the white paint colors out there, we do have some of our tried and true favorites that we start with as a baseline when meeting with our clients. Here are our top 5 favorite white paint colors.
Get the Best Sleep Ever! Luxury Products for a Relaxing Bedroom
Improve your overall health, wellness, and quality of sleep this year with these luxurious sleep products that will make for the most relaxing sleep ever!
WE NEED YOUR HELP: Support the Interior Design Profession by Creating a Witness Slip Now
We need your support to ensure the Registered Interior Designers Act is not eliminated. Supporting the profession is easy, and only takes a few seconds. Click for instructions!
ASID Illinois President-Elect
I am excited to announce that I have been voted in as the President- Elect for the American Society of Interior Designers Illinois Chapter. My one year term as President-Elect will begin on October 1st, 2021 and I will serve as President for one year starting on October 1st, 2022.
10 Ways to Style Your Home with Vases
Accessorizing is the final layer when it comes to adding personality to your home. Even the most well designed spaces can look empty without the finishing touches added. One of our favorite ways to dial up the design is with vases. There are so many different styles, colors, materials, and textures to vases that when added, can easily elevate your home! Whether they are made of glass, porcelain, ceramic, wood, or even metal, vases can be just the thing to take your space to the next level!
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?”
Not Your Grandma's Dressing Table
Dressing tables, or vanity tables, were once a necessity in a woman’s bedroom. Somewhere along the way, Americans fell away from this trend and began keeping their cosmetics and perfumes in the bath or powder rooms. But over the years, the dressing table has made a few comebacks. Today, you can find some beautiful and modern-as-they-come dressing tables to beautify your space! They’re practical, can be used to display your aesthetics, and add a touch of sophistication that is truly timeless. Here are some of our favorite modern-day dressing tables!
Designer Advice for a Smoother Remodel
A remodel of your home doesn’t have to take years off your life! If you’re thinking of starting your next project, you’ve come to right place to get the best advice on creating a smoother remodeling experience for your home.
Design Trend: Luxury Game Sets
One hot design trend right now is displaying beautiful luxury game sets as both a practical and show-stopping accessory. Game night has never been more stylish! The best part, is you won’t want to store these games in the closet; you’ll want them on full display. Tap into your inner child but keep your sophistication with these gorgeous and whimsical game sets!
Our Latest Tile Crush
While sourcing tile for a client, we recently stumbled upon an amazing tile manufacturer, New Ravenna. We just want to gush about their amazing product! Their beautiful designs and handmade-in-America tiles and mosaics are fully customizable, unique and full of life, and truly a way to bring art into your everyday space. Here’s a little bit more about New Ravenna and our favorite picks from their many collections.
The Pros and Cons of Open Kitchen Shelving
Opting for an open shelf concept in your kitchen can create a stunning visual for your kitchen design. There is so much flexibility in the design choices of open shelving; create an airy, open feel in small kitchen; showcase a minimalist and rustic lifestyle; communicate modern sophistication with clean lines. However, open shelving is not everyone. On the fence about whether this design style is for you? Read on as we look a little more in depth on the pros and cons of utilizing open shelving for your kitchen..
Our Top 5 Favorite Sconces
A beautiful interior needs the right kind of lighting to really shine! Wall sconces are a great way to brighten up a room without adding extra floor lamps or tables for table lamps. They’re practical, but also come in so many styles and designs that it’s easy to choose one to really communicate a personality and tone for the space. Sconces can be simple and functional, highlighting certain art pieces or serve as the perfect bedtime reading light. They can be ornate and fun, tying a design together while communicating sophistication. Here are Sarah Jacquelyn Interior’s top 5 wall sconces for 2020!
Wallpaper on the Ceiling?! Yes, Please!
A room traditionally has four walls; think outside (or on top of) the box and see your ceiling as the fifth wall! Wallpapering ceilings is a design trend that is quickly becoming more mainstream. It’s a great way to introduce more color, texture, and a “pop” of character to any room.
How to Maintain Your Quartz Countertops
Quartz is a popular choice for countertops given that it is harder than granite, comes in a variety of colors, textures, and thicknesses, and is easy to care for. However, there are a few do’s and don’ts when it comes to your quartz. If cared for correctly, your quartz will last for years to come! Here’s how we recommend you care for your quartz surfaces.
Get NCIDQ Certified in 2023!
If you’re interested in learning more about the NCIDQ Exam, why it’s important, and how it can benefit you as a designer, you’re in the right place! I’m Sarah Schwuchow, a Registered Interior Designer in Illinois and I passed the NCIDQ exam in the Spring of 2018. I am also a CIDQ Ambassador, which means I help mentor exam candidates, educate students, and promote the value of NCIDQ certification to the public. I’m on a mission to help other designers pass the NCIDQ exam and become Registered Interior Designers!
Benjamin Moore's Color of the Year 2020
Benjamin Moore just revealed it’s Color of the Year for 2020: First Light 2102-70. Not only does First Light bring an air of calm and relaxation, the complimenting color combinations are endless, making it such a versatile color choice. Benjamin Moore describes First Light as a “soft, rosy hue blooming with potential.” We have to agree! Here’s what we think of the new Color of the Year!
Cabinetry Basics: Frames and Door Styles
When you decide it’s time for new kitchen cabinets, the decision can be both liberating and overwhelming. Your cabinetry defines the style of your kitchen and home. You use them daily, so it’s important to select quality cabinets that are aesthetically pleasing while still catering to your needs. Here are a few basic points to consider when you’re updating your kitchen cabinets.
