From fashion to interiors: Stormy Sparlin’s design evolution
Winter/Spring 24-25
Written By: Heather Jarvis | Images: Gillian Hunter
When Stormy Sparlin moved to Park City 12 years ago as a single mom, her main goal was to find a home where she and her son could both pursue their passions.
Her son, a big-mountain skier, needed a mountain town with great snow, while Stormy required a location with opportunities for her career as a fashion designer.
She fell into a job with Sundance Catalog, which has a location in Salt Lake City, and nearby Park City became home for the pair. After her stint with Sundance Catalog, Stormy worked as the senior vice president of design for Kanye West’s Yeezy line.
Fast-forward a decade, and Stormy has gained a husband and two stepsons, and started her own interior design business while still consulting as a fashion designer on the side.
She launched Stormy Sparlin Studios three years ago, transitioning from the fashion industry to home design. Hers is a full-service global firm that works on all building phases, from new construction to remodels to decorating. For Stormy, transitioning from designing clothes to designing homes felt like a natural progression.
“It’s remarkable how similar the process is, it’s just a different subject matter,” she says. “One happens to be clothing a body, and one happens to be furnishing a home.”
With each project Stormy takes on, whether it be construction or interior design, commercial or residential, she first works to get to know her clients and their lifestyle in order to truly customize their home.
“I think it’s so important to understand how people live and who they are,” she says. “It’s important to have a conversation with my clients and really explore how they want to feel in each space.”
What makes her work stand out is her penchant for bringing something unique and nostalgic into a home, such as the French arch doors from Paris she recently installed on a pantry. “Adding intentional elements of warmth and history, evoking a sense of belonging to whomever walks in, I think that sets me apart,” she says.
As much as she enjoys working with her clients, it’s also the spatial aspect of designing a home that drives her.
“I love moving walls,” Stormy says. “The architecture of a home is what inspires me most. Understanding the ‘why’ behind the design is a driving force for the rest of the elements that follow.”
Lighting and material selection is another aspect of the business where she likes to focus her expertise.
“Lighting and material selection can make or break a space,” she says. “You can create so many different moods with lighting, especially when it’s layered properly.”
As Stormy’s 25-plus year career in design has morphed, it’s given her the opportunity to feel like she’s part of the Park City community.
“When I was working in fashion, there was zero level of connection. There’s a body, you don’t know who that body is, but in interiors, you’re designing for someone’s home and how they’re going to live. I’ve been able to meet the most incredible people — clients who are now friends. That’s been pretty amazing.”
