Sam McDougall
Meet Sam McDougall
"Nothing is that serious." After a year of big decisions about career, relationships, and where to live, Sam keeps coming back to the same idea: you're in control of where you go next, and if something isn't working, you can change it. Have fun, be kind, don't overthink it.
There's something deeply satisfying about a home that comes together slowly. Sam McDougall, an Australian living in New York, knows this well. By day he works in beauty marketing. Outside of that, he creates content around interiors, personal style, grooming, and everyday life. Lately that means renovating his NYC apartment piece by piece while also tending a house and garden on Shelter Island.
Calm, Bright, Evolving
Those are the three words Sam uses for his space. A typical day mixes work, shooting and editing, finding ways to improve the room around him, and convincing himself he can DIY something he's never done before.
The Corner That Feels Most Like Him
Sam recently moved back to Australia, only to land in New York again nine months later, so the apartment is still finding its footing. Before he left, he was gifted a watercolor of the Shelter Island house, which he finally had framed this week. It's a small way of bringing the island into the city.
Where Plants Come In
Since getting the Shelter Island house, nature has taken up a lot more of Sam's attention. He's become slightly obsessed with the garden: planting, moving things around, and watching what comes back each season. In the city, plants give him a little of that same feeling. "I love having something living and slightly imperfect in a room."
What Makes a Space Feel Like Home
Layers. Sam doesn't like a room that looks as if everything arrived on the same day. He prefers old pieces mixed with new, warm lighting (a must), books, art, plants, and objects from travels. A home should take time and feel like a collection of things that matter to you.
What's Inspiring Him Lately
Being back in New York. He missed the buzz, the walkability, and the strange anonymity of being surrounded by people while staying in your own world. Walking the streets with nowhere to be is when he feels most inspired.