Kitchen & Bath Business September/October 2022 - 80

L A S T W ORD
What has been your biggest business challenge -
and how did you resolve it?
Because personalization is at the core of my process,
many designs require customization. Finding items
that aesthetically meet needs and use sustainable
production methods in line with our company ethos
can be challenging. Our studio began increasingly
creating more custom products, eventually leading
to our starting Kale Tree, an online venture where
we produce and sell designs inspired by and
grounded in nature while following a production
process that's considerate of the environment.
What is the most important career lesson you've
learned?
Make space to nourish interests and sources of
joy outside of your career. I used to struggle to
step away from my work. I've realized it's crucial
to prioritize time devoted to other interests for
personal well-being and to enhance my practice.
The time I spend in my garden or going on
walks is when I frequently fi nd inspiration and
solutions for design challenges.
SUPPORTIVE SPACES
This designer balances her clients' personal needs
with sustainable features
AN ADVOCATE FOR CONSCIOUSNESS, inclusivity and compassion in the
creative process, Santa Monica, Cal.-based Sarah Barnard, WELL AP +
LEED AP, designs personalized, sustainable spaces that support mental,
physical and emotional well-being. A " Praiseworthy Pick " for the KBB
Person of the Year in 2021, Barnard has also been recognized as a " One to
Watch Scholar " by the American Society of Interior Designers.
How does your background infl uence the way you approach the design business?
Growing up, I learned to appreciate historic homes and the importance
of using existing materials to restore our surroundings. I was also very
interested in the outdoors and spending time in nature. Th e combination
of these infl uences led to the beginning of my design path and inspired me
to earn LEED and WELL accreditation and, more recently, a California
Naturalist certifi cation. Most of my designs begin with a thorough review
and evaluation of what's existing, both in terms of the building's bones and
materials and the natural surroundings. Finding strategies that integrate
the nature of the space into personalized design can often inspire enduring
solutions while minimizing potential impact on the surroundings.
80
/ SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2022
ABOVE Natural materials and
motifs are central to Sarah
Barnard's designs. Photos by
Steven Dewall
What advice would you give someone thinking
about entering the design business?
Goals may shift throughout a career, and it's
essential to have time to think about the work
more broadly to reevaluate and reprioritize as
you learn more about yourself and what you
enjoy. Having time and space to daydream is
essential for individual projects and overarching
career plans. New designers may be surprised by
what inspires and invigorates them once they are
working in the fi eld, and having space to embrace
those shifts can lead to a more fulfi lling future.
Who was your fi rst design crush? And your current
one?
When I started working as a designer, I felt
inspired by the work of Mary 'May' Morris, a
gifted designer from the 1800s who specialized
in designing nature-inspired textiles and
wallpapers. Beyond her work as a designer,
she co-founded the Women's Guild of Arts in
response to the Art Workers Guild refusing to
admit women.
Presently, I'm drawn to the work of Diana
Beresford-Kroeger, who works toward
preserving trees (and humankind) through
environmental conservation. A proponent of
natural healing, she often overlaps science and
wellness, bringing attention to the immense
capabilities of the natural resources around us. I
fi nd her holistic approach inspiring as I consider
the interconnectivity of our environment.
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Kitchen & Bath Business September/October 2022

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