A collection of products — no matter how functional or well-made — doesn ’ t make a house a home . As she sourced from retailers and wholesalers , Sanford combed through the homeowners ’ belongings for inspiration , too .
“ It becomes a personal process ,” she says . “ There ’ s such trust involved .”
Sanford guesses about 75 percent of her clients are families and , with three children of her own , she ’ s adept at accounting for sticky fingers and scattered toys without sacrificing aesthetics .
She says she leaned hard on tough fabrics and accessible storage throughout the house , particularly in the playroom . Here , Sanford hung black and white art from the homeowners ’ collection — edgy yet playful portraiture that speaks to the adults in the room — opposite colorful drawings by the eldest child that Sanford had matted and framed .
“ This home is for the family , so we created spaces where mom and dad and the kids can coexist ,” she says .
94 RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY l JUNE 2021