It’s safe to say that here at the Patterson Group, we are big fans of strong women who follow their dreams. We are so lucky to have a team of empowering, caring, and sassy ladies. We are also constantly inspired and amazed by all of the women achieving their goals throughout the Alexandria community, we just had to share the stories of these incredible boss ladies. We’re kicking this off with a profile of Sara Raak, a home Decor, DIY, lifestyle, and product stylist.Sara has an exceptional eye for pops of color and prints to create one-of-a-kind pieces. Her designs are both whimsical and elegant, making them the perfect centerpiece for events while creating a warm welcome for guests.Sara took the big plunge to quit her public affairs job and venture into design January 1 of this year. She’s always says, “If I could do it over again, design, lifestyle, and entertaining is something I would have done as a job from the start.” Last year she began exploring the possibility of starting this new career and decided if she didn't take the leap now, she might not ever. She definitely didn't want to live with the "what if" questions looming over her.Who is Sara’s inspiration? The designer says her mom is a true creative who can repurpose anything and make it look beautiful in a home. She single-handedly taught her the art of setting a table and creating a true masterpiece with each setting. Sara’s use of scarves, bed sheets, wrapping paper, and even shower curtains for table runners, all stems from watching her mom’s creative process.Sara has two mantras: "Anything is possible" and "Everything in your home should tell a story." Those come directly from growing up under her mom’s creative outlook.

Tablescape Tips

The Patterson Group and a few of our friends were lucky enough to spend a fun evening at Studio Milk with Sara. She taught us the technique of creating the perfect tablescape. Here are some of her great tips:Where to begin? Sara believes in “shopping your home.” Most of the items she uses are pieces that she already has around the house. Decorations that don’t break the bank? That’s always a win in our book! Find colors, textures, and prints that all work well together. This will start the creative process for what will be your show-stopping table.Sara always includes items that may be unexpected or festive. These can be anything from place card holders, name tags, and wrapping paper. Bold and bright are her go-to goals and they are always crowd-pleasers. She says to “live a little.” Go ahead and mix those florals with polka dots! It’s guaranteed to inspire and impress your guests.We also love that Sara’s tablescapes always put the guest and host first. After all, this is a party and the host should have time to mingle! How does she solve the problem of getting stuck in the kitchen doing dishes? Easy! She buys plates, napkins and flatware that are all disposable. This is perfect for those summer BBQs or a weekend brunch. 

Looking for more design inspiration?Check out Sara’s website for tips, lookbooks, and her upcoming workshops!