Spending time in my hometown of Los Angeles always feels meaningful. This city is sunshine, contradictions, creativity, and a certain kind of magic. We know how to gather, how to celebrate beauty, and how to create an aesthetic experience.

But what has struck me most recently is the togetherness that emerged in the wake of last year’s wildfires.

To my friends and families who lost homes, memories, entire neighborhoods - I see you. I love you. And I love LA.

There’s something poetic about this place. Some days it feels like you’re dancing on sunshine. It’s a good mood. Yes, we’re all a little too healthy and sun-kissed, but beneath that glow is grit, culture, history, and a design spirit that quietly shapes the world.

For anyone visiting - or anyone wanting to experience the city through a design-savvy lens - I’ve curated my personal edit. These are the places I shop locally, where I send friends and clients to stay, where I hunt for the good stuff, eat well, wander, and find inspiration.

Shop

Rose Tarlow Melrose House, West Hollywood

A masterclass in restraint and romance. The patina, the textiles, the quiet layering — it’s a study in timeless California elegance.

Galerie Are, West Hollywood

Curated, intelligent, always slightly unexpected. A beautiful intersection of art and collectible design.

Olive Atelier, Downtown LA

A design lover’s dream filled with beautifully weathered European antiques, stone vessels, and soulful objects that bring instant patina and character to a space.

Galerie Solis, Westlake Village

Our own heritage collection, curated antiques, and pieces rooted in warmth and restraint. Understated luxury with soul.

Galerie Half, West Hollywood

Refined, thoughtful, and always beautifully installed.

The Future Perfect, The Goldwyn House

Avant-garde, architectural, collectible. A pulse check on where design is headed.

Rewire Gallery, East LA

Raw, directional, and layered with edge.

Armadillo, West Hollywood

A serene, gallery-like showroom dedicated to beautifully handcrafted rugs made with natural fibers and a commitment to sustainable craftsmanship.

Galerie Provenance, Beverly Hills

An extraordinary destination for rare European antiques and architectural elements that bring history, patina, and timeless character into contemporary homes.

Claremont Furnishing and Fabrics, West Hollywood

One of my favorite textile showrooms to visit for projects. Beautiful fabrics sourced from small mills across Europe.

TTMM World, West Hollywood

A beautiful showroom by Tyler Thomas and Mike Moser featuring their furniture, lighting, and objects made in Los Angeles, alongside antiques sourced from around the world.

Obsolete, Culver City

One of our favorite Los Angeles showrooms and a place we source from often. Filled with beautiful antiques and unique pieces from around the world.

Just One Eye, West Hollywood

Fashion, art, and objects - impeccably edited.

Mohawk General Store, Silverlake

A thoughtfully curated boutique blending fashion, design, and home objects with an effortlessly cool, artful sensibility that perfectly reflects Silver Lake’s creative spirit.

Lost and Found Store, Santa Monica and Hollywood

An effortlessly cool boutique offering a refined mix of casual clothing and accessories with a relaxed, understated California sensibility.

Jacque Marie Maje, Venice and Hollywood

An ultra-luxury eyewear house where limited-edition frames are crafted with exceptional artistry, precision, and a distinctly cinematic California attitude.

Double RL & Co, Malibu

Ralph Lauren’s heritage-inspired outpost offering beautifully crafted Americana clothing and vintage-inspired pieces that feel perfectly at home along the Malibu coast.

James Pearse, Malibu

Effortless California minimalism with elevated essentials, relaxed silhouettes, and a lifestyle aesthetic that perfectly reflects Malibu’s understated luxury.

Visit

Griffith Observatory, Hollywood

One of those iconic Los Angeles places that never loses its magic. A must-go for the sweeping views across the city - especially at sunset.

Eames House Tours

A must for any design lover visiting Los Angeles. The Eames House offers a beautiful glimpse into the life and work of Charles and Ray Eames.

Schindler House

Another essential stop for architecture lovers visiting Los Angeles. Designed by Rudolph Schindler in 1922, the house still feels incredibly modern and inspiring.

LACMA, Mid City

One of Los Angeles’ most beloved museums. I love spending a slow afternoon wandering the galleries - it’s always inspiring.

The Broad, Downtown

A beautiful contemporary museum in the heart of downtown Los Angeles. The architecture and collection make it one of the city’s most inspiring museums.

The Getty

Designed by Richard Meier, the Getty is celebrated for its striking architecture and inspiring collection. A beautiful place to spend an afternoon wandering the galleries and gardens.

Pt Dume, Malibu

One of the most beautiful places along the Malibu coastline. I love coming here for a walk and staying through sunset.

Big Dume Hike and Lookout, Malibu

My favorite coastal hikes in Malibu - the trail follows the cliffs with sweeping ocean views the entire way.

Barnsdall Art Park, Los Feliz

A peaceful park in Los Feliz with beautiful views across the city. It’s also home to Frank Lloyd Wright’s Hollyhock House, which is always worth a visit.

