We recently had the pleasure of sitting down with the Founder & Creative Director of Storie Collective, Sara Swabb, to discuss the art of incorporating vintage into her design process and the styling of your home. We always love sitting down with our most talented friends to get a glimpse into their creative process and share their thoughtful tips and expertise in all things design.
Enjoy our conversation with Sara and then head to the online shop to peruse her carefully curated edit of her top selections from our most recent container.
In your projects, how do you select where to incorporate a vintage piece and where a new piece might be better?
It’s always about balance and intention. Vintage pieces tend to anchor a space. They bring soul, irregularity, and a sense that the home didn’t appear overnight. I often start with one or two meaningful vintage elements in a room, like a rug, a case piece, or lighting, and then layer in new pieces that support function and scale.
New pieces are helpful where precision matters, especially upholstery for comfort and longevity, or anything highly customized to a floor plan. But without something vintage, a room can feel a bit too resolved. I’m always looking for that push and pull between old and new.
In the article you state that “using vintage pieces can be a conversation starter and a way to infuse your personal heritage, style, and memories into a space.” Tell me about a vintage piece in your home that reflects your own heritage, style and memories.
I have my grandmother’s old dining room oil lantern in our entry. It has been electrified now, but I love knowing it was hers. It is one of those pieces that quietly holds history without needing to announce it.
I also have a small grouping of oil paintings that remind me of a trip my husband and I took to France just after we were engaged. They are not particularly precious on their own, but together they carry that memory. I think that is what I am always after. Pieces that feel layered with meaning over time, not just visually interesting.
Stylistically, they help balance the more modern pieces in our home, bringing in a sense of history and tradition that makes everything feel more grounded and collected.
How do you feel about the abundance of reproductions available in the market. Is there ever a scenario where a vintage reproduction might be better than an original?
Reproductions have their place, but they should be used thoughtfully. There are moments where they make sense, especially when you need multiple pieces, consistent sizing, or when performance matters, like in upholstery. In those cases, I think it is worth investing in a higher quality reproduction.
At the same time, reproductions rarely carry the same weight. Even a small vintage object can shift the feeling of a room in a way a reproduction cannot. It is not really about choosing one over the other. It is about making sure there is enough authenticity in the mix to keep a space from feeling flat or overly staged.
Rugs! We agree that a vintage rug can really make a room. Where do you find the best examples?
We use vintage rugs in almost every setting. They are one of the easiest ways to bring depth and warmth into a space.
We source through a mix of trusted dealers, estate sales, and smaller marketplaces. It is often less about one specific source and more about consistency in looking. You can see some of our favorite examples across our projects on our website.
How do you feel about having rugs re-sized to fit a room - or vintage pieces modified in general?
I am open to it, but with restraint. There is a difference between adapting something to live well in a space and overworking it to the point where it loses its integrity.
Recently, I had two rugs resized for our Greenwich Forest project, one for the living room and one for the family room, so they could really sit properly within the architecture. I also worked with a dealer to restain a rug using walnuts because it had a bit too much abrash and we wanted to bring it back to a slightly richer brown tone.
In general, I prefer to honor the original piece as much as possible, but when done thoughtfully, these kinds of adjustments can make a vintage piece feel even more at home.
Where do you find your clients are open to vintage pieces in your designs and where do they generally insist upon something new.
Clients tend to embrace vintage most in the pieces that feel expressive, such as rugs, lighting, case goods, art, and accessories. Those are the areas where they are open to a bit of unpredictability.
Where they lean new is usually anything tied to comfort and daily use, especially upholstery or everyday dining chairs. It makes sense. My role is often to gently push them to incorporate at least a few vintage elements so the home does not feel too one note and is more sustainable.
You mention in the article not to be afraid of lighting that needs to be re-wired. Where else do you feel that shoppers may abandon vintage pieces too soon?
Case goods are a big one. People often walk away from a beautiful piece because of a finish they do not love or minor wear that can actually be part of the charm.
I also think people underestimate upholstery. A well made vintage frame can be completely transformed with new fabric, often at a level of quality that is hard to find today. There is a tendency to want something perfect, but that is usually not what makes a home feel collected.
We gave you a peek into our new container of vintage finds. Please give us your edit of your favorite things.
19th Century Carrera Marble Sink
Seaside Village Watercolor Painting
My edit leans toward pieces that feel quietly foundational. These are items that could move from one home to another and still feel relevant. I was especially drawn to sculptural stone vessels and carved basins, a warm wood case piece with subtle patina, a pair of understated vintage lamps, rustic benches and simple wood seating, and a few smaller objects in aged metal that feel useful as well as beautiful.
I am always looking for that balance of utility and beauty. Pieces that do not just photograph well, but actually live well.
We always like to finish with a recommendation. Even if it’s not related to vintage furniture, please share a recommendation for our listeners.
Pay attention to what you are drawn to repeatedly. Not trends, but the things you save, revisit, or notice over time.
That is usually the beginning of a home that feels personal.
