At Sarreid, we love nothing more than seeing our pieces come to life in the hands of talented designers — layered into rooms that tell a story, hold history, and feel completely their own. This month, we’re sitting down with interior designer Kaylee Pauley to talk about a dining room she recently completed for a client, one filled with global inspiration, family heirlooms, and several of our favorite Sarreid pieces.
Kaylee Pauley’s design philosophy is rooted in a lifelong connection to the outdoors, from hiking the wildflower trails of New Mexico’s Sandia Mountains to the rolling hills of Tennessee — an appreciation for texture, balance, and natural beauty that shapes every space she designs. She begins each project by getting to know her clients’ stories, crafting bespoke interiors that balance function and beauty with warmth, elegance, and authenticity.
A graduate of Middle Tennessee State University’s Interior Design program, Kaylee honed her craft at a high-end residential design firm in Nashville before founding her own studio. Now based in Franklin, Tennessee, she’s known for layering personal history with modern living — blending antiques and collected treasures with contemporary pieces to create timeless, meaningful homes.
How would you describe your signature design style, and how is it reflected in this dining space?
“Goodness, summarizing my style into a few words feels challenging — I guess I would hope others would say that my style is layered, intentional, and hopefully timeless. My goal is always to tell the story of those who call those four walls home, while also elevating it and bringing in the right balance of textures and tones. I want to create spaces that feel equal parts ‘refined’ and ‘come as you are.’ And that typically means layering in the right pieces, some new, some with history, but always using natural finishes.”
This room features a few Sarreid pieces. What drew you to each one, and how did they help shape the overall design?
“These clients are world travelers, and I wanted to bring in pieces that offered a subtle nod to their love of travel. The French-inspired dining table did exactly that, while its long, narrow boards and warm, worn wood tone bring a sense of age and history to the space. The bamboo-style chairs add a more casual, relaxed note that balances the slightly dressier table and chandelier. And the large sideboard, with its shallow depth, was exactly the size and style we needed to add storage while also bringing another layer of visual interest to the room.”
When planning a dining room, what guidelines do you follow for table size, chair clearance, and comfortable traffic flow?
“When laying out a dining space, I try to maintain about 45″ of clearance between the dining table and walls or furniture in areas that need to accommodate traffic, and closer to 40″ in areas where we simply need access to each seat. In general, I like to allow 24–26″ of width per person for comfortable everyday seating, but will reduce that to around 20″ when needed to accommodate additional chairs for larger dinner parties.”
What personal touches — such as art, textiles, color, or mixed materials — did you use to give the space depth and make it feel unique to the client?
“When it comes time for install day, I bring a large assortment of inventory items with me — pieces I’ve collected from estate sales and antique stores, both locally and during my travels. I’m often collecting things along the way that feel intentional and personal to a particular home, and then I’ll layer those pieces with items my clients already own and want to incorporate.
In this space, the vintage needlepoint bell pull is especially meaningful — it was made by the client’s grandmother. We paired their existing travel photograph and a funky mirror with antique ironware made in England and an original oil painting of a European scene in a beautiful gold frame. I love mixing these older, storied pieces with a few more modern elements to give a room depth and personality. And I’m a firm believer that every room needs a little brass, so naturally, even the live plant in the corner is tucked into a vintage brass planter.”
Featured Sarreid Pieces: French-Inspired Dining Table · Bamboo-Style Dining Chairs · Shallow-Depth Sideboard
Photography: Silvius James — Nashville Photographer
Design: Kaylee Pauley
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