Team
Sarita Simpson
Founder + Principal Designer
From a very young age, Sarita knew that she had an obsession with interior design and beautiful, stylish spaces. In 2014 Sarita launched her design firm – Sarita Simpson Design – and has since completed dozens of projects for both residential and commercial clients in the DC area. For more than seven years before that, Sarita was the lead designer (working with Jason Claire) at Vastu, a high-end furnishings boutique in Washington DC, where she designed residential and commercial spaces, including apartment model units and lobbies as well as custom furniture, rugs, and window treatments for her clients.
Jason Claire
Founder + Chief Strategy Officer
Born in New York City, Jason was interested in art and design from the start. He became a commissioned abstract painter in high school and then triple majored in art, art history, and pre-medicine at Duke University. Between 2003 and 2014, Jason opened and grew Vastu in Washington DC which became a leading modern furniture retailer, art gallery, and interior design firm. He then moved to Switzerland with his husband and traveled to 60 countries during the following 5 years. With a renewed passion and evolved design aesthetic, Jason returned to the US and partnered with Sarita to form Interior Matter.
Rachel Poritz Mennen
Senior Designer
Rachel is an experienced designer who has worked with an eclectic clientele in a number of prestigious New York City firms. She holds an undergraduate degree in art history and studio art as well as a masters in landscape design from Columbia University. A world traveler, she has visited 50 countries on four continents, experiences that have contributed to her well-informed and refined aesthetic. She is thrilled to be a member of the Interior Matter team.
Hannah Shaffer
Junior Designer
Hannah is a graduate of The George Washington University with a degree in Interior Architecture and Design. Having worked with Sarita since 2017, Hannah joined the IM team at its founding and assists with everything from design development to technical drafting and visual rendering. She has a passion for residential interiors and designing spaces that reflect the people who live in them. When she’s not living, eating, and breathing design, Hannah enjoys long walks on the beach and quality time with her cat children.
Pascale de Saint Antoine
Director Operations
Pascale comes to Interior Matter from New York City where she worked in the art world and at a luxury design e-commerce company. Before that, she was exploring art galleries and museums in London, where she earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees in communications and art history. At IM, she works behind the scenes to make sure all the of design projects run smoothly, which includes client and vendor communications, deliveries, product ordering and billing. The role allows her to combine two of her passions – interior design and organizational logistics. She just loves to organize, find creative solutions to problems, and keep things tidy, efficient and on schedule. She also speaks French, and enjoys cooking, traveling and discovering the many neighborhoods of her native Washington, D.C.
Abbie McGrann
Design Intern
IM’s Design Intern, Abbie from Minneapolis, is currently a junior at George Washington University studying Interior Architecture and Spanish. From a very young age, she has been interested in the arts and is hoping to pursue a career in architecture and design post-graduation. Abbie has been working with Interior Matter since July 2021, and absolutely loves the design experience and exposure to the field. Abbie will be studying sustainable design this spring in Copenhagen, but is planning to return to Interior Matter this summer. When she’s not working or studying, Abbie loves to draw, paint, and be outdoors!