KEVIN SAWYERS, PRINCIPAL
Growing up in the foothills of North Carolina, Kevin Sawyers developed a passion for design which was evident at a remarkably early age. “My parents were not always amused when I routinely rearranged the living room furniture,” he recalls. Back then one could witness his emergent spatial sensibility as he played for hours on oversized farm equipment that he imagined to be ships, castles, fortresses, and skyscrapers against a backdrop of a Carolina pine forest.
Building on his innate abilities, Sawyers attended the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Interior Architecture. After graduating in 1997 and a brief stint at an Experiential Graphic Design firm in Atlanta, GA, Sawyers traded one coast for the other and made the move to San Francisco. There he joined the graphics and branding team at the globally recognized, design and consulting firm Gensler. Sawyers eventually longed to take his experience and design acumen back to his design roots focusing on residential interiors. In 2008 Sawyers made those longings a reality and founded Sawyers Design.
Work by Sawyers Design is highly evocative, marked by rich hues, a playful approach to proportions, and unexpected use of materials and finishes. Their projects have since garnered wide acclaim, landing features in Wallpaper*, The New York Times, California Home+Design, Aspire, and Livingetc.
Collaboration also remains a central pillar of Sawyers Design’s work, resulting in spaces that tell the full story of who their clients are. Sawyers notes, “Our job is striking that balance between the architecture, the interiors, and how the inhabitants aspire to live their lives.” The dedication to this approach enables the firm to build long-lasting client relationships and authentically express their personalities through spaces.
BIANCA RODRIGUEZ ELLIOT, SENIOR INTERIOR DESIGNER
A graduate from the University of North Texas, Bianca holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Interior Design. Prior to joining Sawyers Design in the fall of 2022 she practiced residential design for six years in Dallas, TX and ten in New York City. Her passion for design was piqued at the age of 13, when her parents decided to remodel their El Paso home. “I proposed my first schematic design to my parents,” recalls Bianca, “which included creating a fourth bedroom for myself. My parents presented the drawing to the contractor and 3 months later, I had my own bedroom.” Alas, a designer was born. As Senior Designer her responsibilities include daily operations, project management, staff skills development, and client relations.
RACHEL STURM, DESIGN ASSISTANT
A life-long Bay Area native, Rachel Sturm graduated from San Francisco State University with a BS in Interior Design. Her background in classical ballet – and all that went along with producing and performing in theatrical performances – ignited her passion early on for all things art, including interior design.
Rachel’s first job was with Darcy Tsung Design, where she quickly learned the inner-workings of a boutique design firm, and honed her innate skills of colorways and space planning.
In 2021, Rachel was hired as Design Assistant at Sawyers Design, where she takes clients through each step of the design process, from the planning to expediting stages. “Design is about creative problem solving, '' says Rachel. “There’s always an answer.”
Shay Pacent, Associate Designer
Shay joined Sawyers Design in June of 2023. She brings a dynamic blend of technical knowledge and creative skills to the team. Demonstrating her technical prowess in AutoCAD, Revit, Sketchup and a myriad of other software applications she uses these tools simultaneously to provide design support with a keen eye for detail. Shay loves interacting with homeowners and believes understanding the client is the key to a successful experience for all.
Prior to living in the Bay Area, Shay lived in Seattle, where she worked in various aspects of the industry, including residential, commercial, corporate workplace, hospitality, and multi-family design. Shay holds a Bachelor of Interior Design, Minor in Architecture from the University of Idaho.