Designer Toni Sabatino’s kitchen and bath experience spans running a plumbing supply showroom and retail sales and marketing roles for cabinet brands before she founded New York-based Toni Sabatino Style.

Embracing collaboration and learning has kept Toni Sabatino at the forefront of design practice. She’s committed to pursuing personalization for her clients, as this living room project demonstrates. Photo credit: Vadara Quartz
How does your background influence the way you approach the design business?
I come from a family that really enjoyed being in New York. There is a sort of comfort in all the mixed in cultures and styles. Both my grandmothers influenced me very much, one being an artist and other loving to entertain and being a passionate garden lover. I think the idea of having a home that shows who you are and what you love with a design that is safe, comfortable and beautiful is an homage to them.
What has been your biggest challenge – and how did you resolve it?
The biggest challenge has been the business part. Being creative cones naturally but the back end, the insurances, accounting and all that comes with running your own business can be daunting! Finding the right people, accountants, insurance brokers, warehouse and delivery people, good product reps and creating working partnerships have helped me through.
What is the most important career lesson you’ve learned?
I think that feeling your own value – me feeling my own value – has been the best lesson. Understanding that building environments for better living for people of all ages and abilities is important. Believing in the service I am providing, because I truly believe that the design business is about service to the clients more than product. Realizing that the user experience of the space and how it makes you feel is equally important to what it looks like in a photograph.
What advice would you give someone who is thinking about entering the design business?
Working in design is very fulfilling. What could be better than expressing your creativity in a practical way? I think that joining associations like NKBA and other design groups to find the right mentors and people to discuss day-to-day business challenges with is important.
What is your favorite thing to collect – and why?
Framed art and photographs are my latest “collection.” I guess I am really collecting memories.
Who or what has been a seminal influence on your design career?
Travel! Travel to trade shows for interacting with peers and sharing ideas as well as looking at new product. Travel to far-off places to study the art and architectural influences and how people live. I am especially interested in how and what people store and display, as well as how they source, prepare and serve food. So much of life revolves around meals and mealtimes. I think that is one of the reasons I love designing kitchens.