After training under Celerie Kemble and launching her firm in New York, Sarah Vaile set up shop in Chicago, where she’s one of the city’s most in-demand designers. Her love of color and passion for antiques make her a true stand-out in any city. Check out a curation of her vibrant, versatile Chairish favorites.
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What made you passionate about interior design? How’d you get your start in the field?
I can’t say that there was a specific moment. I just find it is the thing I start daydreaming about when I’m bored. Also, in hindsight, I guess it’s not totally normal for a ten year old to rearrange their bedroom furniture every three months and spend more time decorating their Barbie house than playing with it (True story: My Dad built my three sisters and me a Barbie apartment building, wallpaper, carpeting, and all). I did have a distinct moment in my late twenties when I decided to entirely shift careers over to interior design and uprooted my life to do so. I like to refer to it as my quarter-life crisis.
What do you find most compelling about Chairish?
Antiques have often been synonymous with expensive taste. Chairish really rocked the boat by providing access to thousands of pieces around the globe within reasonable price ranges. It admittedly was our entree into antiques and for that we are forever grateful!
How does sustainability factor into your design choices and love of vintage?
I think far more about sustainability now than I admittedly did in my earlier years of design. It’s now one of the things that I love most about vintage pieces. Even more than sustainability, I love the idea of collecting heirloom pieces that have a story predating you, and that will hopefully have a story following you. It’s also great for those of us in the business who seem to be constantly in motion with our decor, enabling us to move pieces with no guilt.
What are three of your favorite pieces on Chairish now?
I love this Italian Palm Floor Lamp by Sergio Terzani; this Set of Six Louis XVI Style Dining Chairs; and this Italian Ceramic Life Size Leopard Figurine.
Favorite way to create a statement-making moment in a room?
Well we are definitely known for color. We typically find one object or idea that we really jump off of. The rest is all about balancing the leads. We talk a lot in terms of film: Which pieces or textiles are the leads? Will this be a star-studded cast or do we need more supporting actors?
Do you have any go-to color palettes and color combos?
I find it funny because in my younger years, I was a huge fan of black and white, but now I find that the brighter and flamboyant the color, the more appealing it is to me. The key is to balance the bright colors with “off” colors that round out the palette and provide some masculinity to the design.
What advice do you have for first-time clients about making their spaces truly personal?
Start with what you love. From there it’s all about balance. All other pieces should have the initial showstoppers in mind as they work to round out the design. I often think in terms of masculine versus feminine, winter versus spring, and quiet versus loud to help land on a cohesive design that will ultimately have lasting appeal.
Lead image: Aimee Mazzenga
