9 October 2024 |
The Los Angeles based design maven launches Galerie Solis, a modern take on classic luxury interiors.
Known for her effortlessly minimalist yet inviting style, Sarah Solis has made her mark designing stunning homes across the West Coast. Now, she’s expanding her work and diving into the lifestyle realm by offering textiles, furniture, and hand-selected vintage finds that help her clients carve out their own unique niches.
This week, Solis has teamed up with The Future Perfect, a contemporary design gallery with locations in New York and LA, to showcase her work in a spectacular setting. She’s transformed a room at the Goldwyn House in Hollywood—Future Perfect’s LA headquarters—inviting us into her beautifully curated world. To celebrate the launch, friends, family, and fans gathered to experience the space firsthand. Guests lounged on exquisitely upholstered couches and chairs, gazing up at a stunning Calder-esque light fixture, while meandering through the grounds and happily discussing her designs over martinis and French fries.
Before the opening, the cool and collected Solis sat down with us to share her journey as a designer and mother, discussing everything from her creative process to some of her personal relics.
1) Having a background in fashion and art, how do the two play a role in your design work?
This is a great question! I believe everything is derivative and cyclical. We’re making our mark by drawing from what came before us to shape our unique perspectives. Fashion and interiors are deeply connected—it’s all about fit and scale. For example, when you try on a perfect couture piece, and it just fits flawlessly, you’re left wondering, how did they do that?
2) What are the first three things that come to mind when you are designing a space?
First, I consider if my clients understand the cost and whether they’re prepared for it. Then, I delve into what the design means to them. It’s essential to explore the psychology behind their desires. We can look at photos and say, I love how this looks but it’s about asking the right questions to capture what they truly want—desire, form, function, beauty, all of it.
3) What is your most treasured piece in your home?
My children’s artwork. Ultimately, it’s my kids and the memories they create with those pieces. The real connection for me is how they interact with the items in our home.
4) What has been the most fun project that you have worked on?
I’m currently excited about an equestrian estate project. It’s incredibly inspiring to connect the horse environment with the home’s details. It has a beautiful, Steinbeck-esque vibe. I’ve also loved working on a Mediterranean revival in Malibu Canyon, but honestly, each project becomes my new favorite. My own home has been a four-year passion project that we’re finally ready to share with the world, just like my furniture line.
5) If you could only wear one brand for the rest of your life what would it be and why?
Hands down, it would be The Row. They embody quiet luxury, and I truly appreciate their level of tailoring and quality. Everything about their materials and perspective resonates with me.
6) What is the best gift you have ever received and who was it from?
My grandmother was a clinical psychiatrist and an incredible human being—an early advocate for recycling and civil rights. Before she passed, she wrote a biography about me on her typewriter. I haven’t read it all the way through yet because it’s so emotional, but it’s an incredibly special gift.
7) How does location play a role in your creative process?
I always start with a light study. Understanding how it interacts with a space is key to my approach. Location affects the project as much as the environment itself. I consider the natural elements, like trees and landscapes, to see how they influence the overall feel.
8) Is there one film that you feel resonates with your designs?
Call Me by Your Name is a favorite, as well as Stealing Beauty with Liv Tyler. In the Mood for Love also speaks to me.
9) What is one book everyone should read and why?
I’m a diehard Hemingway fan, so I’d suggest A Movable Feast. It’s an incredible read! But I also love contemporary authors like Eckhart Tolle and Thích Nhất Hạnh.
10) Where do you see yourself in the next 10 years?
In my mind’s eye, I envision myself in Northern Italy, relaxing but still working. I want to create opportunities that allow for more breadth in my work while maintaining a team and vision. My goal is to make my design philosophy more accessible without grinding too hard. It’s all about finding balance for my family and ensuring we can continue to live well.
