Meet Sarah Kaplan | Founder & Principal Designer at Sarah Kaplan Design

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sarah Kaplan and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sarah, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
I think the biggest factor behind my success has been creating spaces that feel personal to the people living in them. I never want a project to feel too trend-driven or like it could belong to anyone. My goal is always to create homes that feel elevated and thoughtfully designed, but also functional for the way my clients actually live day to day.

I also think genuinely caring about the client experience makes a huge difference. I’m very hands-on throughout the process, from the overall design direction down to construction details and final styling. I care a lot about the outcome and I think clients can feel that level of investment, which naturally leads to trust, referrals, and long-term relationships.

Over time, I’ve realized great design is about more than just making a space look beautiful. It should improve the way people live in their home and how they feel when they’re in it.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Sarah Kaplan Design is a San Diego-based interior design firm focused on creating homes that feel elevated, personal, and functional for everyday life. I specialize in residential renovations and interiors, and I really love the process of transforming a space in a way that feels thoughtful and tailored to each client.

I think what sets my work apart is the level of detail and care that goes into every project. I never want a home to feel overly trend-driven or like it could belong to just anyone. I spend a lot of time understanding how my clients live and what’s important to them so the finished space feels beautiful, functional, and comfortable to live in.

Starting my own firm was definitely a leap. I spent years working in the industry before launching Sarah Kaplan Design, and stepping into the role of business owner felt exciting but also intimidating at times. There’s so much more that goes into running a business beyond the creative side, and I’ve learned a lot through the process.

One of the biggest things I’ve realized is how important relationships are in this industry. So much of my business has grown through referrals and longtime client relationships, which means a lot to me. At the end of the day, I just want people to feel genuinely happy in their homes and feel like the space really reflects them.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If one of my best friends was visiting San Diego for the week, I’d probably spend the time walking around different neighborhoods, trying great restaurants, and just enjoying the overall lifestyle here. I love areas like Little Italy, North Park, Coronado, and La Jolla because they all have such different energy.

I’d definitely take them to the Museum of Contemporary Art in La Jolla, grab margaritas and Mexican food in Old Town, walk around Coronado, do a little shopping at UTC, and probably bring my mini schnauzer Poppy to the dog park at some point too.

One of my favorite things about San Diego is that it feels relaxed while still having so much to do. And if we wanted a quick change of scenery, I’d probably plan a little Palm Springs getaway too.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d probably dedicate my shoutout to all of the people who believed in me before I fully believed in myself. There were so many moments throughout my career where former bosses, coworkers, clients, friends, and family encouraged me to trust my creative instincts, and eventually I took the leap into starting my own firm.

I’m especially grateful for the clients who followed me and trusted me with their homes early on when Sarah Kaplan Design was just getting started. That kind of trust means a lot when you’re building something from the ground up.

I also have a lot of appreciation for the contractors, tradespeople, architects, and other creatives I’ve worked alongside over the years. Interior design is such a collaborative process, and I’ve learned something valuable from almost every project and every person involved along the way.

Website: https://www.sarahkaplandesign.com

Instagram: @sarrrrahk

Image Credits
Kaplan Photography