Sarah Barnard’s approach to designing for athletes focuses on the home as a high-performance partner in both physical recovery and mental preparation. As a WELL and LEED-accredited designer, she creates restorative sanctuaries that balance the rigorous demands of a dedicated athletic life with a commitment to aesthetics and beauty.

By integrating sports-specific functionality, the studio transforms residences into spaces that celebrate athletic achievement while providing an environment for rest and rejuvenation.  

Hydrotherapy & Cryotherapy Suites: Custom cold-plunge pools, infrared saunas, and therapeutic soaking tubs to help promote muscle recovery and inflammation reduction.

Sport-Specific Design Integration: The studio recognizes that different disciplines require specialized environmental support. We customize zones to enhance the daily training and lifestyle needs of individual athletes.

Height-Optimized Living: Custom-scaled furniture, elevated countertops, and high-clearance doorways promote physical comfort and ergonomic support.

High-Impact Recovery Zones: Dedicated areas for stretching and physical therapy.

Ventilated & Climate-Controlled Cabinetry: Custom integrated millwork featuring discreet ventilation systems for footwear, pads, and uniforms, helping to prevent moisture buildup while keeping gear out of sight.

Specialized Racking Systems: Elegant, wall-mounted or recessed storage for items such as tennis rackets, bikes, skateboards, surfboards, snowboards, skis, or kayaks.

Streamlined Equipment Management: Dedicated, soft-close drawers with customized inserts for golf balls to gymnastics grips and cycling tech, helping every item have a permanent, intuitive home.

Mudroom & Transition Zones: High-durability, beautiful entry sequences designed to manage the transition from the field, court, or trail into the sanctuary of the home.

Hydration & Nutrition Stations: Fueling bars within storage or recovery zones, featuring filtered water taps, specialized refrigeration for supplements, and organized storage for nutritional prep.

Movement & Mirror Integration: Custom-installed, floor-to-ceiling mirrored walls with barre systems and sprung-floor technology.

Circadian-Optimized Sleep Sanctuaries: Programmable lighting networks that automatically shift to warm, low-intensity amber tones, paired with advanced climate control and organic, breathable bedding to help with deep, restorative sleep.  

Supportive Home Organization: Intuitive, sustainable systems for specialized wardrobes, nutrition-focused kitchens, and trophy/memorabilia display that prioritize visibility and personal pride.

Visual Clarity & Symmetry: Matte finishes and layered, anti-glare lighting help reduce visual fatigue and support mental visualization.

Biophilic Stress Reduction: Nature-inspired elements, indoor plants, and natural materials like stone and solid wood help to provide a grounding mental environment.  

Acoustic Softening: High-performance sound-absorbing textiles and specialized insulation to help eliminate external noise.  

Tactile Grounding: High-quality, natural materials help provide a grounding physical experience, supporting sensory awareness.

Advocacy and Intermediary Services: The studio acts as a liaison with equipment suppliers, contractors, and performance consultants.