Born and raised in North Carolina, Sarah Thompson earned a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design and Art from Meredith College in Raleigh. Upon graduation, she jumped head-first into the world of interiors, working behind the desk at a trade-only showroom and quickly learned about both sides of the business as the liaison between the two. It didn’t take long for her to realize that she wanted to be on the other side of the counter, putting her own design skills to the test. Taking what she had learned from the showroom’s inner workings, Sarah then joined Palley & Southard Designs, a Raleigh-based interior design firm that works on both commercial as well as residential projects all across the country. She is passionate about creating curated and collected homes, designing artful and sophisticated spaces that offer a whimsical elegance you’ll want to live in forever.

In addition to interior design, Sarah has always had a passion for painting, but it wasn’t fully realized until her Golden Retriever, Skully, tore both of his ACLs and she began seeking ways to make a little bit of extra money and give back to those who love animals as much as she does. With a hefty vet bill, she began painting pet portraits to help bridge the gap, now employed by both big-box pet retailers as well as working on individual commissions. She now not only sells pet portraits, but also other abstract and lifelike works, across all mediums, to individual clients and through brick-and-mortar retailers.

Growing up in a creative family, Sarah dabbled in a wide range of art and design throughout her life, but it wasn’t until the pandemic in 2020 that she decided to start something of her own, placing everything from painting to graphic design; jewelry and interiors alike; under a single umbrella: Stella James Design. 

Whether you’re looking for help with the design of your home, art for the space itself, or want a creative eye towards the graphics and marketing material for your business, drop Sarah a line at info@StellaJamesDesign.com—Stella James Designs would love to hear from you.