A Design for Gathering

Valerie Sartini reimagines the heart of the home.

As we head into the cooler months of fall, Valerie Sartini of Treasures Interior Design is thinking about connection and community, and how that is created through her work. She’s focused on a few projects for clients that involve reimagining kitchens and dining rooms, so her creativity is in full force, her focus sharp.

“These rooms are the emotional center of the home,” Valerie says. “When I’m collaborating with clients on design, sure it’s about creating beautiful spaces, but it’s also understanding these are spaces of nurturing, conversation, celebration, ritual and connection. That’s the jumping-off point—creating an environment where people love being with each other.”

Valerie has a point of view on this. Each detail of the space—from the color on the walls to the texture on the chairs to the finish on the table—plays a role in making a family gathering place … making a place people are drawn into.

There’s a little bit of magic in how this is done, Valerie explains. “When I design a family’s dining room, I visualize my client’s children, neighbors, extended family all being there at different points—how both small and large groups will sit and move around the room, talk across a table, pass plates of food. The smallest details are important in these spaces because they are so intimate.”

And as the nights get longer and the holidays appear on the horizon, Valerie is mindful of more drawn-out evenings around the dining table. “I think about seasons—the seasons of the year and the seasons of the family. The dining room, maybe more than any other room, changes and needs to be adaptable to change as seasons change.”

For example, Valerie may design a custom dining table that can be expanded for large dinner parties or family visits. Selected table finishes can provide durability in the face of wine spills and 4-year-olds, and stain-resistant fabric is now both beautiful and long-lasting. Care is given to each choice.

One thing is certain: When it comes to breaking bread with those we love, Valerie is finding ways that create togetherness. “It’s important for me to listen to my clients so I can create a space where memories are made.”