Sarah Magness is way more than the founder of the Palm Beach Atelier that hosts exclusive parties during the Palm Beach International Boat Show.
In fact, the New York City-based interior and architectural designer is a creative powerhouse who's known for her savvy, elegant, and uniquely harmonious design projects all over the world. But she's also a bit of a romantic whose love of exquisite craftsmanship, and respect for the artisans who create the one-of-a-kind art, furniture, and rugs she uses in her design work, have inspired her to celebrate art and craftsmanship in a cool and classic way.
"I started the Atelier in Paris about eight years ago," she says on a sunny day last spring. "I was invited to design a mansion during the annual Maison Design Fair and I thought it'd be a great way to showcase and collaborate with artisans that I work with so my clients, and the public, could come and see completed rooms featuring their work. It was successful so I thought, 'where can we do this in the United States?'"
“At the time, I was working with clients in Palm Beach who really valued fine craft and artisanship. And they also embraced the old-world idea of the ‘Grand Tour’ that many architects would take their patrons on to meet the artisans that would be supplying and designing the items in their homes at the turn of the 20th century. “So Palm Beach was the perfect place to launch the Atelier.
It's the perfect space to give our clients an authentic connection to the artisans that make the items in their homes.
Education, community, and authentic connection is what makes the Atelier so special.”
And what makes the Atelier even more special is that all five partners—Rinck (museum-grade custom furniture), McKinnon and Harris (outdoor furniture), Sacco (rugs), Hyde Park Mouldings (custom plaster cast mouldings), and Sarah's Studio Magness—are stewards of family-owned businesses.
PICTURED: Atelier partners (from left): Ken Dail—McKinnon and Harris; Kim Steube and Marc Sacco—Sacco; Valentin Goux—Rinck; Sarah Magness—Studio Magness.
"It starts with the fact we're all creating something that we've poured our hearts and souls into. You can see it and feel it when you come to the Atelier and meet the artisans and see the products they make. Being able to see the detail and feel the passion that comes from getting to know the owner of the family-owned—and in some cases quite old—companies is priceless. And we as a collective feel that soul and passion for each other too because we have so much respect for all of the blood, sweat, and tears that went into creating that object, or house, or that whatever it may be.”
"I love putting an idea out there and seeing how the world reacts to it," she adds. "And because we're a collaborative, we have five voices who celebrate fine craftsmanship. And we support businesses worldwide that specialize in high craft, and we are hugely supportive of each other. Our intimate connections within the Atelier lead to a lot of trust that we have with each other. And clients have with us."
