DESIGNED TO AT
Sarah Richardson unveils four collections of home furnishings
For Sarah Richardson, principal at Sarah Richardson Design Inc. and a familiar face for viewers of design television, the chance to design a furniture collection with Winnipeg-based Palliser Furniture provided an opportunity to really dig deeply into her creativity and explore her design loves.
The result was not just one, but four unique and diverse collections — the Shore, the Annex, the Vista and the Boulevard. All of the collections feature curated furnishings, rugs, throws, pillows and accessories, with many of the items sprouting from personal inspiration or originating as custom designs for clients.
Teaser snippets of the collections were presented in a curated virtual launch on Oct. 8, filmed in a 114-year-old refurbished stone church located just outside of the four-season playground of Collingwood, Ont. The church now boasts a fresh and clean modern country loft esthetic, with whitewashed walls and exposed brick, the perfect backdrop to showcase the four collections.
“We have been deep in development on this collection for years. The goal was to take the guess work out for consumers, and to ensure that a variety of stylistic directions were addressed,” says Richardson, while sitting at a whitewashed oak desk — part of the Shore Collection — in the church's sun- drenched great room. She has hosted, co-created and co-produced more than 250 episodes of design TV, including eight hit TV series from Sarah 101 to Sarah off the Grid.
The Shore collection embraces a light and fresh palette with creamy lacquers, white oak, plenty of handwoven rattan and generous use of brass accents, adding texture and sophistication to this contemporary coastal look.
“This collection really celebrates life by the water's edge,” says Richardson, noting that the colours and feel are a nod to her signature style.
Taking root in mid-century in
spiration, the Annex collection places the focus on the natural beauty and character of lighter woods, highlighting the grain and pattern of ash in its streamlined and stylish designs, many pieces with rounded edges.
“We were really drawn to the blocky silhouettes of Brutalist furnishings but we wanted to lighten them with lighter wood tones,” says Richardson. Banded detailing and plenty of hidden storage also characterize this collection.
Bevelled edges, pedestal tables and classic English country library chairs in rich leather define the feel
of the Vista, a linear, streamlined, classic and elegant collection with a contemporary edge.
“We took a transitional perspective on classic styling with a pale finish,” says Richardson. Flat-cut white oak with refined parquetry details and pale oyster-hued veneer with crisp mitre edges are a few of the details that stand out.
The Boulevard collection nods toward Art Deco designs with rounded silhouettes and warm brass accents.
“This is our darkest and richest collection; it really celebrates the beauty of rich, dark walnut,” says
Richardson. The pieces are interesting in their mix and match textures and colours — a round, dark navy blue dining table, a pedestal base rectangular walnut table with a stone inset.
All of the pieces within the collections can be personalized with custom upholstery and many can be used in multiple ways, moving from space to space.
A desk, for example, can be a work space in the kitchen, an entranceway table or a console in the living room, and the sofas and sectionals all come in multiple sizes, perfect for any space,
large or small.
The collection also offers a broad selection of unique rugs, artistically inspired by Richardson's personal heartfelt experiences — a design based on a watercolour painted by her daughter when she was eight, an interpretation of a photograph taken in Manhattan of twinkling lights at night, reconfigured excerpts of a Batik print from the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art, and a rug that emulates the warmth and coziness of a cashmere sweater.
The goal was to take the guess work out for consumers, and to ensure that a variety of stylistic directions were addressed.