The Digest | New Jersey Magazine
Issue link: https://magazines.vuenj.com/i/1347392
DESIGNER: SARAH ELIZABETH DESIGN LOCATION: NEW YORK CITY PHOTOS: JOSEPH KELLER AND CARLY JARA F or design inspiration, Sarah Elizabeth simply looked out her clients window at the Natural History Museum, and proposed the living room should reflect the red brick and stone structure, thus a mauve palette was born. From the bright blue flower Warhol wallpaper adorning one room, to metallic mylar wallpaper on the ceiling of another, every room tells a story with bright colors, pops of metallic and modern accents. Sarah Elizabeth drew further inspiration from the wife's own whimsical wardrobe filled with colorful patterns and materials from the likes of Missoni, Etro and Chanel. This visual feast showed the designer that the clients were not afraid to express themselves through colors and patterns, and the designer happily ran with it. An example of the interior design reflecting its owners comes specifically in the kitchen, where zebra cowhide seats are placed against pristine white custom cabinetry inspired by a pair of pumps the wife had. Sarah Elizabeth considers herself lucky to have had such freedom in her color choices. "I remember showing them these wildly colorful, whimsical mood boards for their kids rooms that I had put everything into - and seeing how much they loved them. It wasnt too matchy matchy as that wasnt them, or me, but more interesting." A unique challenge of decorating this apartment was finding furniture that adhered to the clients' desire for an eco-friendly home. They wanted the apartment to have the cleanest possible fabrics, and to eliminate VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and formaldehyde, which are both commonly found in sofas, high-gloss paints, manufacturing of different types of wood, and furniture glues. The designer admitted it was a challenge vetting every item she used, but one that introduced her to extremely talented, eco-friendly companies. For example, the blue sofa in the Warhol room was custom-designed and made purely of renewable rubber,