Interiors of a Storyteller

by Stephanie Sabbe

Genres: Design

256 pages, Hardcover

Published March 25, 2025

About the author

Nashville-based interior designer Stephanie Sabbe’s career path was laid out before her at the ripe age of 8 years old when an elementary school teacher (dressed as a fortune teller) looked into her crystal ball and declared it so. Sabbe has spent the past 30 years pursuing said career and is now one of today’s most celebrated interior designers with work in dozens of publications, including Southern Living, House Beautiful, and Veranda.

Whether through the construction of a new-old home or giving new life to a forgotten historic structure, Sabbe shares how studying the past has both informed and given her work purpose, all while witnessing the architectural history of her own hometown being demolished daily. Sabbe’s riveting tales of attempts at preservation and heartbreaking stories of letting go are as inspired as her inspired beautiful designs. Through nine beautifully photographed projects, she weaves a story of comfort and belonging, and ultimately, of creating home.

Reviews

[Sarah Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up this book for the intriguing title, but it was so much more than interesting interior design projects. This is partly the author’s biography, telling stories throughout that shaped her life & design choices, complete with connections to Donald Miller & Sylvester Stallone. I love her writing style & sense of humor.

[Rachel]

This book is full of beautifully decorated interiors, along with funny, heartfelt stories and perspectives from the designer. I enjoyed every bit of it! However, the BEST surprise was at the end of the book where she includes the floor plan for every project and the wallpaper/paint colors for every room! What a great resource.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful interiors, even more beautiful (if a bit heart wrenching) stories. Not just a picture book for grownups, which is how I think of coffee table books like these, but also an engaging mini-autobiography.

[Chandler Quarles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five stars all day long. I’m an interior designer with a large collection of design books, and this is my favorite. The storytelling had me laughing and crying and the images are beautiful.

[Carolyn Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found Stephanie Sabbe on Instagram a few years back, probably on account of her use of William Morris wallpapers which I have a thing for. If you're one of her followers, you know what a hoot she is. She's a young interior designer whose background includes her grandmother's home in the hollers of West Virginia and as a daughter of a struggling single mother in Nashville where she is still based. As she puts it, she has lived on both sides of the tracks, which somehow seems surprising in the rarefied world of high end interior design (she would probably snort laugh at 'rarefied world' because she seems like the most down to earth person you could meet). But she worked hard for it, and is obviously very creative and talented. As the title proclaims, she is a storyteller, and, unlike many coffee table design books, this reads as much as a memoir as a discussion of the interior design of the homes documented here. It's an entertaining read, but also a poignant one. She has had a lot of loss and heartache, as well as unexpected happiness, and her family of a husband and four children is her greatest joy. As for the interior design, which is the draw of the book with its sumptuous photography, it is beautiful and traditional, with a certain moodiness and layered look that seems both southern and English (those William Morris wallpapers!) to me, without the fussiness sometimes associated with both these styles. She also lived in Boston for a time and absorbed the historical details of the architecture there. While traditional, she mixes eras and escapes what can be boring when only furnishings from one period are used, whether Colonial or contemporary. She loves pattern in both wallpaper and fabrics, and some of her pairings are a bit surprising to me, but she knows not to overdo it by having a quieter or neutral room around the corner. The cabinetry in the kitchens, bathrooms, and built-ins is exquisite. Another thing I like is that while there are some obviously expensive properties, she also showcases smaller homes like a thirteen hundred square feet Cape Cod that she cleverly added two hundred square feet on - for a family of six! There is also her charming lake house, which I adore, at sixteen hundred square feet. I remember reading her Instagram post where she had decided not to sweat it, that her lake house wouldn't be included in her book because it wasn't going to be finished in time. But it's there, with some details unfinished, like painting needed and light sconces not installed yet because they're antiques being re-wired. Like life, homes are a work in progress, and this was a great illustration that even designers' homes are not 'done.' Most of the houses she works on tend to be older in established neighborhoods, but she does show new builds and some drastic renovations in this book that would qualify as new construction. She also includes floor plans, which thrills my designer brain, as I've been known to try to puzzle out floor plans from studying photos, which isn't easy. However, her charming lake house is not included! Was it because it was a last minute addition? Or is Stephanie keeping a proprietary grip on her architectural design? I was disappointed by the omission. Unlike some designers, she does include references for wallpaper and paint colors at the back, which is wonderful for those looking for the details. However, there's a rather obvious mistake that is repeated. She often uses the color Khaki Shade, SW 7533. Anyone who looks at paint colors knows that SW stands for Sherwin Williams, but it is listed as by Benjamin Moore. Just a detail that a designer would catch, but might be puzzling to someone trying to find that paint color from Benjamin Moore. There are some typos scattered through the book, like subject and verb not agreeing, which tighter editing would have cured. But those minor details notwithstanding, I loved this book. Stephanie Sabbe is a great storyteller with an authentic voice and a wonderful designer. Like the homes she has designed, she has created a beautiful book, and the stories she shares about her life resonate in the heart.

[Stephanie Toigo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the book I wish I could write. Stephanie writes about the lived story of design. She is an incredible writer and she tells her hard story of hurt, forgiveness and redemption as her life intersects with incredible clients restoring and designing beautiful houses in the Nashville area. It is two fold wonder, to read and love her story of healing, and to see a person so talented at creating beautiful spaces living out a calling so dense in her. It is authentic, lived in spaces, which highlights an authentic life of depth.

[Laura Haske · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a work of art and a candid memoir. I adored the combo. Also, her designs are beautiful and mind-boggling. I'm not a big wallpaper-and-pattern person, but Stephanie makes me feel like I'm missing out. The photos in this book are fantastic. Every room was interesting and beautiful. My only critique is that she didn't include floor plans of the projects. That's the only thing that would have made it better.

[Kristen Ingebretson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I usually just like decorating books for the pictures, but I read every word of this book and would have traded some photos for more of Stephanie’s humor, honesty, and tender expressions of home and family.

[Sydney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this to get some ideas for design concepts in our new house. the pictures are beautiful. the information is helpful. I did NOT expect to cry at an interior design book. Stephanie weaves in her life stories throughout and they are so incredibly relatable and honest. loved it. it's also going to be a beautiful coffee table book so you really can't go wrong.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read in one sitting. Wow! Impossible to set this book down and leave her storied life. Now I need to go back and take a thoughtful look at the photos.

[Tina Sado · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would have given it 5 stars but ugh the typos, mostly in the photo descriptions were just inexcusable.

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Authentic storytelling! Well done!