Q&A with Interior Designer Sabrina Angelo
Sabrina Angelo is a dear collector and an interior designer in Charleston, SC. We have a shared love for Golden Retrievers, ice cream and art — so I had to get her on the blog! Enjoy my Q&A with Sabrina below.
Tell us a little about yourself!
I am an Auburn University grad (War Eagle) from Atlanta, Georgia! Currently, I'm an Interior Designer in Charleston, South Carolina and absolutely loving it. My dear friend, Lexi, and I are actually in the process of starting our own Interior Design firm! Be sure to check us out on Instagram @shemcreekstudios. Growing up, I always had an artistic eye, and pursued interiors in college to seek out that passion! My artistic side goes much farther than interior design, as I love to create art myself in needlepoint, graphic design, and jewelry making. All of this combined inspires the way I design homes, with the mindset of bringing happiness to all of my clients.
You recently got married and put down roots in Charleston, SC, congratulations! What are your plans for the design of your new home?
Thank you! My husband, Elijah, and I are renovating a 1950's ranch style home in Charleston. Designing my own home has been much more challenging than I could have imagined. I have so many ideas constantly floating through my brain, that it's hard to actually make any firm decisions! We are planning on completely renovating our master bathroom, which is currently a tiny half bath. Along with the bathroom, we are gutting the entire kitchen to start fresh. Other than those two big changes, we are painting, adding wallpaper in a few rooms, and lime washing the exterior on our own.
How would you describe your style?
I would consider my style to be somewhere between transitional and grand-millennial, which is a term I learned recently. The term was coined by writer Emma Bazilian and describes someone in their 20's–30's who has a love for design that mainstream media would consider outdated. I like to take this, and give it a bit of a modern spin, and with tons of color. I believe that a happy home makes a happy person, and our built surroundings are extremely important in recent times, when we have been stuck inside.
You are surrounded by so much beauty in Charleston, SC. What is inspiring you, right now?
Charleston is arguably one of the most gorgeous cities in the US. It's hard to just pick one inspiring attribute, but I would absolutely say that florals are inspiring right now. Something about the weather getting warmer, and the flowers blooming all over downtown Charleston just makes your heart skip a beat. The vibrant colors and different types of flowers inspire everything I do!
When it comes to art and interior design, do you have any go-to tips or tricks?
My number one tip would be to space plan your art on your wall with whatever trick works best for you. Some people do so with sheets of paper taped to their wall to get a feel for the sizing and location, which seems to work well! Sizing is very important when placing art, as you don't want it to feel overpowering, while also not wanting it to be awkwardly small. My second tip is to find a good framer in your area! I absolutely love A Simple Tree here in Mount Pleasant. They are so skilled, and know every detail that goes into bringing the natural beauty of the art piece to light.
You are so kind to have a few Sarah Jane Tart originals in your art collection, do you have a favorite?
I'm lucky enough to have 5 pieces by Sarah Jane Tart, and I love all of them so much. My favorite one is the first one I purchased, which was one of my first pieces of original art. It was a scene of some marsh in South Carolina on a birchwood panel. That piece of art was actually one of the main reasons that I wanted to move to South Carolina. The beauty of this state was captured so incredibly that I knew I had to have it. It sits on my dresser in my bedroom and has inspired my favorite color palettes.
What advice would you give to someone looking to invest in original art?
DO IT! My suggestion is to always go with original art. I know for some, this can get very expensive very quickly, but art is something I think is so worth investing in. Having art that you can't just go buy at a boutique or department store is what really makes interiors stand apart. Art, just like home design is very personal, and buying a print at your local Target isn't going to make you feel the same way an original piece does. I believe that art brings so much joy to homes and is a fundamental part of design. My mom invested in a Steve Penley original and years later, she still talks about how every single time she walks past it, she smiles. She's never had a person enter the home without complimenting it, and I think that speaks volumes.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
If you ever get the opportunity to fall in love with a Sarah Jane Tart original, do not pass it up! You'll never regret choosing happiness.
Photo by Emily March Payne
Golden Daze, a 24x36 in. painting on birchwood, is Sabrina’s favorite piece from the Ebb & Flow collection, releasing with Liza Pruitt on May 24!