AUSTIN INTERIOR DESIGN STUDIO
At BANDD DESIGN, we believe that design should feel effortless, approachable, interesting, and purposeful. Our distinctive style, matched with the fluid mix of high and low pieces has become our core design aesthetic.
Sara Malek Barney, ASID – Founder + Principal Designer
Sara is the mastermind behind the design. Prior to launching BANDD DESIGN, she spent the first phase of her professional career working in the fast-paced entertainment and sports industries, as an executive at companies such as SXSW, Creative Artists Agency (CAA), and The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Her past experience helps her deliver timeless, unique designs for her clients. She believes the design process should be highly collaborative and feel authentic to each individual.
An Austin-native (a rare breed!), Sara spent nearly a decade in sunny Los Angeles, California, where she met her writer husband, Dana, while they were both chasing the Hollywood dream. Now back on home turf, Sara and Dana enjoy endless amounts of breakfast tacos and college football (hook ’em!) with their two daughters.
Sara, a University of Texas alum, has degrees in Corporate Communication and Interior Design. She was named one of Fortune Magazine‘s Most Powerful Women {Next Gen}, one of Austin Monthly‘s Women to Watch, and is a member of the American Society of Interior Designers and the Female Founder Collective.
When not designing, you can find Sara wearing sequins, learning a hip hop dance routine, watching Seinfeld (yes, still), trying to be a cool mom, or daydreaming about Napa.
S. Rohde Hill – Designer + Project Manager
Rohde studied Architecture at the University of Texas before moving to Los Angeles to pursue a career in Interior Design. While still a student at UCLA, he was selected by internationally renowned celebrity interior designer, Martyn Lawrence Bullard to be a part of his newly formed company. As a designer there, Rohde worked on projects for Elton John, Cher, Pamela Anderson, Kid Rock, and writer Aaron Sorkin, among others.
As a native Texan though, the lure of Austin was too much to resist – so he abandoned life in the Hollywood Hills for life in Silicon Hills.
His personal style is not for the faint of heart, but he loves crafting one-of-a-kind bespoke interiors for his clients.
When not designing, he could most likely be found lounging in the pool of his amazing second home in Palm Springs if he actually had a second home in Palm Springs. In reality, he’s probably out hiking, helping his kids with their homework, binge-watching Mad Men for the twentieth time, or crossing off days on a calendar until he can go back to Round Top.
Meghan Kardow – Designer + Project Manager
Meghan is a native Texan, growing up in Houston, who earned her Bachelor’s degree in Studio Art from the University of Texas and her Master’s of Interior Architecture from Cal Poly Pomona.
Her love of design was born through her passion for art from a very young age. This interest in art history took her to study fine arts in college, concentrating on drawing and painting. Interior Design was always a passion on the side, and after college, she relocated to Los Angeles to study Interior Architecture. She lived in Los Angeles for 5 years where she immersed herself in the design community, joining ASID and working for several LA residential designers. To Meghan, design should have a personality that goes beyond functionality. Your home should truly reflect both who you are and how you will live in the space.
When she’s not designing, you can find her working on a new painting or creative project, thrifting for vintage home goods, walking Town Lake with friends, or hanging out at home with her rescue dog, Finn.
Hannah Stone – Design Assistant
Hannah is a native Austinite who graduated from Austin Community College with a degree in Marketing and Fashion Merchandising.
With her parents both in the creative fields of home building and event planning, Hannah knew from a young age that interior design was her passion. The architectural plans, paint sticks, and tile samples that were always around while growing up helped her to develop an eye for design.
On her days off you will find her trying new restaurants, designing and rearranging the spaces in her own home, and spending quality time with her fiancé and her dog, Lottie.
Erica Holley – Design Assistant
Erica is a native Austinite and Westlake grad who earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Interior Design from Texas Christian University.
Having always had a keen critical eye, Erica grew up exploring numerous creative pursuits, including but not limited to competitive dancing, studio art, fashion styling, and photography. By the time college came around, however, this creative inclination (in combination with the influence of growing up with a mother with DIY tendencies) led Erica to pursue a career in interior design.
Erica comes to us with experience in the Dallas hospitality industry. She draws most of her design inspiration from past art movements and would consider herself a huge history nerd. She has a particular fondness for Art Nouveau, Miami Art Deco, and Midcentury styles.
When she’s not in the studio, you can find Erica scoping out new hotels and restaurants around town, sailing with her family, practicing yoga, or helping friends with their own design projects.
Gabrielle Lowrie – Operations + Marketing Admin
Gabrielle grew up in Golden, Colorado, and has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Strategic Communications from the University of Colorado Boulder with a minor in Sociology.
Her passion for interior design developed at an early age, as she found herself planning each room of her future house and crafting miniature toy furniture models to put in her dollhouse. Over the years, Gabrielle’s enthusiasm for all things related to design flourished, which is what inspired her to study advertising and the art of content creation. She is constantly on the hunt for unique, one-of-a-kind pieces and enjoys sketching her own designs for furniture, decor, and lighting. Most of Gabrielle’s design inspiration is drawn from her love for sleek Modern, Hollywood Regency, and Art Deco styles.
In her free time, you can find Gabrielle getting her groove on at a local concert, hanging out on the lake, or watching Real Housewives with her cat, Mr. Kittens.
Dana Barney – Director of Operations
Dana is a perfect blend of imagination and control. He started his career in the entertainment industry with a focus on screenwriting and production development before he transitioned to a position running marketing operations for a Fortune 100 company. The role, which required him to hone his organizational skills, left him with a need for a new creative outlet. From there, Dana tapped into his deep love of writing and published his first two novels, Flatline and Half Life.
Being a native East Coaster, never thought he’d live in Texas, but now that he does, you can find him complaining about the heat and lack of snow.
Dana has a degree in Writing and Directing from Bennington College in Vermont and has worked in Operations for nearly a decade.
When he’s not pulling the strings behind the curtain, you can find Dana making gin martinis, hanging out in his gazebo, going to the movies, making lunches for school, and writing his next thriller.
Hillary Cumberworth – In-house Artist
The perfect way to describe Hillary is to say she is the youngest of four kids. Her life started off as the caboose to a circus train, so she can juggle anything that is thrown her way with focus, teamwork, and always a little humor.
She earned her Bachelor of Studio Arts with a focus in sculpture and a minor in Art History from Southwestern University. After graduating, she worked with a large custom home builder, helping home buyers with design choices that turn a builder-grade house into something special and custom. She then chose to completely flip the script and become a middle school art teacher in inner-city Houston.
In her spare time, she wrestles her kids along with the laundry and chaos they create. But in those other few fleeting moments you can catch her eating an entire cheese board by herself, training for half marathons, and going down some amazing rabbit holes on Instagram, all while making the most of the 24 hours she has each day.
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