Dine

Coucou, Venice and West Hollywood

A charming French bistro with a cozy, intimate atmosphere and one of the best burgers in town.

Gjusta, Venice

Gjelina’s sister restaurant, but more casual. A great spot where you can order at the counter, grab a coffee and pastry, or stay for a relaxed breakfast or lunch.

Gjelina, Venice

A Los Angeles staple known for its seasonal menu and strong connection to our local California farms.

Mother Wolf, Hollywood

From celebrated Los Angeles chef Evan Funke, this is one of my favorite dinner spots in the city. The food is incredible, and the interiors are absolutely stunning.

RVR, Venice

From chef Travis Lett, one of the most exciting restaurants in Los Angeles right now. A California-inspired izakaya with unexpected dishes and a relaxed Venice beach atmosphere.

Nobu Malibu, Malibu

An iconic Los Angeles restaurant perched right over the water in Malibu. The architecture and ocean views alone are worth the visit.

Roberta’s, Culver City

One of our family’s favorite spots for a casual pizza dinner. The atmosphere is lively and relaxed and the food is always great.

Stay

Each with its own rhythm, old Hollywood mystique, rooftop glamour, quiet luxury, or Venice ease.

Chateau Marmont, West Hollywood

One of Los Angeles’ most iconic hotels. Tucked just above the Sunset Strip, it feels timeless and full of old Hollywood history.

The West Hollywood EDITION

Designed by architect John Pawson, this beautiful hotel is known for its striking travertine lobby and clean, modern architecture.

Sunset Tower Hotel, West Hollywood

A hotel that captures the feeling of old Hollywood glamour. The rooms with their soft pink curtains make it feel like stepping back in time.

Gjelina Hotel, Venice

A beautifully designed boutique hotel from the Gjelina group just steps from the beach in Venice.

Nobu Hotel, Malibu

A beautiful oceanfront hotel in Malibu with clean, Japanese-inspired architecture, natural materials and incredible views of the Pacific.

Calamigos Ranch, Malibu Canyon

Nestled in the Malibu mountains, this charming cottage-style hotel feels quiet, peaceful, and surrounded by nature.

LA is layered. It’s legacy and reinvention. It’s sunshine and smoke and resilience.

More than anything, this city reminds me that community is the most important architecture we build.

With love,
Sarah
Small Details, Big Feelings

Paris is never just a trip for me, it’s a reset.
A recalibration of proportion, patina, restraint, indulgence.

I go for the flea markets, of course. But I stay for the way light hits limestone, the discipline of a perfectly edited boutique, the unapologetic layering of pattern and history.

This is where I return when I need to feel inspired again.

WHERE TO STAY

A few favorites - each with a distinct rhythm.

Château Voltaire (1st Arr.)

Every design detail feels intentional. Dark woods, saturated tones, sculptural lighting.
I’m obsessed with the chic, cool decor - it feels the most like my own aesthetic. Elevated, moody, restrained. It’s the hotel where I feel stylistically at home.

Relais Christine (6th Arr.)

My alter ego.
What I would do, but perhaps never dare to do - in terms of pattern and fabric. It’s drowning in Pierre Frey in the best way possible. Layered, romantic, unapologetic.

Hôtel Rochechouart (9th Arr.)

Chic, budget-friendly, and conveniently located near my favorite flea markets. Clean lines, great energy, easy.

Hôtel Particulier Montmartre (18th Arr.)

Small, charming, deeply authentic. Tucked away and incredibly convenient to the Paul Bert flea market. It feels like being invited into someone’s very stylish private home.

Esprit Saint Germain (6th Arr.)

Quaint, comfortable, and beautifully serviced. Excellent Left Bank location. Understated, warm, and quietly elegant - we love it here.

WHERE TO EAT

Where it’s about the food, but really the decor.

Bistrot des Rosiers

A rustic bite just outside the market gates. Exactly what you want mid-antique hunt.

Racines

A hidden gem for Italian. The pasta is always right. Dripping it layered oil paingtings and effortlessly chic.

Chez Allard

The chicken. The best you’ll ever have in your life.

Chez Georges

Classic. No notes. Such a vibe.

Bistrot Paul Bert

A quintessential French bistro experience. French patina of life.

Hôtel de Crillon

For tea or lunch when you want ceremony and polish- the lush life. Extra fem.

Breizh Café

The best crêpes and cider- simple and perfect.

Angelina

For an indulgent, slightly theatrical dessert moment.

Monsieur Bleu

Fun dinner near the Eiffel Tower at night. Lively, glamorous, vibrant and contemporary cool.

La Bac à Glaces

Ice cream worth seeking out.

FLEA MARKET DAYS

The real reason I come.

Marché Paul Bert Serpette

The crown jewel of Paris flea markets.
Indoor stalls are gallery-like and impeccably styled.
Outdoor stalls are rustic, layered, slightly chaotic - these are my favorite.

