Saie Beauty: 6 Design Ideas We’re Stealing From the Scandi Minimalist-Inspired Headquarters

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Laney Crowell knew that Saie would eventually need a real home outside of her own in Sag Harbor. With a widely successful beauty business comes even bigger demands, and it was only a matter of time before the founder and CEO would have to accommodate new priorities and a rapidly growing team. After launching the clean makeup brand four months before the pandemic and building it from the ground up remotely, Crowell felt ready to transition to IRL—and for her, that meant establishing Saie’s official global headquarters.

Making the decision to plant Saie Beauty in New York City was pretty easy. Most of Crowell’s team is already based in the city, many of them frequently working from each other’s apartments and turning their homes into collaborative workspaces. “I was able to hire talented people all over the States by 2022 [and] the ones in New York City were always going over to each other’s apartments to work because they wanted to be in person,” she tells AD. “They didn’t want to work remotely every day, and that’s when we realized it was time for our first office.”

After Crowell found an office space per recommendations from friends in the same building, she needed a reliable firm to not only tackle the task at hand, but someone who could seamlessly execute the brand’s core messaging into every design decision. So she enlisted Hyphen & Co founder Shelly Lynch-Sparks for the job. The New York–based interior designer’s resume is packed with large-scale residential and hospitality projects, standouts including Dan Abrams’s West Village town house. Lynch-Sparks was also through a friend recommendation, and the two clicked naturally and immediately got to work. The initial consultation took place in late 2023 and opened its doors to employees and guests this past September.

The 3,500-square-foot office, which sits in Tribeca on the corner of Walker and Broadway, embodies what the brand stands for: It’s clean and sleek, and the minimal interiors house eco-friendly materials and luxury vintage decor pieces. One thing that Crowell emphasized is that it’s not your average office—it serves as an inviting sanctuary, intimate and cozy enough for pop-up events and visits from friends of the brand. “I wanted the office to feel like an extension of home,” Crowell says. “We have a saying, ‘feel good, do good,’ and I wanted the office to be a place where everyone could feel that way.” Below, we highlight some of the standout features from Saie’s NYC HQ and share some tips on how to get the look for your own space.

Minimalism doesn’t have to be so sterile

Saie’s HQ channels Scandinavian minimalism, a design aesthetic that balances simplicity and comfort. Part of Crowell’s vision was to create a modern yet approachable workspace, and to ensure it was a far contrast from the usual (and outdated) sterileness typically associated with a traditional office. In order to achieve this, Lynch-Sparks opted for a predominately neutral and earthy palette to soften the space—cream-colored walls melt into warm browns of all shades and the occasional hint of moss green. The designer also introduced hints of natural elements to complement the exposed industrial structure. The lounge area, for instance, places raw and dark cuts of wood via stools and tables, but adds geometric light fixtures, thinly-sliced metal shelves, and chrome accent pieces to restore contrast.

You can still make the most out of very little

Building a headquarters in NYC means getting creative with little wiggle room. Luckily, Crowell managed to snag 3,500 square feet in downtown Manhattan, but as with most renters, there’s only so much that can be done while considering constraints. Saie’s office was designed with community-building in mind; therefore, it needed to be versatile and could easily transform into a productive work space, content capturing studio, and event locale at the snap of a finger.

Lynch-Sparks decided to keep the floor plan as open as possible. She opted out of using distracting barriers and walls and instead, sectioned off private areas, like conference rooms, with flowy curtains to soften and “bring light” into the space. This subtle technique makes a huge difference as it allows visitors to take in the atmosphere without feeling overwhelmed.

Source sustainable and second-hand furniture alternatives

Climate consciousness is a core value of Saie, with the beauty brand integrating sustainable practices into its assortment of tinted foundations, creamy blushes, and liquid highlighters. Its newly built office is no different. Crowell and Lynch-Sparks bring the brand’s “do good, feel good” ethos to life, minimizing its long-term impact on the environment through sourcing locally and second-hand. “As far as sustainability goes, every single thing in the office is either vintage or from sustainable, US-based vendors,” says Lynch-Sparks.

Statement pieces include a 100% New Zealand wool rug from Nordic Knots in the lounge and a plethora of GoodWeave-certified rugs, which verifies ethical working conditions for adult artisans. Millwork done for storage areas, desks, and tables use FSC-certified, origin-controlled wood and are Reform B-Corp-certified. Not only that, but places like the pantry are sourced nearby; Lynch-Sparks sourced many pieces from Vermont Farm Table, a Vermont-based company that uses North American hardwoods in all of its furniture. The team also wasn’t afraid to reuse pieces, like a chandelier in the living room left over from the previous tenants.

Lead with a subtle color that stands out

Saie’s office is a reminder that a minimalist spaces don’t have to be void of non-neutrals. Here, the beauty brand nods to its iconic color, lilac, for a pop of color against muted hues. This was an intentional decision to let its products, primarily made up of its staple lilac packaging, to take center stage. It’s also found in certain areas of the office like the entrance and conference room; the walls are covered in a soft lilac lime wash finish by FauxCoos to set the tone of the space upon entry. “We really leaned into the brand’s color palette, which includes different neutral tones layered with lilac, which we wanted to act as a backdrop, as seen with the products displayed throughout the office,” Lynch-Sparks explains. “The product pops off of the neutral background and textures used.”

Crank up the heat with chrome accents

Saie cleverly incorporates chrome into its office. Silver pieces add a glistening touch to any given room and pairs well with the environment, considering that there are already preexisting steel vents and pipes in the industrial-style space. Instead of covering up old hardware, Lynch-Sparks accentuates its presence by adding custom chrome vanities, placing silver trays on tables, and using shiny knobs on pantries and cabinets. The mix of chrome with natural elements like wood strikes a perfect balance of sleek and soft, making both elements pop when used together.

Statement lighting casts a warm glow

The concept of home makes a frequent cameo in commercial spaces, from hotels to offices. But what makes a modern office feel warm and welcoming doesn’t just come from applying a neutral color palette or natural materials. The use of soft, low lighting is a major contributor to channeling a cozy ambience. With that in mind, Lynch-Sparks considered the Saie team’s preferences to strike a “happy medium.” In this case, the designer designated all of the lights depending on the use of the space—aside from ushering in natural light from the windows, linear lights sit above the desks to give a warm glow, while the fulfillment area uses bright track lighting to luminate merchandise on the shelves.

Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest