Journal

The Edit with Sarah Reid

Sarah Reid established Sarah Reid & Others in 2016, and the Melbourne studio has since led residential, multi-residential and commercial projects. She arrived at interiors from an architectural background, with more than a decade in the industry that includes time at several of Australia's most established design firms. That training shows in how she treats spatial planning and decoration, not as separate stages but as one continuous question.

She is also the voice behind Her Design, Her Story, the weekly podcast she developed with BackChat Studios to record the real career paths of Australian women working in design.

Sarah joins us for The Edit - an ongoing dialogue with the designers who shape how we live. Each feature is an invitation to look a little closer at the thinking behind the spaces that surround us. The conversation continues below.

"The furnishings of a project are like the final dressing - the opportunity to explore added colour, texture and form."

Little Petra Lounge Chair VB1

$6,030

Twenty Five Work Desk

$13,015

Up Down Metal Sconce

$995

Marcel Dining Table

How would you describe the SR&O design philosophy, and what do you find yourself carrying through every project?

I try and implement the philosophy that every space is deeply considered to the clients it is designed for - never generic, never trend-led. Whatever the project, I start the same way: a detailed client briefing followed by functional planning. Getting that foundation right is what informs the basis for the rest of the design - the materiality, the final layout, the furniture direction. I'm also fairly resistant to chasing trends; longevity and considered curation matter more to me than what's current.

Could you share your connection to two of your selections?

The Violin Chair by Stine Gam and Enrico Fratesi for Gubi. I am drawn to the understated craftsmanship and the layering of materials — but also the playfulness of the name. The two parallel lines in the backrest echo the strings of a violin, or a tuning fork. The story goes that it started as just two pencil marks on an early sketch - the whole design grew from that single gesture.

The Akari UF4-L10 Floor Lamp designed by Noguchi. I love the sculptural form of this floor lamp, adding a sense of presence and warmth to a space even when it's not illuminated. I also love the history to these lamps and the handcrafted nature of the production.

String® Pocket

$375

Akari UF4-L10

$4,255

Tung Side Table JA3

$870

A modern dining chair with a curved backrest and seat upholstered in a textured tan bouclé fabric, supported by a slim black metal frame, shown against a plain white background.

Violin Chair Fully Upholstered

$1,999

Our own founder Louise had the pleasure of being a guest on your podcast, Her Design, Her Story. What inspired you to start it?

As a Melbourne-based creative myself, I'd often felt there wasn't a platform truly unifying and celebrating the evolving, sometimes winding journeys of Australia's female creative talent — the honest stories behind the work, not just the polished outcomes. After a fortuitous crossover with the team at BackChat Studios, the concept for Her Design, Her Story evolved: a place for those conversations to take place and be shared.

What's inspiring you right now? Whether that's a building, a material, something in art, culture, fashion, or just something you noticed on a recent trip?

Art is always a source of inspiration for me for various reasons, but often it comes back to palette and setting a tone. Right now, I'm captivated by the work of Reika Takebayashi, a Kyoto-based artist I came across on a recent visit to Frieze New York. Her paintings are largely inspired by a residency in Finland - mossy greens, frost blues, soft greys - the colour combinations in her work really drew me in. It feels quite close to how I think about interiors: restrained, atmospheric and layered.

Featured Projects include Lambeth House by Sarah Reid & Others | Photography by Rhiannon Taylor