In Canada, we have no shortage of big cities and sprawling countryside, but when it comes to design, we mostly see people and homes that fit into one category or the other. It’s no surprise, then, that in the inaugural issue of Collected, designer Sarah Richardson seeks to create a balance between the two. “The idea of juxtaposing two completely opposite genres or ways of living offers the reader the opportunity to think about who they are and how they define themselves,” says Richardson. “It was so interesting that when we asked people [which world they preferred], most said they wanted to live with a foot in [each one].”

Why did you decide to start this series of books?

“I’d done two books previously that were all my own work, and I wanted to continually share projects that my team and I were doing. But I was also inspired to think about whether there was a way I could use a book series to be a collaborative venture that would share my own work but also work with other designers [who are] excited to share their own ideas. That’s how the title Collected was born. Every person lives somewhere, and the process of creating your home is about curating and collecting things you love. We came up with Collected as a way for us to collect ideas and collect a team of individuals and to show a variety of perspectives on how to live from destinations around the globe and celebrate people working with passion and purpose to create a full environment in a variety of ways.”

What do you hope people get from the collection?

“One of the things I love most about the book is our Global Edit, which, in this first issue, turns the spotlight on six female artists and looks at what they’re doing, what their backgrounds are and what inspires them. I think being able to show a cross section of anything is always interesting, so I became fascinated with the unique approach that each one of these people has. Do they do this full-time? Are they self-taught? I think everything about the book series comes from a place of seeking to inspire and empower people to create the home that they want. No matter what budget, be it minuscule or extravagant, I’m hoping there’s a piece of advice, an idea, a palette or a material that each reader will gravitate toward and yearn for more of.”

Do you have any tips for making a space more city or more country?

“We tried to offer solutions because there’s no one way to do something. You can be living in the city but [have a style that’s] rooted in history and filled with country elements, but there’s no one definitive element. So we have country spaces that feel more contemporary and country spaces that pay deep respect to their traditional roots. Design isn’t about arbitrary decisions; for me, it’s about creating a soulful interior that blends artisanal elements with natural materials and feels firmly rooted in where it is located and respectful of its surroundings.”