Storie Collective

Sara and the Storie Collective team are truly exceptional. Sara has a unique eye for design, but what really sets her apart is how thoughtful and detail-oriented she is throughout the process. Even when I didn’t have a super clear vision, she was able to translate a few preferences into a cohesive plan that completely elevated our home. She has a strong network of vendors, is transparent and practical about budget, and consistently finds solutions that feel high-impact without feeling out of reach. Most importantly, she genuinely cares. She won’t stop until you’re thrilled with the result. This was actually a repeat project for us, and we’ll absolutely work with her again!

We could not be happier with our decision to work with Sara and the Storie Collective team to remake the first floor of our home. First, Sara has a gift. Her taste is flawless and we trust her to make design decisions without hesitation. But more than that, Sara is able to translate our style preferences into the most stunning versions we could imagine. The result is a home that feels like us and our family... only so much better! Second, Sara is the consummate professional. Sara works hard; clearly communicates her budget management and timelines; and has supervised construction on a phased renovation process for us while we (and our four children!) remained in our home. We recommend Sara without hesitation.

We worked with Sara and Storie Collective on the renovation of the front of our home, two bathrooms, and our stairwell, along with furnishing our living and dining rooms and entry. From the start, Sara’s design ideas solved problems we didn’t even realize had solutions. Her suggestion to close off the connection between our living room and back family room completely changed the flow of the house. Now the back feels private and functional for family life, while the front has a welcoming sense of character and comfort. During the renovation was where we truly valued Sara most. Her ability to communicate clearly with the contractors and get the results she envisioned is a real skill—and it gave us peace of mind knowing the details were handled. She also selected and procured lighting, plumbing fixtures, finishes, and furnishings so that everything feels cohesive, timeless, and elevated; somehow everything still reflects the style we were trying to achieve. The result is a home that not only looks beautiful, but also works perfectly for how we live day to day. Friends constantly comment on the transformation, and we now feel proud every time we walk through the door. We can’t recommend Storie Collective highly enough.

Sara and her team did an excellent job architecting and implementing an overall design strategy by adopting our style preferences into tangible and actionable options we could decide between to move the project forward. The furniture and fixture choices were high quality and cohesive, melding together in ways that can only be conceived by a professional until the outcome can be visualized in person. The Storie Collective team also did a great job of managing the various vendors involved in the project to keep it on time and on budget. They suggested enhancements along the way that weren't too meaningful from an economic perspective but further improved the quality of the outcome. We are very happy with the result and would highly recommend Sara to others!

We worked with Storie Collective on a full-scale renovation—kitchen, three bathrooms, new flooring throughout, and a complete refresh of the paint, moldings, furniture, and overall aesthetic. It was a huge project, and from start to finish, Sara brought both creative vision and practical expertise to the table. What really stood out was how collaborative the process was. I never felt like I was being pushed in a direction that didn’t feel right; instead, my opinions were genuinely welcomed and respected. Sara managed to elevate my initial ideas into something more refined and cohesive, while still keeping everything grounded in the realities of time and budget. I appreciated the thoughtful communication, the attention to detail, and the way the design came together to reflect not just style, but how we actually live. I’d absolutely recommend working with Sara and the Storie Collective team.

I have nothing but amazing things to say about Sara and our Storie Collective experience. We chose her because of her style but we are closing our project loving her for so much more. She had a clear point of view (both aesthetically and technically) but was open to our ideas/perspectives. She was patient with our endless questions and a delayed timeline. She went above and beyond on project management / guiding our contractor but did so in a respectful manner. Ultimately, she helped us create a space for our family and friends that makes us truly happy. I know for sure that we couldn’t have done it without her and the Storie team and once we recover from this project, will go back to them for our next one!

Hi, I am impressed by your design, and tried to send you a message, unfortunately I failed so, probably I could not receive phone verification code

My family and I recently completed a significant renovation of our Capitol Hill row house, and we are thrilled with the results achieved by the interior design team at Storie Collective led by Sara Swabb. Before we began the project, we knew we needed a professional to ensure the project was cohesive and done right the first time. After a good deal of research of local design professionals, we engaged Storie Collective for an in-home consultation. We were immediately confident that Sara and her team had the experience and vision to help us create something special — we were right! As a middle-class family with limited means, we were initially concerned that we couldn’t afford Storie Collective; however, Sara was able to bring in vendors, trades, and contractors with a range of price points that made our budget work. I am absolutely convinced that we saved money because the front-end design process was so precise and methodical, which ultimately helped us avoid costly oversights and missed opportunities. Sara’s “no job too great or too small” approach was comforting, and following completion of our kitchen, primary bath, and powder room renovation, we asked Storie Collective to return to redesign and refresh our living room. The living room has been transformed from a bland box into an inviting, dark green lounge worthy of countless conversations (and cocktails!) between family and friends. The coffered ceiling Sara designed has completely changed the feel of the living room, and the lighting choices help pull it all together to make the room entirely purposeful. Having lived in our renovated home now for a few months, my wife and I remain grateful to Sara and her team for creating something enduringly beautiful. We can’t wait until our next project with Storie Collective!

Working with Storie Collective has a way of making good projects great. As a construction company, we understand the importance of seamless collaboration and clear communication, and through drawings and site visits we are able to confirm solutions to carry out a vision. This allows us to do things right the first time around. Their team brings a blend of creativity and practicality to every project, ensuring that the end result was not only stunning but also functional and aligned with our construction processes, but also the client's vision and budget. The attention to detail is evident in every aspect of their work. Storie Collective's ability to listen and incorporate our feedback, along with their proactive approach to problem-solving, make the entire process of this difficult work we do together smooth and enjoyable. Storie completes budget exercises prior to beginning projects, which helps clarify client/contract/designer expectations in a professional and clear format. We look forward to partnering with Storie Collective on future projects and highly recommend their services to anyone seeking exceptional interior design. Their passion for design and commitment to their clients truly set them apart.

We had the pleasure of working with Sara to remake a family room in an old house with odd corners, weird ducts, and things not level. She is a fantastic listener, always calm, always trying to come up with a good solution. Throughout the project she was accessible and responsive and joy to work with. Her taste is impeccable and we love the finished room!

Sarah and the Storie Collective team were excellent to work with and helped inject our style into our home. Sarah was hands on throughout the process, helping iterate on design, managing vendors and contractor teams, and ensuring every detail was complete. We're looking forward to working together again!

My husband and I undertook to build a new home - something we had never done before. As the months progressed, we became more and more dissatisfied with how the build was progressing including difficult communications with the contractor and architect and just an overall feeling that the end home was not going to be what we envisioned. So we brought in Sara! From the beginning, she made sure that she understood our vision and she found a way to implement it. Due to construction delays, the project ended up taking over a year, but Sara remained imperturbable - navigating between the difficult contractor, a subsequent contractor, myriad subcontractors, etc. etc. She was our touchstone. And we could not be happier with the outcome! We feel that it represents our vision, but in a refined and elevated manner. Months later, I still find myself noticing little items and touches that she included that bring joy every day. I just want to mention that our collaboration with Sara was so productive and satisfying that we have brought her in on several subsequent smaller projects. She and her team are always professional, clear, timely - and deliver a great end product.