For this edition of our Designer Edit, we partnered with Farah Merhi, founder of Inspire Me! Home Decor and one of today’s most recognized names in approachable luxury design.
Known for her warm neutrals, layered textures, and timeless aesthetic, Farah has built a community of millions who look to her for inspiration on creating homes that feel elevated yet livable. When it came time to update her lower level, she selected Sable Signature, a floor that aligned with both her design vision and the everyday needs of her family.
On Choosing Sable Signature
What drew you to Sable Signature for your home, both as a designer and as a homeowner?
“When I am choosing products for my home, I tend to wear both hats. As a designer, I am looking for finishes and details that are aesthetically pleasing, flow with the rest of my home and achieve the look and feel I am looking for. As a homeowner who also has kids, I am focused on functionality, durability and budget. Sable Signature checked all my lists from both perspectives.
I love that I am able to install Luxury Vinyl floors in our lower level (basement) space that actually looks and feels like real wood! From the texture that mimics real wood, to the tones and colors that look like real wood floors. It creates a connection to my upper levels that feature wood floors, while allowing my lower level to flow beautifully with the rest of my home. My basement space, although is a walk out basement and feels like a lower level then an actual basement, it still has some features of a basement.
For example basements have concrete floors and the best flooring option to install on top of concrete would be Luxury vinyl as opposed to wood floors. And as the dedicated hang out space, It also tends to be a very high traffic area. Having Luxury Vinyl floors gives me peace of mind since I do not have to worry about scratches and dents and as a designer it allows me to enjoy how beautiful and warm the floors look in the space.”
On the Role of Flooring
As a designer, what role do you believe flooring plays in setting the tone for an entire space?
“Flooring is one of the most important factors in setting the tone and can really make a huge difference in the way a space looks and feels. Flooring can make your home feel warm and inviting though warm tones and texture. Flooring can also make your home feel light and bright through the colors you choose and can totally transform your space.”
On Choosing Floors for the First Time
What advice would you share with someone choosing their floors for the first time?
“Don’t rush into your decision making. You will be living with the floors for a very long time! You want to make sure you pick the right flooring. Remember its a process, ordering samples is VERY important to the process of choosing the right floors for your home. Floors tend to look and feel different from home to home and from space to space. So it’s essential that you take the time to sample and decide from there.
First decide if you are looking for Wood or Vinyl. Set your budget and decide where everything will be installed. Then narrow down to 2-3 finishes and colors you love or feel can bring your vision to life. Order your samples and set them in the room you’re working on. Place the sample in different parts of the space (next to the window, middle of the room, against your walls, in a darker corner for example) to see how the flooring is looking within your home and if it’s achieving the look and feel you’re going for. Walk by the area at different times of the day as well, to see if you’re still loving how it looks when it’s light out and when it’s dark out. That’s when you narrow down to the flooring you love!”
On the Finished Space
How does the finished space feel now that the flooring is in place, and what kind of atmosphere does it create for everyday life at home?
“We had darker flooring in our basement. Smaller and more narrow planks as well. Since replacing our old flooring with the new flooring, I have loved how the wider planks make the room feel bigger and more spacious. The warm lighter tones have added warmth and brightened up our basement! A complete difference from what it looked like before! It's important to me that every corner of my home feels cozy through warm undertones and finishes. The Sable Signature has added just that and lots of texture throughout the room. To me, it's exactly what we needed to update our space!”
From thoughtful material selection to the final installed result, this Designer Edit reflects Farah’s signature philosophy: create spaces that are beautiful, cohesive, and built for real life.
Learn more and explore Farah’s space here.
