SARAH SCALES

INTERIOR DESIGN STUDIO | BOSTON & BEYOND

SARAH SCALES

INTERIOR DESIGN STUDIO  |  BOSTON & BEYOND 

During a recent client meeting, I launched into a full explanation about window treatments. People understand the basics—privacy, light filtering, and sun protection. But as a decorator, I see them differently. Beyond just functional, they’re visual anchors, adding warmth, color, texture, and scale. They soften hard window frames and act as large-scale art.
That’s why we never skip them. In fact, we don’t take on projects where clients won’t budget for window treatments. Yes, they’re expensive, but also essential.

Hingham family room with Lee Jofa drapery, woven wood shades, French wallpaper, and coastal-inspired interior design elements

Open floor plans once ruled the real estate market—but today, they feel loud, inefficient, and out of touch with how we actually live. Developers cling to them, as they lag behind real design trends, overusing high ceilings, black windows, and copy-paste layouts from proverbial ‘catalogs’. Gross. Open floor plan problems show up fast: sterile, echoey, and dated. Read on to see why we prefer smaller, enclosed spaces.

Open floor plan problems solved with scaled furniture, drapery, and rugs in a taupe bedroom within a historic home.

Tariff talk is exhausting. With imports from Asia getting more expensive and shipping no longer cheap, more people may start avoiding fast fashion—and it’s about time; I’ve been doing that for years (long live Poshmark and The Real Real). It’s a good time to turn toward secondhand everything beyond clothing, including home decor and furniture. We’re not the first to catch on to secondhand goods—just pointing out the growth!

Florence Knoll didn’t just shape the look of mid-century modern furniture—she hired the people who defined it. Her collaborations with Eero Saarinen led to some of the most enduring furniture designs of the 20th century, and they still show up in our projects today. Mid-century pieces like the Womb Chair, Tulip Chair, and Tulip Table—designed by Saarinen for Knoll—pairs with the Executive Chair, designed by Knoll herself.

Mid century modern furniture in use: the iconic Womb Chair styled in a historic home interior with traditional architectural details

I’m excited to share that I’ve been accepted as an ARCH Digest Pro interior designer. It’s a great way to start the year and a reminder of what drives my work – our mission. Our focus has always been on creating interiors that feel timeless, personal, and livable. As we settle into the new year, it feels like the right time to revisit these core principles.

Designed by a Boston interior designer, this Stowe, Vermont living room features modern furniture, tall ceilings, and wood accents.

Navy is becoming a go-to choice in media room design for its deep and timeless appeal – especially in New England. This versatile color blends with both historic architecture and modern design, creating dramatic yet cohesive spaces – a quintessential coastal and classic hue. From a renovated Brookline home to a transformed Hingham basement to a Concord estate, see how navy lends depth, warmth, and sophistication.

Navy blue media room design in a historic Brookline home with dark walls and a matching coffered ceiling. A modern sectional blends with navy walls, reupholstered swivel chairs, and personal art.

Thanksgiving is looming. While many look to quick-fix decor stores for festive touches, our clients focus on planning menus. When your dining room design already shines, there’s no need for pumpkin-shaped vases or other seasonal gimmicks. Sure – we love a good napkin, candlestick, or centerpiece. But well-designed spaces rely on timeless wallpaper, lighting, and furniture.

A Milton dining room with a custom Susan Harter mural, Kelly Wearstler lighting, a vintage dining table, and Palacek chairs.

When it comes to designing a space, textiles make the biggest statements—working (sometimes quietly) behind the scenes, making everything feel more comfortable and sophisticated. In this Brookline home, every pillow, drapery, and upholstered piece was handpicked with care – we made sure each material not only reflected the client’s personality but also gave the home’s classic architecture a little extra flair.

Custom interior design pairs a vintage heirloom desk with a walnut daybed, a Gastón y Daniela tufted mattress, and Pierre Frey alpaca pillows.

Our design studio does so much more than manage construction projects — we love decorating. From space planning for furniture to sourcing real-world items that make your home functional and beautiful, our approach to interior decorating is deeply personal. Decorating isn’t just about creating a Pinterest-worthy space; it’s about designing for you.

A vintage desk with modern chairs beneath contemporary art in a historic Concord home, designed by a Boston interior decorator.

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