Design as Storytelling: Vintage, Restraint, and Character with Sarah Lyon

Writer, stylist, and creative tastemaker Sarah Lyon joins Nicole Roe for a thoughtful conversation on how design becomes meaningful through storytelling.

Sarah shares her journey through editorial work, vintage sourcing, and styling for photo shoots, along with her philosophy on restraint, character, and creating homes that feel lived in, not staged. From flea market strategy to organized maximalism, this episode explores how intentional spaces support real life.

This episode is for designers, creatives, and homeowners who believe a home should feel collected, personal, and deeply human.

Follow Sarah Lyon for vintage finds and editorial inspiration:
Instagram: @sarahlyon9
Website: sarahilyon.com

Follow Nicole:
@rnicksoninteriors
@the.nicoleroe

Show notes and more episodes at rnicksoninteriors.com

In Episode 6 of Highly Affected by Her Surroundings, Nicole sits down with Kristin Hildebrand, founder and creative director of KH Interiors, to talk about the unexpected pivot from professional volleyball to building a design studio rooted in calm, livability, and intention.
Kristin shares how years of living out of a suitcase shaped her belief that home should feel like a deep exhale, how she built KH Interiors from the ground up in 2018, and why “distance design” works when your systems are bulletproof. They also get real about client selection, leadership, and the daily rituals that keep a busy creative grounded.
In this episode, we cover:

• Turning a high performance sports career into a purposeful design business
• Growing KH Interiors from zero experience to a team and studio in Costa Mesa
• Leading projects across the country with clear SOPs and follow-up
• The truth about working with friends and why client energy matters
• Why home is the emotional backdrop for the moments that matter most

Follow Kristin: @kh.interiors
Learn more: kh-interiors.com

This week, Nicole welcomes designer Galey Grimes of Galey Grimes Interiors for a thoughtful look at what makes design feel timeless, personal, and deeply warm. Galey’s work brings together Southern charm, collected layers, and a modern ease that feels both inviting and lived in.

Together, they explore how to design for real life, why functionality is a form of luxury, and how personal history shapes the spaces we call home. Galey shares her approach to sourcing vintage pieces, refreshing historic Southern architecture, and grounding her creative work through motherhood and meaningful boundaries.

Highlights include:
• How to create a home that reflects the people who live in it
• The role of vintage and heirloom pieces in timeless design
• Tips for balancing traditional architecture with updated details
• Behind the scenes of Galey’s Vesta Home Show project
• What keeps her grounded as a creative and business owner

Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or watch on YouTube.

Find Galey: https://www.galeygrimesinteriors.com

Instagram: @galeygrimesinteriors

More from Nicole: https://www.rnicksoninteriors.com