I’m excited to kick off 2025 by sharing my recent interview with Sonata Design! Sonata is an amazing local window treatment and coverings supplier that Unshelf often collaborates with on projects. Their products and support are bar none, so I was thrilled when they asked me to be part of their Concert Series.
In my chat with Founder and CEO, Tyrell DaSilva, we covered everything from my journey into the design world to my process to what the future of Unshelf Design looks like.
If you’ve got 50 minutes to spare, it’s definitely worth a watch.
If you’re short on time, you can skim the highlights below.
Unshelf’s Origin Story
As many of you know, I didn’t start out in interior design. I spent over a decade in advertising, working in agencies across Calgary, Toronto, and Vancouver. I even ran my own agency for nine years. Then, like so many people during COVID, I pivoted. I flipped my own house, then my husband’s house, and quickly realized I loved that process way more than creating marketing campaigns.
“I think being an entrepreneur really sets me apart in that I can run projects seamlessly.” – Sarah Kirkpatrick
Fast forward to today, and Unshelf Design has been up and running for four years! My background in business and marketing was a huge advantage in starting a design company straight out of school, which I’m obviously very grateful for.
Unshelf’s Specialties
Each type of project we pursue brings something different to the table, and we’ve carved out a niche for making older homes feel fresh, modern, and full of life.
Here’s a quick breakdown of the three main types of projects we take on:
Interior Design
These are the full transformations—renovations, redesigns, floor planning, and selecting finishes, furniture, and décor. These projects tend to be multi-phase and give us the biggest and best before-and-afters.
Styling
Interior design, minus the construction element. These projects fall more in the “refresh” category, in that they mainly involve furniture and décor selections to make a space feel updated and polished without a full-on reno.
Our MO at Unshelf is to create “homes that hug”, and styling is a great way to help people fall back in love with their homes. Here are some of my favourite quick “relove” design tips:
- A fresh coat of paint or wallpaper can transform a room (powder rooms are the perfect place for something funky and dramatic by the way!)
- Make sure your area rug is big enough to ground your furniture—at least the front legs should sit on it
- Layer window treatments (silhouettes are my top pick) for light control, texture, and softness
- Remove items you don’t love and bring in pieces that feel meaningful and personal
- Blend thrifted finds with new décor for a space that feels authentic and unique
Staging
Staging is a whole different ball game. It’s less about personalizing a space and more about presenting it as a product to sell. Realtors will call, and within a few days, we’ll transform the property into something that appeals to a wide audience. It’s quick turnarounds and typically very neutral, very polished designs.
The Future of Unshelf Design
As much as I love what Unshelf has grown into over the last few years, I’ve also learned the importance of staying true to my values and vision. For me, that means focusing on quality over quantity, niching down, and keeping things boutique so every client gets a personalized experience.
It also means spreading joy and sharing knowledge. I’ve spoken to design students, lectured on stages about designing for joy, participated in industry groups, and joined some great local communities where designers collaborate and support each other. I love these aspects of what I do and will no doubt continue doing them as long as Unshelf is around!
“I always thought “we have to scale, we have to get big”, and more recently, I’ve started to think more in line with what our brand values are. More of that boutique, cozy, welcoming space.” – Sarah Kirkpatrick
Looking ahead, I’m excited to continue building on what Unshelf is today—a boutique firm that’s built on a foundation of passion and proven processes (we love a process!) and focused on creating joyful spaces.
Massive thank you to Tyrell and Sonata Design! This interview gave me a chance to reflect on a lot—how Unshelf got here, what I’ve learned along the way, and why I’m excited for the company’s future.
Remember, you can watch the full interview right now!
Ready to relove your home? If you’ve gotten this far, you already know we can help. Contact Unshelf today!