Meet the Team: Sarah Fischer
We’re so honored when our clients welcome us to their homes, sharing the spaces that host their most important moments and memories.
We can learn a great deal about a person by seeing how they live, learning of their hopes and dreams, and hearing their formative memories around the feeling of home. In order to make space for clients to share vulnerably, we think it should be a two-way street. So, welcome to our series “Meet the Team”. We’re pulling back the curtain to answer a few of the questions we ask in our new client survey.
First up, our Principal Designer, Sarah Fischer.
Q: Where did you grow up?
A: This question is harder than it sounds! I was born in Presque Isle, Maine to Bostonian parents. They took a hard turn from city life in the 70’s to buy an old house in rural Northern Maine. We had a mini-farm experience with half a dozen outbuildings, a pond, the occasional cow, and many acres of potato fields leased to our neighbors. By middle school my mother and I moved to suburban Philadelphia and I fell in love with the energy that comes with living closer to a city. Maine has always felt like my home, but I truly grew up in both places.
Q: Where are your favorite places to travel?
A: Italy is top of the list. My mother is the child of Italian immigrants and I grew up feeling deeply connected to our family heritage. When I finally studied in Italy as a college student I was inspired by the Italian perspective. I love their respect for heritage and timeworn spaces as well as the slower pace of Italian life.
Q: Do you have any treasured furnishings, art, or objects that you can’t live without?
A: We have a hand knotted vintage heriz rug in our living room that holds deep meaning for me. It was in my parents’ bedroom and I have clear early memories of building block cities along the borders of the center medallion. My mother gave it to me when I moved into my first apartment; it has made every single place we’ve lived feel like home.
Q: Fill in the blank: At the end of our project, the design will be a success if people feel _______ in our space. Share more if you’d like.
A: I have to start by saying that this is my favorite question for new clients. No two people answer exactly the same way and it quickly gets to the heart of what matters most to them. My personal answer is: at ease. For me, this means fostering an environment where we all feel welcome to be ourselves. I strive to create a home where my kids can play freely and pursue their creativity, where neighbors feel welcome to stop in without notice. And where there is a sense of order so we can all focus our attention on each other as much as possible.
