Sam Sacks Design
photo by Lauren Miller
If you could have a second home anywhere, where would you live? New Zealand! OK, full disclosure, I’ve never been there — but I feel like the mix of urban centres, moderate climate and nature make it irresistible.
What are three words to describe your style?
Cool (But in that way that make it look like you didn’t try even though you did)
Curated
3Weird
Tell us about your childhood bedroom? A garbage picked bookcase decoupaged by your truly in pages from a classical music piano book seated underneath a massive cartoon pen drawing of my cat (also thanks to yours truly.)
What’s the first investment piece you ever bought for your house? I’m not great on investment pieces because I like to switch it up too much. I would say the closest I ever get is buying rugs. I have rugs on rugs on rugs. Mostly from Morocco where I have traveled extensively. Someone commented on a home tour feature of my house that it looked like a rug dealers’, which is probably accurate.
In the history of design, if you could hire any designer other than yourself, who would it be? Yves Saint Laurent
No room is complete without: Rugs
People think of me as laid back , but I am really massively controlling and obsessive.
Things you omit from
A flower arrangement: Baby’s breath
An hors d’oeuvre platter: Hummus
A bar cabinet: Bailey’s Irish Cream
A song for
Dinner at home: Love and Affection Joan Armatrading
Working at your desk: Frederic Chopin Nocturne No.2
Going for a run: You and I by Lady Gaga
Biggest Vice? A tub of ice cream
If you were on an Ambien high and internet shopping, what would you buy? Artwork or chairs— you can never have too many of either.
Do your clothes reflect your design sensibility, if so, how? Yes, I love clothes! Just like with furnishings, I don’t focusing on buying as an investment, I am happy to spend money on something I love, but I like changing out my bag too much to justify a $20,000 pursue. I do have my eye on a vintage Gucci bag I found on Facebook marketplace, currently!
Who is your star crush? Honestly, I don’t care about stars.
What is the thing you would never do on a project, but don’t detest when you see others do it? Wall-to-wall limewash. There’s a hint of 80’s sponge painting in limewash that I can’t unsee; but I can appreciate it in someone else’s work.
What design book do you find yourself going back to again and again? The Cabana Anthology, I’m obsessed with Milieu and Frederic Magazine, and I am forever revisiting the original Domino Magazines from before 2010, back when they were still printing physical issues.
For posterity, what would you like your work to be known for? Timeless, artful, and wild.
photo by Lauren Miller
A Few Favorites:
Movie: Force Majeure
Book: Too many to list, but I just read Perfection by Vincenzo Latronico
Scent: Le Labo Vetiver
The fabric you always come back to: Anything from Les Indiennes
Dream project: Cabin in Ojai
Meal: Artichokes dipped in garlic butter, boiled lobster (also garlic butter,) hearts of palm (garlic butter optional) butter lettuce salad with champagne vinaigrette, a selection of unpasteurized soft cheeses, salted caramel ice cream.
Drink: I’m boring- a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc
Hotel: Sublime, Comporta, any Riad in Morocco
Travel Destination: India
Artist: Sophie Vallance Cantor
A cause near and dear to me: This might get me into trouble so I won’t say.
Thing to collect obsessively: Rugs
Era in the history of design: The seventies, baby
Museum: Prado
Benjamin Moore Paint Color: I’m kind of into Coral Dust 2173-50
Favorite person to follow on Instagram: @branhatten
Dogs, Cats, or No Pets? DOGS OBVIOUSLY
