Nashville native Stephanie Sabbe has distinguished herself in the interior design world by bringing classic, timeless, comfortable, and collected spaces to life.
After graduating from the University of Tennessee’s interior design program, Sabbe has spent the last 15 years and counting working in residential and commercial design in Nashville and beyond. She launched her own firm, Sabbe Interior Design, in 2010 and with every project she tackles she is committed to creating spaces that reflect each client’s own unique history. And now, with her newly opened store Heirloom Artifacts, Sabbe is providing a space for customers to shop, socialize, and ignite their own inspiration.
Located in Belle Meade, Heirloom Artifacts embodies all the charm of a general store with an emphasis on home décor. The store features an expertly curated selection of artisan textiles, antiques, art, and home accessories including candle chasers, accent pillows, and resorted antique chairs, to name a few. There are also plenty of trinkets and treats mixed in like trivia games and Goo Goo Clusters that evoke a sense of whimsical nostalgia.
“I grew up loving a good 30 minutes of wandering around a Cracker Barrel gift shop. I’m going for a similar experience, just a smidge more high end. Maybe you spend five minutes, maybe 30, maybe you buy something, maybe you don’t, but you leave feeling excited and filled up with your brain racing about how you are going to go and make your house a home. We had a customer come in last week and say, ‘It just feels so cozy in here,’ and that just made my day,” says Sabbe.
Inspired by a trip to London that she took last fall, Heirloom Artifacts captures the cozy, well- curated nature of some of her favorite shops in the city; each offering something different and entirely their own. Much like her approach to each design project she takes on, the store encompasses a sense of uniqueness in terms of both offerings and design aesthetic. And although she never anticipated that she would open her own store, it turned out to be a reality beyond Sabbe’s wildest dreams.
“I never thought I would do retail and it has been the funniest thing because I love it so much. We lived in Boston for six years and I always wanted to pinch myself just walking around the city. I felt like I was living on a movie set, it’s just that gorgeous. It’s cheesy but when I walk into the shop, I feel the same way. I can’t believe I get to come into this pretty space every morning, I can’t believe this is real,” Sabbe explains. “I started the shop because I was interested in getting into product development and decided I could partner with other brands or go at it myself. So, Heirloom Artifacts over time will carry more original products. Our first lamp is in production now and should be in the shop by February.”
Along with introducing original products, Sabbe designed the store to ensure that it feels fresh and inspiring with every visit. She sought out a cabinet maker to build three vintage, general store-style shelving units that can be moved around to refresh the space (and as someone who likes to shake things up, she is already eager to move things around since the store’s December opening). Plenty of vintage lighting is on full display as well to keep customers feeling enticed and imaginative.
Community was also at the forefront of Sabbe’s vision for Heirloom Artifacts. The store plays host to a wide variety of workshops and programming ranging from still-life painting to chain stitching, to classes in calligraphy, flower arranging, cookie decorating, makeup, and more.
“I used to teach sewing at the Boston Center for Adult Education. Before COVID, I had a great streak where I went from an adult gymnastics class, to writing class, to piano lessons, all while hosting a weekly painting night with a group of friends,” says Sabbe. “I love community workshops and adult education. I love learning and I love bringing people together.”
Whether it’s through the products or classes offered, Sabbe hopes that Heirloom Artifacts provides a welcoming environment that inspires all who walk through the doors to design a home that feels entirely their own.
“In my dream world people walk in or attend a talk or workshop and leave rethinking the fast and convenient trends of our current infill and development projects. I know we all want that ‘walking in a movie’ experience. We all love a Nancy Meyers movie, but we are not building a lot of Nancy Meyers houses around here currently,” Sabbe says. “Everything just feels so disposable and fast. I would love to help usher in an heirloom architecture movement in Nashville. I would love for people to understand what a legacy, good or bad, the built environment creates. And most importantly, teach people that blue tinted interior lighting is from the devil.”
(5133 Harding Pike A10, 615-953-2908)