“Our home and its contents are very potent statements about who we are.”
—Clare Cooper Marcus
Interior Consulting and Styling
We are all bombarded with images of beautiful spaces online and in print, and it can be easy to feel overwhelmed and stifled when it comes to knowing what we want.
You may have tons of questions and issues that prevent you from creating the space you want:
What color scheme should I use?
Should I go vintage or modern, minimalist or busy?
I love it but it’s just so trendy.
My spouse and I just can’t agree on a bedroom design, so we did nothing.
I have no idea where to start.
These are just some of the issues that can plague us when we aren’t attuned to the style sensibilities that influence our design choices. But design psychology can help.
“Our sense of self and sense of the environment are intimately and profoundly intertwined…The connection is shaped not only by the physical reality of our environment but by the psychological, social/cultural, and aesthetic meanings that place holds for us.”
—Toby Israel, Ph.D.
What is design psychology?
It's a type of psychology that uses psychological principles to help create spaces that resonate on a deeper, emotional level. It’s a relatively new area of psychology, founded by my mentor and environmental psychologist, Toby Israel, Ph.D. The process of design psychology as developed by Toby Israel involves a series of exercises designed to help you recall your past positive experiences of place. Using these positive experiences, I will help you develop an ideal vision for your design project that address not only your aesthetic and functional needs but your social and psychological needs as well. Upon the completion of the project, you will walk away with a personalized blueprint for your space that you can take to your architect, interior designer, and or stylist.
“I love Sarah’s style and approach. She’s taught me how reflecting a bit deeper draws out the different qualities we look for. I’m thankful this type of service exists. I’d definitely recommend her services to anyone looking to create meaningful spaces.”
-MARIBEL COLON
Below you'll find more information on working together.
Ideal Vision (Virtual)
This package includes 4 two-hour virtual sessions of which you will get the following:
• Education regarding the application of design psychology.
• Nine design psychology exercises to help you develop an ideal space or home statement that meets your functional, social, psychological, and aesthetic needs.
• I will assist you in translating these needs into an overall vision for the space.
• A written blueprint of your ideal home that includes a finalized ideal home statement; guidelines regarding areas for growth, look and feel, the layout, specific objects and furniture; and a virtual moodboard that captures the ideal home vision.
Ideal Vision + Interior Styling (Virtual)
Now that you have a written blueprint for your ideal space, I’d be happy to work with you to make your interior design vision come to life.
This package includes:
• The entire Ideal Vision package
• 2 additional 90-minute virtual chats to further discuss concept, address concerns, and get measurements (per room)
• A timeline for your design so that it is completed in a timely manner and address obstacles to completion.
• A detailed floor plan, virtual mood board, and 2 or 3 sources for each piece
• A follow-up up 90-minute virtual chat one month after last session to see your progress.
Style Refresh (Virtual)
This package consists of a style update of one room using the furnishings you already own. It includes the following:
• One questionnaire to complete, tests results, and follow-up questions.
• Active Styling including guidance on arranging furnishings based upon test results and follow-up questions.
• Consultation including design feedback, suggestions for design dilemmas, and psychoeducation on design psychology.
“Dr. Sarah has been incredibly helpful throughout every stage of the design process. I really felt like she understood my unique sense of self through her psychological techniques…I felt like she not only provided me with suggestions but actually put the effort into teaching me how to design according to the personalized ideal home statement that she helped me generate.”
– KALEB
In-person design packages
If you’re more of a face-to-face person, I can do that too. I am currently offering in-person design services in the New York/New Jersey area with priority being given to those in the Princeton/Lawrenceville and surrounding area. Here’s how it works:
Contact me via email to set up a 1-hour courtesy intake session (phone session optional) to discuss your design dilemma and determine if my services are a good fit for your needs.
Once we decide to work together, purchase a package, complete a letter of agreement, and schedule a time-to meet.
Ideal Vision (In-person)
This package includes 4 two-hour in-person programming sessions of which you will you will get the following:
• Education regarding the application of design psychology.
