Sarabeth Bespoke: Designing Custom Pieces That Live Beyond the Table
At this year’s The Southern C Summit at Sea Island, the closing brunch offered a beautifully considered moment to end the week.
Sara Zigman, founder of Sarabeth Bespoke, contributed custom patterns that were incorporated throughout the brunch design—from tablecloths and napkins to select decorative elements—adding a thoughtful layer of artistry to the overall setting.
From Sara’s perspective, the opportunity was especially meaningful.
“I’ve long admired the women of The Southern C, so the opportunity to contribute creatively to the closing brunch felt incredibly special. To be in a room with authors like Elyce Arons, Lydia Fenet, Annette Joseph, Rebecca Gardner, and so many others who have inspired me for years made it all the more meaningful.”
The brunch itself was rooted in collaboration. Sara developed bespoke patterns incorporating The Southern C’s signature sunburst, along with a custom anniversary toile commemorating ten years of partnership with Sea Island. From there, the designs were carried thoughtfully throughout the space—wrapping the bar in custom wallpaper, extending into an outdoor lounge layered with reversible toile and sunburst pillows, and woven into each detail guests experienced throughout the morning.
In partnership with Morgan Hutchinson of BURU, the patterns were also featured within a custom clothing collection created for The Southern C team. Hutchinson led the garment design and fabric selections, extending the visual story beyond the table and into the experience itself.
Through these layered details, the setting came together across the tables and surrounding space—from patterned linens to small decorative touches—bringing Sara’s original artwork into the broader design of the brunch.
From there, Sara approaches each gathering with a clear point of view.
Looking back on the brunch, she notes that what stays with her most is how much the details shaped the experience. The most memorable gatherings are never defined by a single element, but by the way everything works together to create a feeling.
Every gathering begins with a clear perspective
Not just a theme, but a feeling I want guests to carry with them. For The Southern C brunch, that began with original artwork and a layered, multi-color palette, designed to feel vibrant, expressive, and adaptable across the many moments of the week. Each pattern was created specifically for the occasion, and carried throughout the space, from linens and wallpaper to the final details guests experienced that morning.
Let the details carry the story
I’ve always believed the details are where a gathering truly comes to life. For this brunch, those details were layered intentionally throughout. The bar wrapped in custom wallpaper. Tables dressed in bespoke linens. An outdoor lounge brought to life through pattern and texture. Nothing was designed in isolation. Each element was created to feel connected, contributing to a larger, cohesive narrative. Those same patterns extended beyond the setting itself—into the custom clothing collection and keepsakes—allowing the designs to live not only within the space, but beyond it. This continuity is central to my work: creating pieces that don’t end with the event, but evolve into something lasting.
Layer, don’t match
I’m never drawn to spaces where everything feels perfectly matched. The most compelling environments are layered, where pattern, color, and texture work together to create depth and dimension. That sense of layering allows a space to feel collected and personal rather than overly styled—and often mirrors how we live with the pieces we love over time.
Create something guests can take with them
One of the most meaningful elements of the brunch was the silk scarf created for each guest. Designed from the same original artwork used throughout the space, the scarves reflected the patterns seen across the tables and setting, creating a natural extension of the experience. I’ve always loved the idea that something from the table can live on beyond the moment itself—becoming part of a memory rather than simply a detail. In many ways, this is the foundation of Sarabeth Bespoke: designing pieces that feel both deeply personal and lasting.
Design for how it feels
At its core, thoughtful hosting is about intention. While visual beauty is important, what matters most is how a space makes people feel—comfortable, inspired, connected. That perspective is at the heart of everything I create. Each textile and pattern begins as original artwork, then evolves into custom pieces—linens, accessories, and objects—that are designed to be collected, used, and passed down.
Looking back, this brunch was a reminder that when every detail is considered, from the linens to the scarves, a gathering becomes something more than just a beautiful setting—it becomes an experience people carry with them. Seeing the designs move from artwork to table to keepsake—and beyond into pieces that live on in everyday life—is what made the experience feel complete.
P.S. To explore bespoke design commissions or begin creating pieces of your own, connect with Sara at sarabethbespoke.com or follow her work on Instagram @sarabeth.designs.
Take a peek at the Sarabeth Bespoke x TSC x BURU collection
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