5 Under 40 2018 Award Winner Sarah Scales

Photograph by Sarah Winchester

With a background in both mathematics and studio arts, interior designer Sarah Scales brings scientific precision and a soft aesthetic to her residential design work.

As head of her multidisciplinary firm, Sarah Scales Design Studio, she approaches each space as she would a canvas, focusing on composition, color, depth, scale, and proportion. Her portfolio reveals a rich palette of neutrals and thoughtful layering of pattern and texture, with the occasional pop of color or unexpected touch.

Scales shares her eye for detail on the firm’s popular Instagram account, which has received recognition from industry peers and design blogs. “I’m not only showing my work and portfolio, but if I’m taking a photo of something, then I’m showing my perspective on things,” she says.

Photograph by Bruce Rogovin

Potential clients who appreciate her unique perspective often connect with her on the social media platform, but Scales is careful to create custom spaces, not copy flash-in-the-pan fads. “My goal with clients is to not do everything they see on Instagram or Pinterest, but to make sure the design stands the test of time,” she says.

Whether modern or historic, contemporary or traditional, each of her projects always places a strong emphasis on craftsmanship, a careful mix of resources, and a respect for the home’s architecture—what Scales calls an “homage to the bones of a home.” As a result, the spaces she creates are timeless rather than trendy, and imbued with a beauty and warmth that feel livable and lasting. “I want my clients to be happy five, ten, twenty years down the road,” she says. “I want them to trust that they have invested in quality.”

We expect to see her high-quality work for many years to come.

New England Home’s 5 Under 40 awards celebrate our region’s finest emerging talent in residential design. The honorees—all of whom are under the age of forty—were nominated by their peers and then selected by a committee of local design leaders.

The 2018 celebration will take place September 13 at Landry & Arcari Rugs and Carpeting’s Boston showroom. The event is open to the public, please join us by purchasing your tickets here.