Sara Jaffe

Sara Jaffe,  Sara Jaffe Designs

 San Francisco, California

SaraJaffeDesigns.com 

The Home Trust International (HTI): What first compelled you to enter design?

Sara Jaffe (SJ): Becoming a designer was an evolution. While studying Political Theory, I started taking architecture classes and then decided to get a Masters in Architecture. I wanted to know how and why things were done so I started to design and build residential remodels. This led me to design and construction of custom furniture. I love designing furniture, it is about creating form that must function beautifully; it is about scale and proportion, and this scale allows me to really pay attention to the details.

HTI: What inspires you and who has most influenced you?

SJ: I learn from Art Nouveau, Art Deco and Japanese joinery. Hector Guimard, Victor Horta, Joseph Hoffman, and Charles Rennie Mackintosh inspire me, to name a few. They designed the shell, the interiors and the objects within the spaces they created.

HTI: What is the best advice you ever received?

SJ: “Go back to work” from Art “Espenet’ Carpenter, my mentor

HTI: Who is the real Sara Jaffe?

SJ: I think being real and who you are is key to being a friend or working with clients or business associates. Stay honest, be reliable, have a sense of humor and have fun along the way.

HTI: Is there a common thread that runs through all great products?

SJ: Good design is about scale and proportion, using the right materials, and the quality of the craftsmanship. When I design custom furniture for clients, it needs to be done just right for the space and the aesthetic. When I create a furniture collection, it needs to be about pieces that can be used in different spaces without forfeiting the uniqueness and quality of the furniture design.

HTI: Are you taking your work in a new direction?

SJ: My work has evolved over the past couple of years. I have always designed one of a kind furniture for my clients. This has been, and continues to be, about creating unique pieces that have been tailored to the setting and style of the space.

 I have now introduced my Signature elements into my exclusive collections to make them more unique.  The Signature art work can be executed with inlays, carving, and hand painting, to name a few.  The Signature motifs are designed and executed exclusively for the client and no one else. Creating artwork, for the client and setting, insures it fits beautifully within the space and makes it even more special.

HTI: How has your work evolved?

SJ: I have always drawn inspiration from history, but find my work references historical elements even more so now.  I am creating designs that fit within eclectic settings, and using old world techniques and craftsmanship to execute the design. Integrating historical elements into contemporary design is exciting. Designing custom furniture and cabinetry is about creating special elements within the space and bringing artistry down to the details.

HTI: Do you enjoy reading?

SJ: I am an avid reader, mostly of fiction. A great read is a delightful escape and reading something well written is a joy. Some of my great reads: A Prayer for Owen Meany, all novels by Henry James, and I love a great mystery!

HTI: What type of music do you enjoy?

SJ: I have eclectic taste in music: opera, classical, R & B, tango and all sorts of other Latin music.  I admire Yo-Yo Ma  because he is a fearless artist who is open to exploring music in all its facets.  If I add in a couple of fine artists: Motherwell, Monet, and Vermeer all speak to me because of how they work with color and light and form.  When I look for inspiration for design, I look to other art forms that allow me to think about design in a different way.

HTI: Where do you like to travel?

SJ: Italy is wonderful as it is the so stylish and I love the food.

HTI: Do you have a favorite museum?

SJ: The Metropolitan Museum in New York is wonderful because of the breadth of its collection and the beauty of the setting. I also love the Neue Gallery in NYC because it is filled with a collection of artistic jewels and small in scale. The Smithsonian in D.C. has amazing special exhibits and an exquisite permanent collection.

HTI: When you’re not working, where are most likely to be found?

SJ: Swimming or reading on my couch and also enjoying the view of the Bay out my windows. I also love to cook and entertain.

HTI: Why The Home Trust International?

SJ: The Home Trust is focused on presenting quality. It brings together designers, product and services to those who value excellence. There is a lot of “stuff “out there; it is wonderful to be part of a group that is committed to making sure the design, the job, and the product is well done, and well made, for those clients who want the very best.

HTI: How do you see yourself in design?

SJ: My job is to listen and interpret a client’s needs and make it better than they can imagine.  One of the best compliments I ever received was that the client could not even remember living any other way once they started living in their new space. If it is done right, it should look and feel effortless.

When I design custom furniture for my clients, they let me know over the years that I have created something that continues to be artful and appreciated over time.