About

For over 20 years, ballonSTUDIO has been a leading boutique design firm in San Francisco, dedicated to turning clients vision of a "beautiful life" into stunning reality. Our full-service interior design team seamlessly integrates architecture, art, hospitality, and worldly experiences to create intentional, luxurious spaces that reflect a client’s unique style.

  • We believe in quiet luxury—homes that feel calm, considered, and unmistakably personal. Guided by architecture, art, and a global point of view, we create interiors that feel effortless: layered with meaning, rich in detail, and made to endure.

  • Our Approach is structured, collaborative, and calm. We listen closely, clarify the vision and parameters early, then guide decisions with confidence—protecting the design plan while managing the details with rigor. The result is an enjoyable experience and true peace of mind from concept to install. Learn More

  • We design with People, Planet & Purpose at the center. We prioritize thoughtful sourcing, enduring materials, and craftsmanship worth keeping—creating homes that support wellbeing, respect resources, and age beautifully.

ballonSTUDIO team with Sabra Ballon standing together outside a bright entry, dressed in black and smiling, representing a boutique San Francisco interior design studio known for refined, full service residential projects. .

Team

Sabra Ballon in the ballonSTUDIO office in 2025, smiling in a beige suit beside a rattan chair, framed by modern art and styled shelves with plants, reflecting a refined San Francisco interior design studio.

Sabra Ballon, Founder and Principal Designer

With decades of experience spanning interior design, architecture, construction, set design, and production design, Sabra Ballon is a holistic designer known for her seamless integration of these disciplines. As the Founder and Principal Designer of ballonSTUDIO, Sabra has made a significant impact on the design community. Her unique blend of earthy modernism with a hint of glamour has consistently won the admiration of her clients. Her expertise extends to luxury residential, boutique hospitality, and commercial projects throughout San Francisco and California. Notably, Sabra's transformative vision has enhanced hotel interiors in renowned destinations such as San Francisco, Hawaii, and Las Vegas, including establishments like Hotel Nikko, Hilton Hotels, Hawaii Prince, and Del Webb properties.

Raised in Palo Alto, Sabra studied undergraduate design at UCLA and received a Master of Architecture at UC Berkeley. Drawing inspiration from the diverse cultures of Africa, Asia, and Europe, Sabra embraces a global perspective that enriches her work. Her fascination with Ancient Roman architecture, design, and decoration adds a timeless depth of her designs.

“I have a reputation for being a ‘client whisperer’ for knowing what the client wants without them necessarily even saying it. This comes from deep listening and observation.”

— Sabra Ballon, Founder & Principal Designer

Dee Pearce, Designer

Dee Pearce, Designer

Aishanie Marwah, Senior Designer

Aishanie Marwah, Senior Designer

Alex Solis, Design Assistant

Alex Solis, Design Assistant

Jordan Pyers, Director of Operations

Jordan Pyers, Director of Operations

Eileen Flannigan, Marketing & Business

Eileen Flannigan, Marketing & Business

Khaldoun "Kai" Sharabi, Interior Architect

Khaldoun "Kai" Sharabi, Interior Architect

Vanessa Mello, Interior Designer

Vanessa Mello, Interior Designer

Meryl Chaum, Purchasing Manager

Meryl Chaum, Purchasing Manager

Our Services

Union Street Marina District stair hall in San Francisco with a wood staircase and pale runner, styled with a wood table, sculptural vases, candles, and leafy branches for calm modern luxury residential interior design

  • We lead the design of the home as a cohesive whole—space planning, interior architectural detailing, and finish decisions—coordinating closely with your architect and builder to protect design intent from early decisions through final execution

  • From foundational pieces to the finishing layers, we curate furniture, lighting, rugs, and textiles that feel calm, layered, and deeply livable—then develop a comprehensive furnishings budget to support confident decision-making.

  • Once selections are approved, we manage purchasing end-to-end—quotes, purchase orders, lead times, expediting, and issue resolution—so every item is fabricated, shipped, delivered, and installed according to design intent, schedule, and quality standards.

  • When construction is part of the scope, we support the build with site coordination and documentation, including review of RFIs/submittals, shop drawings, and change orders—keeping details aligned and decisions moving.

  • We help clients source, evaluate, and place art with a designer’s eye and an architecture-led sense of proportion—so collections feel intentional, not “decorated.” When needed, we coordinate framing, lighting considerations, and white-glove installation to ensure every piece is presented beautifully and securely.

  • Installation is a planned, clearly scheduled sequence—managed by a dedicated team—so the home is delivered beautifully resolved, with the final details placed thoughtfully and discreetly (and yes, we can take it all the way down to linens, glassware, and the “life” layers).

  • We’re accustomed to quiet, confidential projects and smooth coordination with assistants and representatives—so you get clarity, momentum, and a sense of ease throughout the process.

Work With Us