Rue des Rosiers

93400 Saint-Ouen-sur-Seine
Hundreds of shops selling antiques, art, and vintage clothing. You could spend days here.

Montmartre Weekend Market (Sat & Sun)

Smaller scale charm - silver, so much vintage silver, vintage children’s toys, hooks, decorative accessoires and home goods. A designer’s accessory treasure chest.

Tip: Use brocabrac.fr to track the best flea markets by day.

FOR THE HOME & STUDIO

The shops I never skip.

Merci

Tabletop, linens, ceramics. Always well edited.

E. Dehillerin

The holy grail of copper cookware. A masterclass in patina.

La Soufflerie

Artful hand-blown glass in sculptural forms.

Astier de Villatte

Iconic white ceramics, incense, candles, and notebooks you’ll never want to write in.

Officine Universelle Buly

One of the oldest perfumeries in the world. Burn matches, scent rituals, old-world packaging.

Petit Pan

Joyful children’s decor and trinkets.

Louise Carmen

The coveted leather journals. Heirloom-worthy.

Maison de Vacances

Textiles that feel collected, not decorated.

La Maison de Commerce

Refined home pieces with restraint.

Marin Montagut

Whimsical, painterly objects.

Alix D. Reynis

Elegant jewelry and small objects.

Debauve & Gallais

The best chocolate shop. Historic and exquisite.

Antoinette Poisson

Charming textiles, wallpaper, pillows and home accessories.

WHAT TO DO

For perspective and proportion.

Louvre

I go every time, especially with my children and see something new. It never disappoints. Inspiring architecture and ART.

Musée de l’Orangerie

I’m a huge Monet fan. No visit is complete without standing inside those rooms.

Palais de Tokyo

Contemporary, unexpected.

Musée d’Orsay

A magical building and collection. The architecture alone is worth the visit.

Le Marais

Because wandering the streets of Le Marais and dipping into shops is an experience in itself.

Gardens of Versailles

The most unforgettable gardens- and don’t miss the rowboats on the pond.

CLOTHING

Because Style Is Design, Too

The Broken Arm

Sharp, directional, beautifully edited.

Odetta Vintage

A treasure hunt worth the time.

Vintage Paris

Exactly what it sounds like and perfectly curated.

Maison Labiche

The shirting, with on-site custom embroidery. Personal and playful.

Le Mont Saint Michel

Timeless everyday French chic.

Loulou De Saison

Obsessed.

Sonce Lab

Parisian Feminine Modernity.

A Final Thought

Paris always reminds me why I care so deeply about the details.

The weight of a fork at a neighborhood bistro. The worn velvet on a flea market chair. The confidence of a boldly patterned hotel room that somehow feels effortless. The way limestone façades glow just before dusk. None of it is loud... and yet it’s unforgettable.

This is what Small Details, Big Feelings is about.

The belief that a perfectly proportioned lamp, a hand-thrown ceramic bowl, a vintage hook discovered on a cold morning at Les Puces — these are not small things. They’re emotional anchors. They hold memory. They shape the atmosphere of a home and the rhythm of a life.

Paris teaches restraint and indulgence in equal measure. It teaches layering without clutter, elegance without excess, history without nostalgia. And every time I return, I bring that lesson back with me, into my studio, into my furniture line, into the homes we’re creating, and into my own family life.

The smallest details - chosen intentionally - create the biggest feelings.

And that, always, is the point.

Design has never felt separate from who I am. It’s the lens through which I see everything.

I grew up between Los Angeles and the Pacific Northwest, two landscapes that quietly shaped my sensibility. The warmth, light, and optimism of California. The mood, texture, and introspection of the Northwest. Nature, architecture, music, construction sites, flea markets - it all became part of my visual vocabulary early on.

Creativity runs through my family. My husband is a celebrated photographer and one of the most inspiring creatives I know- our home is filled with conversations about light, framing, narrative, and restraint. My two children, 16 and 10, are the center of everything- curious, expressive, and endlessly observant. They remind me daily that imagination should stay playful and fearless.

My mother has an extraordinary and discerning eye; she taught me that editing is an art form, and that restraint carries power. My sibling is my best friend and an incredibly talented musician. And my father, a musician and builder, showed me that creativity can live equally in sound and structure, in poetry and in precision.

Small Details, Big Feelings is an extension of this world.

Here, I’ll share what inspires me beyond the finished photographs: travel that shifts perspective, nature that grounds me, art that lingers, food that tells stories, culture that expands my thinking, and the family and community I intentionally surround myself with. This is where design intersects with life - where business meets intuition, where motherhood meets ambition, where beauty meets discipline.

The smallest details... the edge of a hand-carved table, the weight of linen, the way light moves across plaster at 4pm, the patina of life - hold the biggest emotional impact. They’re what turn spaces into sanctuaries. They’re what turn moments into memory.

This Substack is a place to explore those layers. To talk about craft, legacy, growth, inspiration, and building a life - and a body of work that feels deeply considered.

Welcome to Small Details, Big Feelings.