In conversation with Interior designer Sabrina Barazin

I recently discovered Montreal interior designer Sabrina Barazin through social media. She is easy to talk to, laid back and probably one of the coolest girl I’ve met. Sabrina knows what she wants and how to properly design and manage a full project like no other. It was also her who introduced me to Montreal based Maisons & Co, a project she worked on a few months ago.

We made coffee, sat down and talked about her unique vision and her future plans.

Could you tell us a little about your background and how you got into doing what you do?

I was always interested in the creative fields. Initially, I studied fashion marketing and worked in that industry for a while. But I found it hard to connect to something that felt profound, leaving me feeling unfulfilled. After floating through different paths that led nowhere, I started flirting with the idea of interior design. It felt practical yet creative, and it was something that I always paid attention to in my life. I decided to take an online interior design course while studying design software at Concordia at night, which took me a few years. And I did this as well as working at a high-end furniture store in Montreal where I started to grasp the foundations of what it takes to be a service provider in creative design work. From there, things organically tipped to getting my own clients, and I broke off to start Sabrina Barazin Studio in 2016. Up until that moment, I had never felt so sure and clear of anything at all.

Was having your eponymous design studio something that you always wanted?

Haha, I've definitely always done things my own way, so I want to say yes. I made a choice to go back to school and just kept moving forward since then. I said yes a lot and then learned to sometimes say no, and now here we are!

How do you juggle various projects, which involve a lot of time and commitment, with your everyday life?

When you're passionate about your work, it's definitely challenging to create any separation whatsoever. It takes a conscious effort to 'turn it off' once in a while. And your juice mustn't run out. I can't say I've mastered that balance, but I'm always striving to develop some sort of separation from my work and my personal identity.

What would you say are your most significant sources of inspiration? What drives you to create?

Paying attention to the way things are happening around me. What they look like, feel like, smell like, sound like. A presence towards anything that shocks my senses in any way will inspire me. Getting out of the city as much as possible will inspire me—moving outside of my routine and letting my eyes see something different. Getting the f*ck off my phone for a day is an inspiration, too.

What drives me? I want to make beautiful things for people, and I want to make them feel something. Safe, warm, curious. I like making people simply feel good, and the right atmosphere will do that for anyone.

Is there anything in your arsenal that you consider your 'signature style'?

I don't like putting our aesthetic in a box, but we're certainly fond of raw materials that come from the earth. I need the mix to feel like it has history and nostalgia when it comes to furniture. And they can never all come from the same period or place within the same space. Layers, baby, layers!

You're based in Montreal, but your overall aesthetic seems to indicate otherwise. How has it been working from this city?

Montreal has been good to me, but it isn't where the story starts or ends for the studio. I love this city, but I don't think the majority of the clientele here is adventurous enough to get on board with what we really want to be putting out there as a creative studio.

Are you looking to get established in other cities or countries?

Absolutely. The end goal is to be working on hospitality projects around the world. We love creating and building an experience—any opportunity to impact the way people feel or to exist as a memory of an experience when people travel is where my heart lies.

Your mix of colours, textures and shapes is fascinating. How do you always know what works together and what doesn't?

Again, it really comes from a place of paying attention and whatever makes me want to walk up to it and touch it—that's what makes the cut. It's hard to describe what comes through for me regarding my lens or perspective of objects, finishes, etc. But I follow anything that incites a sense of wonder. And that's when the magic happens.

I've noticed you love a good accent chair—what other must-haves do you consider when designing a space?

HAHA. Guilty as charged! Seating oriented in a way that best serves gathering, sharing, or spending time in a space is crucial for me to get right. Also, lighting is everything. We want our spaces to feel sexy and cosy. The fixtures themselves should be interesting. I mean, have you seen some of the work out there? It's an opportunity for impact in a space that should be carefully considered.

What can we expect you to be doing when you're not working?

What does not working even mean? But I will say, resting, taking care of my body, getting outside, drinking coffee, cuddling my dog, laying on the floor of my loft staring at the wood slated ceiling, cooking and hosting a dining experience for friends, drinking wine, reading, rearranging my home, building things, practising my new ukulele, taking baths, drinking tea—in no particular order.

If possible, can you share some projects you're working on this year?

It's tough to share projects since a lot of the time, they're personal, or we're asked not to do so before openings. But one project we're working on that we're really excited about is a hair salon owned and operated by some amazing young women. It’s in collaboration with my colleague Langlois Albert Design. We've been having a lot of fun with it, and it should open in spring 2022.

However, the studio's main objective for this year is to get our first contract outside of Montreal. Ideally outside of Canada altogether.