Worldly Design

When she moved with her husband and three children from Los Angeles, designer Sharon Rembaum had already lived quite the worldly life.

She grew up in England, worked at BBC radio in London in her early 20s, then moved to Israel to anchor the English nightly TV news. From there, Rembaum moved to LA, where she worked for NPR station KCRW covering hardcore current affairs and news. She also fell in love with the city.

“When it became clear that traditional journalism was going through a major change, I decided to evaluate what I wanted to do for the remainder of my career,” says Rembaum. “I have always had a passion for design and architecture, particularly interiors, so I enrolled in UCLA’s interiors architecture program, ArchID.”

While she attended school, Rembaum worked on several residential and nonprofit commercial projects. As her kids grew older, she and her husband wanted to send them to public schools, so they decided to move to Westchester, which is known for it’s stellar public schools. A year later, she launched her eponymous interior design business, Sharon Rembaum Design, in Scarsdale.

“I think Westchester is beautiful,” says Rembaum. “Parts of it remind me of England:  lush, green landscapes; gorgeous gardens; rivers; and, of course, the architecture are all quite similar. It’s very different from California, where I spent much of my adult life.

“The advantage we have here is the way the Westchester landscape changes with the seasons. We can use larger windows, whichs allow more light and the changing colors of our surroundings to enter our homes throughout the year. As a designer, my goal is always to create spaces that are both beautiful and functional. Westchester’s natural beauty is something I try to bring into my design projects.”

This 5,500 sq ft home is Rembaum’s own. She wanted to leverage as much of the existing foundation and structure as possible. However, the severe winter of 2014–’15 caused significant damage, forcing her and her husband to rebuild most of the house. They ended up adding a second story during reconstruction.

The lines are clean and more modern than traditional, which is Rembaum’s personal style. However, she describes her design aesthetic as “eclectic.” Her interiors have a layered, curated feel. “I appreciate multiple styles and believe that the key to good design is being able to mix them in a cohesive way,” says Rembaum. “At the same time, I truly believe that a home should feel both beautiful and comfortable for the people who live in it.”

Although construction on the house took only 10 months, the family took occupancy in February 2016; furnishing it has taken longer. “Since this is my home, I’m being selfish and am holding out for things I really want, where possible,” says Rembaum. “The living room is a good example of this. I love to start designing rooms with some defining element, and I’m currently looking for a piece of art that will determine the palette and direction I go in selecting furniture and accessories.”

As with every project and house, there are challenges. The biggest challenge here was the lighting, which Rembaum describes as “one of the most important components of design.”

“I wanted light fixtures that were very expensive. I could not afford them,” says Rembaum. “As a result, I spent hours sourcing fixtures that were beautiful and within the budget. This led me to discover new lighting companies based here in the States and all over the world.”

One thing working in her favor was the beautiful property, which helped her decide to start with the windows. “I knew from the beginning that I wanted big windows, to allow lots of light and incorporate as much of the outdoors into the interior experience,” says Rembaum. “Everything else came from there.”

The rooms Rembaum has finished are true to her philosophy of creating something aesthetically pleasing but also livable and functional. But they didn’t come together overnight. “I wish I could say that it’s easier to design for myself than for a client,” says Rembaum. “In reality, it’s the same. I am a bit of a perfectionist, and I pay a lot of attention to detail. Designing is a process that sometimes takes time, whether it’s your own space or someone else’s.”

Sharon’s Best Design Tips

“One of the most important things in design is scale, and that is not always easy to understand or achieve. Homeowners often purchase a rug or a sofa that is too big or too small for a room.”

“Try not to furnish a room with pieces that match. Mixing it up always makes a space more interesting.”

“Another thing is lighting. Incorrect brightness, temperature, or placement can ruin even the most beautiful space.”

“When painting a room, try to choose three to four shades of the same color. Buy sample cans and put the different shades on the wall before you decide. Paint can appear very different in a space, depending on the light, surroundings, and time of day.”

“When choosing fabrics for window treatments or more expensive furniture pieces, always ask yourself, Will I like this in five years? Sometimes a muted palette or just some texture goes a long way. You can always go bold with accessories, which are easier to change down the road.”

Where Sharon Shops for Furniture

“Holly Hunt is timeless and classic. Other stores that I like are Room in Greenwich and New York, Putnam & Mason in Greenwich, and Ochre, a London-based company that has a showroom in New York.”

“I’m a huge fan of vintage lighting, furniture, and art. I can literally spend hours on [1st Dibs] and Incollect, sourcing things.”

“I love Lawson Fenning, Galerie Half, and JF Chen in LA and often just go to their websites for inspiration.”

Where Sharon Shops for Accessories

“Current Home in the Golden Horseshoe is great and very close by.”

“Locally, I like Sarza in Rye. It has a wonderful selection of accessories and other things mainly from Africa.”

“I often spend weekends just walking through interesting neighborhoods in New York, looking for cool things.”

“In New York City, Michele Varian always has interesting finds.”

“For rugs, Christopher Farr, Stark, and Marc Phillips are some of my favorites.”

“Allied Maker in Brooklyn is one of my favorite places for lighting.”