Sarah Kirkpatrick is the owner of Unshelf Design in Calgary, Alberta. Sarah and her team offer services for interior design, staging, moving, and even real estate marketing for homes as well as vacation and rental properties. Sarah’s eye for design and experience with marketing helps her clients to get top dollar for their property.
“I took a staging and design certification online when I got burnt out doing only digital marketing (my other business that I own). I then started to reach out to realtors who I knew through marketing and doing tons of outreach on Instagram to other local realtors. A few started to call me for consults and then pass my names on to their clients.”
In addition to her unique business model, Sarah has found a way to help clients of her popular decluttering service make a few extra bucks on items they would be getting rid of by creating a consignment shop.
“We offer consignment opportunities to our clients for specific decor and furniture items. As we help them sort, we go through their ‘sell‘ and ‘donate‘ piles and choose the items that we feel are within our niche and would be of interest to our audience. We sell these items on behalf of our clients, splitting profits 40% for our client, 60% for Unshelf.”
Photo staged and provided by Unshelf Design
Learn more about Sarah:
My motto is…
Say yes now, figure it out later!
Good staging should…
Answer the buyer’s questions before they need to ask. Evoke an emotional response that has people projecting their own lifestyle goals onto the space.
Right now I am obsessed with…
Plants. I am growing veggies from seeds in my living room, and have over 20 adult plants throughout my house.
I love what I do because…
I get to be creative, work with beautiful things all day, project manage (I love business), and have a healthy balance of getting out of the house, working in my office, and shopping!
Photo staged and provided by Unshelf Design
My favorite meal after a long day of staging is…
Poke Bowls.
When faced with a struggle…
I reach out for support from the community and rely on my business background and extensive research.
What part of owning your own business is the least enjoyable for you and why?
Sales. I love project management, and design, and advertising – I do not like sales.
What do you think about when you are alone in your car?
I listen to design and staging podcasts, so usually planning my next move based on the findings.
Photo staged and provided by Unshelf Design
What does a perfect day look like to you?
Wake up with my dogs, have a breakfast sandwich outside on the deck. Check emails in the hammock, do a staging consultation (where they hire me to stage for them). Go thrift shopping and hit up a couple of garage sales, send a design board for approval, and have a homemade sushi dinner.
When you are in a rut creatively where do you go or what do you do to get out of it?
Old school magazines paired with a deep Pinterest binge.
My go to staging accessory is…
Large mirror leaned on top of a dresser.
In the next 5 years…
I plan to move to Vancouver Island and purchase an acreage property, from where I can host design workshops, open my consignment decor shop, and host my team in a large Carriage house.
Photo staged and provided by Unshelf Design
Who is your role model and why?
My mom was my role model. She was an independent female business owner who started a business in her walk-in closet (converted to a tiny office) and grew it into a multi-million dollar national brand.
My morning ritual is…
Laying in bed for 30 minutes opening emails until one propels me out of bed.
My personal aesthetic is…
Classic Grand Millennial – with a twist of eclectic.
When I am not working I enjoy…
Thrift shopping, traveling the world, and fostering dogs.
You can find out more about Sarah and her company by visiting her website https://unshelfdesign.com/
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