Employee Spotlight - Sarah Galvin, Interior Designer
Prior to her arrival at Eleven Interiors, Sarah worked at a residential design firm in San Francisco after graduating with a Master of Fine Arts degree in Interior Architecture from the Academy of Art University. Sarah also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Public Communication and a minor in Political Science from Northeastern University. Her background in public relations, alumni relations and fundraising at Harvard University has given Sarah her unique perspective on residential design. At Eleven Interiors, Sarah is responsible for the design and management of projects from start to finish. Establishing and building relationships with clients lays at the core of Sarah’s design process as she gains insight into their needs and lifestyle. In her free time Sarah enjoys graphic design, event planning and travel.
As part of our Spotlight Series, we've asked each of our team members to answer questions so you can learn a bit more about them. Read below to learn more about Sarah:
Where do you hail from?
I grew up in a small idyllic New England town called New Boston in New Hampshire. My house was next to a tree farm on a dead-end street and there were about 50 kids in my elementary school class – everyone knew everyone. Now that I’m grown and have kids of my own, we moved out of the city into a town that reminds me so much of my own hometown. The commute can sometimes be a drag but it’s totally worth it to come home to the trees and to give my children the opportunity to grow up in the same way that I did (I am, of course, biased).
Color you are most looking forward to utilizing in 2020?
I have been seeing a lot of lavender used in fashion and beauty lately. I think it is an interesting hue that can be paired with a lot of other colors to make an unexpected combination. In general, I have been following a number of designers on social media that are fearless when it comes to color in hopes that it will inspire me to be bolder in my own designs (and life). In Gabby’s post she mentioned Francis Merrill as being our office-wide design crush -- she is a master of choosing colors and patterns that you would never think of bringing together and somehow she makes it look effortless and cohesive. In the end her spaces feel so collected and alive. I’d like to instill a similar feeling in my work.
Talk about a project that you love/loved working on and why?
I am currently working on a small new-build cottage on the Cape and it is an absolute dream come true. I feel so lucky to have been chosen as the designer for this project! First, let’s talk about the location – right across from the beach with incredible water views, just outside the town center of Wellfleet. It’s a hike to get there but I never regret a site visit. More importantly is the cottage itself and its wonderful owners. Our clients were open to our ideas from concept to execution and have inherently trusted our judgement. This has made the process truly collaborative and enjoyable. Moreover, I love designing (and being in) tiny spaces. This cottage is less than 800 square feet which has brought about a fair share of design challenges, but has led to creative and fun solutions. We had to be holistic in our design approach and thoughtful about each detail as all the spaces tie into each other. I think in the end what we have accomplished is really beautiful and I can’t wait until it’s complete – stay tuned!
Plants or no plants?
Ugh! I keep buying plants and I keep killing them. I think greenery is so important in giving a space life and bringing nature in, but it’s hard to accomplish that when they keep dying ☹. I am definitely a work in progress when it comes to plants and have not inherited my parent’s green thumbs. Unfortunately for the plant world I’m just going to keep trying and hope that I will get better at keeping things alive (apologies in advance to any plant that comes home with me).
Wine, beer or cocktail?
Is it bad if I say all three? Honestly, I enjoy all categories of libations and it really depends on the setting, time of day, mood, occasion etc. when it comes to what I’ll reach for. In these COVID times my husband and I have been taking virtual bartending courses through Bully Boy Distillery – it’s been our little “date night” activity. Making cocktails speaks to my love of cooking and I really enjoy combining unexpected flavors and ingredients to create something delicious. Though on a hot summer day, nothing is better than a cold beer. Cheers!
