Member Stories: Sarah Bruford
Founder of Ka Pai Design Studio
Designer Sarah Bruford’s work strikes a vibrant balance between contemporary lines, organic materials, and joyful, energetic colors. Her dynamic approach to installations, florals, and interior design caught our eye—and made us want to learn more about the creative force behind it all.
Who is Sarah as a creative? What inspires her? How did she become the designer she is today—and where does she see herself going next?
Discover her story below.
Give us a little intro; your name, where you’re from, what you went to school for, what you do now.
Kiaora I’m Sarah from New Zealand. I left in search of adventure, excitement and a career as a ‘window dresser’ when I was 18 years old. I bought a 1 way ticket to Sydney, Australia knowing what I wanted to do and determined to work for the best of the best. My blind determination resulted in a career I loved, designing, and styling environments for luxury retailers. I was fortunate to spend a decade working and traveling around the globe before settling in Brussels. During Covid I had the time to study ceramics and floristry.
In 2021 I opened KA PAI design studio, and concept store, at the same time I discovered I was pregnant again. It was a mad whirl of activity! Today I try to balance being a mother and artist/designer. My work as an installation designer needed more space so in June I will open a new collective studio space in Schaerbeek.
How did you start KA PAI and why? What does the name KA PAI mean to you?
In New Zealand there is a popular saying ‘everything is going to be kapai’. Kapai means ‘good’ or ‘good work’. Today it’s a sunny day so we would call it a ‘kapai day’. My German business partner thought it sounded like an onomatopoeia. I come from a culture of action and I like that it sounds like a kung-fu move. It conveys the sense of energy and positivity that I hope my work brings into the world.
The ‘how’ is a much longer story! Too many mad jobs! Everyone I worked for seemed to be demanding faster, cheaper, more and better. More WOW but with less time, greater quantity and less budget just isn’t sustainable and the cost is a human one.
I [also] needed more visibility for my work in a new country so KA PAI actually opened as a boutique interiors store. Everything I sourced celebrated global artisans and vintage design. It was fabulous and very personally meaningful.
What does your creative practice look like when it comes to developing a new idea for a project? Are you research first, image first, brainstorming-centered or something different all together?
My creative process is very organic. Ideas often emerge spontaneously, and if I can visualize them clearly, I feel compelled to bring them to life. Once I have the vision, then I can focus on finetuning the concept and developing a detailed execution plan. My botanical and papier-mâché work is all about play and experimentation with materials and colours that spark my imagination. I've always worked with my hands, and this tactile approach allows me to explore and create in a way that's both intuitive and very satisfying.
Who are some of your favorite artists (any genre) and why?
I was fortunate to attend a workshop with floral artist Wagner Kreusch at Boisbuchet last year. He and other ephemeral artists that are paving the way to new and exciting places are @studiolilo_ @thishumidhouse @bosqueconcepts and @lailacooks It’s quite a long list. There’s a lot of cool stuff happening! I’m a big fan of Joana Vasconcelos. She’s kitsch, political, unapologetic, humourous and practices martial arts. Her textile dream scapes and unapologetic use of colour and materials are something I aspire to. She has elevated women's craft into the most inspiring monumental art.
Bisa Butler is another textile artist who has reimagined portraiture through the quilting tradition she learned from her Grandmother. I find her work highly inspiring and energising thanks to her unique use of bold colour and pattern. Moroccan photographer Mous Lamrabat creates unique landscapes full of symbolism, surrealism and hyper charged colour that I adore. I used to live in the Middle East so his work fills me with a happy nostalgia. Camille Walala is just cool!
When you collaborate, what’s your process?
I draw a lot of inspiration from the work of other artisans and craftspeople. I’m a bit like a bird, collecting little gems of inspiration and tucking them away until the right project comes along. At the moment, KA PAI atelier is home to six established artists, each with their own distinct practice — and I collaborate with all of them. I love connecting the dots, building teams, and bringing different artists together around shared ideas. My brain naturally shifts into a mode of wanting to scale up other people’s work. It’s just how I think.
You work with design in many different formats, from sets to installations to floral designs to interiors. How has your network, friendships or interests shaped your multidisciplinary interests and work?
For a long time in Belgium, I worked solo — a bit of a lone wolf. But earlier in my career, I was always part of large, vibrant creative teams, and I have such brilliant memories and friendships from those jobs. It wasn’t until I moved my business into a shared artist studio in Brussels that collaboration and creative cross-pollination started to come back into my practice.
Still, the biggest influence on me (as a person and a designer) has been travel.
If you could create anything in any discipline (whether you have experience in it or not) what would you create?
When I was working in Greece, I came across my dream location for a boutique hotel. It sparked a whole vision — not just of architecture, but art practice and lifestyle of living kindly with the land and sea. This region comes with big environmental challenges, especially around water, so I’d love to develop a water system and garden that really maximises the limited resources available. It’s a passion project I am casually developing with my architect brother.
When you’re feeling a little creatively stuck, what do you do to get unstuck?
My creation process has always been a very physical one. Since having a baby I find yoga/pilates is essential to keeping body strong and mind sparking. The truth is that instead of meditating/relaxing, my brain takes this space to work through the creative puzzles of the moment. Going for a walk always helps distract and inspire.
Sometimes I just visit my spray paint supplier to look at their vast wall of colours. My favourite thing is actually to watch aquariums at a pet store or zoo.
Who and what are you inspired by and why
My inspiration comes from two very different places. I need to walk regularly in nature—to just observe, smell, feel, and play with it. In Europe, I’m fascinated by the changes of the seasons and light. Alternatively, mooching around any big city is guaranteed to fire off ideas. Whether I was living in Cairo or traveling the Silk Road, I would seek out craftspeople and watch them working. I am fascinated by these traditions and the symbolism found within.
Now that KA PAI works more with flower design, I can happily hang out in the wholesaler's flower fridge with a coffee for a few hours, just thinking.
What do you see yourself doing in 5 years creatively?
My strength is in creative conception. KA PAI is moving towards big installations and event design in Belgium and beyond. The studio is working on projects with hotels, cities, some cool brands, design festivals and even a community garden. In five years, I hope these projects have grown into a successful international creative studio.
I'm also exploring a side project called "Fuck This Escapes." It's about creating retreats for adventurous women who want to build community and also travel to places like Iran, Turkey, Sri Lanka, and Egypt. It has a whole health and wellbeing focus mixed with unique activities and adventures in places you probably wouldn’t think of traveling solo.
Where can we find you & your work?
I am opening a new creative space on 1st June 2025. Visits to the KA PAI studio are very welcome (just contact me first!). There is also a series of Friday Flower Workshops starting in June. They’re designed as creative play for adults who want to deep dive into new, more natural and ecological floral design.
Eventbrite tickets Friday Flower Workshop
Instagram- @ka_pai
Website- www.kapai.be
Email- hello@kapai.be
Studio- Avenue Georges Rodenbach 76, Brussels 1030