Q&A with designer Sandra Ericksen
Our Designer Network is a group of trailblazers and icons that Sunset and sister publications Coastal Living and Southern Living work wit...
Photography courtesy of Sandra Ericksen
Our Designer Network is a group of trailblazers and icons that Sunset and sister publications Coastal Living and Southern Living work with to curate the best home designs for the magazines.
This week, we feature interior designer Sandra Ericksen of Sandra Ericksen Design.
How would you describe your style?
SE: I strive for timeless and comfortable interiors. A great room just needs a few accessories changed now and then to freshen it, not a complete redo.
What’s a design trend you’re loving right now?
SE: It seems that interiors are following fashion in that anything goes right now and that is great fun. One project might emphasize midcentury, the next loft, industrial; and the next is traditional. That makes my job endlessly interesting.
What’s your #1 piece of design advice for homeowners?
SE: Don’t dive in without a full concept for completion. Once that is done, you have to finish. It’s the final details that complete the vision.
What are your (beach, mountain, lake, farm) house essentials?
SE: Every room needs a place to set a drink, a warm throw, comfortable pillows and good lighting. Good lighting hides many a flaw… in design and life as a whole.
What’s your go-to statement-making front door paint color?
SE: When I think of London, I think of high-gloss black enamel doors with gleaming hardware. Adore a center-set doorknob, too. I’d want that to catch on in the U.S.
Favorite designers/tastemakers/etc. to follow on Instagram?
SE: Instagram is addicting because it plays to the visual nature of what I do as a designer. I think Tom Samet has the best photos and always tells a story that makes you feel like you’re friends with the subjects. Ashley Stark, Alexa Hampton and Frances Shultz are others I follow.
When it comes to (beach house) kitchens, what’s your preference: Island or peninsula?
SE: Not to sound vague, but it depends on the house. People tend to sell peninsulas short and think it’s only great if there’s an island but not every floor plan is equipped to accommodate an island. The best choice is the one that works with your house.
