Slic design is an interior design studio, based in austin, texas, with a focus on high-end residential new construction & remodels. An unmistakable resistance to filling a space in order to complete it is slic’s signature rebellion. Ever present in projects led by principal designer sara cukerbaum, restraint is curation and vacancy an object. In her contrarian design world where black highlights and white deepens, sparse textures and shapes hone attention, shifting a residents’ experience of their home from observer to center of the design. Here, harshness is smoothed down to its softest form, interrupting the illusion of tranquility without diluting its effect. It is in this defiance to singular curation that clean and funk, and statement and soul can coexist.

I’ve always believed that the most meaningful careers aren’t necessarily linear—they’re built by following curiosity, taking risks, and having the courage to begin again. After graduating from NYU in 2004, I found myself working at a hedge fund. On paper, it was a great opportunity. But inside, I felt lost and uninspired. This feeling led me to interior design. I returned to school at the Harrington Institute of Design in Chicago and began a new chapter.

After working with several design firms and learning the craft from the inside out, I took the leap in 2012 and launched SLIC Design. What started as a vision has grown into a thriving design firm, with projects featured in a range of respected publications and a body of work that I’m incredibly proud of. Along the way, I’ve learned that building a creative business requires much more than creativity.

Today, I find myself at another exciting crossroads. SLIC has grown tremendously since its inception, and I’m thinking deeply about what the next chapter should look like: how to scale thoughtfully, sustainably, and in a way that remains true to the brand, the work, and the values that brought me here in the first place.