This week we had the pleasure of visiting our beautiful team member, Sarah Dragicevich's adorable home to have a little nosey. Sarah has been a part of our team for years working casually across our stores, and we now are lucky to have her part time in our head office helping our marketing team with graphics.
Sarah's style shines through in all she does from fashion to her choices in her home. An avid maker of moodboards, we adore Sarah's furniture and decor picks.
Keep reading to hear about Sarah's home style philosophy and have a peek inside with us!
Tell us a bit about yourself, your home, and who you live with?
I’m a graphic designer, my family and I have lived here in this 1910 square fronted villa for over ten years. My husband Ollie is also a graphic designer, and our two kids Ella (8) and Theo (6) go to school down the road. My Dad grew up around the corner, on the street coincidentally that Father Rabbit had its beginnings.
I’m a graphic designer, my family and I have lived here in this 1910 square fronted villa for over ten years. My husband Ollie is also a graphic designer, and our two kids Ella (8) and Theo (6) go to school down the road. My Dad grew up around the corner, on the street coincidentally that Father Rabbit had its beginnings.
Tell us about your career in design and what makes you passionate?
My background is in magazine publishing, and for a few years I worked as Art Director for Fashion Quarterly. I then left to have my daughter Ella. I returned to work as a freelance graphic designer and have worked for various publications and clients over the last 8 years. I’ve been pretty lucky in my career to have worked with so many talented creatives.
I met Jasmin Scott of Jasmin Sparrow Jewellery through Father Rabbit a few years ago and I have had the pleasure of working with her this past year. I’ve always loved her brand and own many of her pieces.
I’ve also recently reconnected with my art roots. I was given the opportunity to work with a close friend of mine, Chantelle Smith, Gallery Director at Visions on Lorne Street. We studied at Elam together and I’ve known her for over 20 years. Visions has an incredible stable of local and international artists. Some of which, along with other industry creatives, I’ve worked alongside. I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to meet and get to know them and their work. It has reignited my love of art and ultimately made me realise how much I want to add to my collection. Abstract art would feature, of course.
I’m now working as a graphic designer for Father Rabbit, a brand and company I have always loved.
Did you always know you wanted to be a designer?
I didn’t always know, I was a bit clueless about what exactly I wanted to do, I knew it would be in the creative field and that I would hopefully figure it out at Elam. I was enrolled in graphic design at Elam but decided to major in photography instead. After graduating I completed a Post Graduate Diploma in graphic design, with a goal to work in publishing. A love of fashion and design, in particular New Zealand fashion, is what led me to work on magazines and started my career as a graphic designer.
Do you have a personal home style philosophy?
They have started a gallery on their bedroom walls, it’s very cute so I don’t want to touch or mess with their creativity, but man it is hectic looking. They like to display everything they own which is pretty much the opposite of me.
Trying to keep things contained with kids is an ongoing task. I'm always looking for storage solutions, Yamazaki is a favourite which is stocked at Father Rabbit. I have a few of their storage boxes for the kids' art supplies and use the toolboxes for my cosmetics.
I’m attracted to well designed pieces of furniture, clothing, jewellery and objects that are multifunctional and indisposable.
What are some of your favourite items in your house, sentimental or otherwise?
1. One of my favourite pieces of furniture in our house is our Father Rabbit bed. The base is made in New Zealand from hot rolled steel with a raw finish. The design and construction is perfect, and will last a lifetime.
2. Andrew Beck’s Binding I artwork — I love the way that light plays with the works appearance, illuminating and revealing the works depth and colour. It’s so beautiful.
I’m a big fan of Andrew’s work, partly because I’m fascinated with the artistic process and while working at the gallery, I got to discover a bit more about his practice and the way he creates and constructs these works. It makes sense that I’m drawn to it; it’s what I was interested in when I studied photography at Elam. The process of printing by hand and experimenting in the darkroom was the most rewarding for me. I love how art can trigger a memory or feeling in the viewer. Nostalgia plays a big part in my connection to things, to music, art, film, objects and people.
3. My Nadia Reid record, ‘Out of My Province’ — I had to have this album, it’s so good. Nadia has signed it too. I bought it when she and her band performed at Pah Homestead early last year, just before the very first lockdown. They were amazing live, I’m so glad I got to go. This album, that I listened to at home over those trying few weeks during lockdown, was an essential escape. She has a stunning voice and I like to play it loud. Music is so important to me, I love discovering new artists, I feel like I must have stopped listening for a while as I’m playing catch-up now. But it’s live music I enjoy most of all, it’s magic.
4. Kids Portraits — My kids each have a black and white photographic portrait hanging in their bedrooms. They are by Olivia Kirkpatrick and Rachel Morton of BAMBAM Portraits. I worked with Rachel Morton at Fashion Quarterly, she is one of my favourite stylists and between them they have captured my kids perfectly.
5. Jewellery — I’m drawn to timeless jewellery that I know I’ll have and wear forever. These are my favourite pieces that I wear the most.
Pigment Studio’s Anita Necklace; it is monogrammed with my kids initials and made by Albertine Lello, a friend I met through Father Rabbit. Pigment Studio is now stocked at Father Rabbit Select, her collection of classic pieces are very beautiful. Jasmin Sparrow’s No.1 Necklace and Serge Ring; I can’t take these off, they are perfect. The necklace was a very special gift. I’ve always wanted one and I will treasure it and wear it always.
6. My kids drawings — I may be a minimalist, but I do keep everything they draw and create. Especially the early years when they weren’t drawing figuratively yet, I love how colourful and expressive their pictures were.
What are some ways you keep the balance between your home and work life?
Balance is what I strive for, it’s a work in progress. I wish I could say I have a designated work space to keep things easy, but I actually don’t have an office so use our main living space when working at home. A few days a week I have my kids’ friends here after school, so I’ve gotten used to a house sometimes full of hungry kids, feeding them and somehow when I need to, I keep working amongst it all (my EarPods were a necessary investment).
Do you have a favourite space or room in your home?
Probably the lounge which is really just the main living space as it’s open plan. Our new Father Rabbit sofa makes it so inviting, it’s super comfy and meets my criteria of good design, practicality and function.
What's on your playlist at home?
A small selection from my current playlist:
- A Fullness Of Light In Your Soul (feat. Perfume Genius) - Hypnotic Brass Ensemble
- To The Island (Unknown Mortal Orchestra Remix) - Crowded House, Unknown Mortal Orchestra
- Tried To Tell You - The Weather Station
- Road Of The Lonely Ones - Madlib
- Burning Sugar - Silicon
- Happen To Me - BENEE
- Set My Heart On Fire Immediately - Perfume Genius (this album is a favourite)
- Make Your Mind Up - Souls Of Mischief
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