• Nine design psychology exercises to help you develop an ideal space or home statement that meets your functional, social, psychological, and aesthetic needs.
• I will assist you in translating these needs into an overall vision for the space.
• A written blueprint of your ideal home that includes a finalized ideal home statement; and guidelines regarding growth, look and feel, layout, specific objects and furniture, and a virtual mood board that captures the ideal home vision.
Ideal Vision + Interior Styling (In-person)
I’d be thrilled to make your design psychology blueprint come to life with in-person styling services. This package includes:
• The entire Ideal Vision package
• 2 additional 90-minute in-person styling sessions to further discuss concept, address concerns, and get measurements (per room)
• A floor plan, virtual mood board, and 2 or 3 sources for each piece
• A timeline for your design so that it is completed in a timely manner and address obstacles to completion.
• Assist with Buying and installing the furnishings
• A 90-minute follow-up up in-person meeting one month after design is complete to address concerns.
Style Refresh
This package consists of a style update of one room using the furnishings you already own. It includes the following:
• One questionnaire to complete, tests results, and follow-up questions.
• Active Styling including guidance on arranging furnishings based upon test results and follow-up questions.
• Consultation including design feedback and psychoeducation on design psychology.
“Style is putting our signature on the things that we wear
and the way that we live.”
— Rebecca Moses
Wardrobe Consulting (In-Person)
There are many reasons why we may be dissatisfied with our wardrobe. Maybe you’ve been so stressed that you haven’t been able to focus enough to cultivate a wardrobe that captures your sense of style. Or your wardrobe is disorganized and you can’t seem to streamline it. Maybe you feel your clothes are out of date, and aren’t sure how to update your look. Or perhaps you aren’t entirely sure what the problem is, you just know your clothes don’t feel like a good representation of who you are.
A stylist can pretty you up and make you look put together. But if your wardrobe problems run deeper than superficial appearance your clothing dilemma will likely persist long after the stylist is gone. Sound like you? If so, then perhaps wardrobe consulting is right for you.
What is wardrobe consultation?
Wardrobe consultation, developed by Jennifer Baumgartner, Psy.D., involves using psychological theories to assess your wardrobe behaviors or the way you respond to clothing. You will get a diagnosis that addresses inconsistencies between the internal and external image; and I’ll assist you with goal setting and creating a wardrobe that moves you towards these goals.
Wardrobe Consulting Package
If wardrobe consulting sounds like something that would be beneficial to you, review the package below, and contact me via email to set up a courtesy question and answer session.
Wardrobe Consulting Package
I provide wardrobe consultation services to those in the NY/NJ area with priority given to those in the Princeton/Lawrenceville area. If wardrobe consulting sounds right for you and you want to find out more, I offer a 15-minute courtesy question and answer session via phone to discuss the process further. If you choose to participate in the wardrobe consulting, you will be asked to complete a waiver form agreeing to address emotional issues as it relates to clothing only, and a letter of agreement. Then we will schedule an intake session.
This package includes seven 90 minute in-person sessions including an intake session where I will conduct an intake assessment to get a better understanding of your wardrobe behaviors. During the sessions, the following will take place:
• The Examination Phase is where I examine the content of your wardrobe for wardrobe behavioral patterns (e.g., observing how you put outfits together, observing how you shop).
• The Formulation and Diagnosis Phase is where I assess your external and internal image, and offer a diagnosis (e.g., connecting your wardrobe behaviors to a larger emotional issue).
• The Action Plan is where we make changes based upon the formulation and diagnosis.
• The Processing Phase is where we process the changes made and consider how you can maintain positive dress patterns. (e.g., assessing goals and obstacles)
“Our clothing is a reflection of what we are thinking and what we are feeling. Often, wardrobe mishaps are simply our inner conflicts bubbling to the surface.”—Jennifer Baumgartner, Psy.D.
If you have any questions you’d like to ask me before booking a consultation, please get in touch at the link below.