When it comes to home design, Sarah Richardson is a Canadian icon and, for the last 20 years, she's been a regular fixture and fan favourite on HGTV Canada. While each project that Sarah tackles reveals more about who she is, there's still a lot about her that'll probably surprise even her biggest fans. In that spirit, here are a few things about the renowned host that you might not know.
Watch full episodes of HGTV Canada's Sarah Off the Grid online at online at HGTV.ca and Stream On Demand on the Global TV app and on STACKTV . HGTV is also available through all major TV service providers.
Originally published August 3, 2017. Updated October 20, 2020.
Watch full episodes of HGTV Canada's Sarah Off the Grid online at online at HGTV.ca and Stream On Demand on the Global TV app and on STACKTV . HGTV is also available through all major TV service providers.
Originally published August 3, 2017. Updated October 20, 2020.
Sarah Off The Grid
14 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Sarah Richardson
October 20, 2020
When it comes to home design, Sarah Richardson is a Canadian icon and, for the last 20 years, she's been a regular fixture and fan favourite on HGTV Canada. While each project that Sarah tackles reveals more about who she is, there's still a lot about her that'll probably surprise even her biggest fans. In that spirit, here are a few things about the renowned host that you might not know.
Watch full episodes of HGTV Canada's Sarah Off the Grid online at online at HGTV.ca and Stream On Demand on the Global TV app and on STACKTV . HGTV is also available through all major TV service providers.
Originally published August 3, 2017. Updated October 20, 2020.
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Sarah's a Libra
1/14Sarah's a Libra
1/14Photo Credit: Getty Images
Sarah's birthday is October 22! That makes her a Libra! This astrological sign is associated with people who are cooperative, diplomatic, gracious, fair and social. You can't get through as many renos as Sarah has without all those qualities.Sarah Off The Grid14 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Sarah RichardsonSarah's a Libra
PHOTO 1 of 14READ LESS -Sarah's birthday is October 22! That makes her a Libra! This astrological sign is associated with people who are cooperative, diplomatic, gracious, fair and social. You can't get through as many renos as Sarah has without all those qualities.Photo Credit: Getty Images
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Sarah's a Winner!
2/14Sarah's a Winner!
2/14Photo Credit: HGTV Canada
We already know Sarah is a winner.... but here's a friendly little reminder. In 2010, Sarah won a Gemini Award for Best Host in a lifestyle program for her work on <em>Sarah's House</em>. Her show, <em>Room Service</em>, also won a Gemini for Best Website. Other awards include the Caldwell Partners' Top 40 Under 40 Award, the University of Western Ontario’s Young Alumni Award and the Havergal College Old Girls Hall of Distinction Award. We can only imagine what other awards are in her future!Sarah Off The Grid14 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Sarah RichardsonSarah's a Winner!
PHOTO 2 of 14READ LESS -We already know Sarah is a winner.... but here's a friendly little reminder. In 2010, Sarah won a Gemini Award for Best Host in a lifestyle program for her work on <em>Sarah's House</em>. Her show, <em>Room Service</em>, also won a Gemini for Best Website. Other awards include the Caldwell Partners' Top 40 Under 40 Award, the University of Western Ontario’s Young Alumni Award and the Havergal College Old Girls Hall of Distinction Award. We can only imagine what other awards are in her future!Photo Credit: HGTV Canada
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Sarah's a Bestselling Author
3/14Sarah's a Bestselling Author
3/14Photo Credit: Simon & Schuster
Sarah's modes of expression know no bounds. In addition to being a television maverick, she's also a bestselling author. Her latest book, <em><a href="https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B084G9DBKV/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=B084G9DBKV&linkCode=as2&tag=corusent07-20&linkId=d798ab7ab2ddadab5731aa1831e87935" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Collected: Past + Present, Volume No 2</a></em>, is scheduled to hit stores October 13, 2020. Her other writing endeavors include <em><a href="https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/147678437X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=147678437X&linkCode=as2&tag=corusent07-20&linkId=3011b301aef883d9072df72aa27db10b" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sarah Style</a></em> and <em><a href="https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1501119494/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=1501119494&linkCode=as2&tag=corusent07-20&linkId=79cc7d52ae27b581101408b5011cf047" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">At Home: Sarah Style</a></em>.Sarah Off The Grid14 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Sarah RichardsonSarah's a Bestselling Author
PHOTO 3 of 14READ LESS -Sarah's modes of expression know no bounds. In addition to being a television maverick, she's also a bestselling author. Her latest book, <em><a href="https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B084G9DBKV/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=B084G9DBKV&linkCode=as2&tag=corusent07-20&linkId=d798ab7ab2ddadab5731aa1831e87935" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Collected: Past + Present, Volume No 2</a></em>, is scheduled to hit stores October 13, 2020. Her other writing endeavors include <em><a href="https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/147678437X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=147678437X&linkCode=as2&tag=corusent07-20&linkId=3011b301aef883d9072df72aa27db10b" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sarah Style</a></em> and <em><a href="https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1501119494/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=1501119494&linkCode=as2&tag=corusent07-20&linkId=79cc7d52ae27b581101408b5011cf047" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">At Home: Sarah Style</a></em>.Photo Credit: Simon & Schuster
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Her Favourite Fashion Designer
4/14Her Favourite Fashion Designer
4/14Photo Credit: HGTV Canada
“I 100 per cent have a favourite Canadian designer!” Sarah enthuses. That's right, she's been wearing Smythe jackets <em>long</em> before duchesses Meghan and Kate caught wind of the fabulous design company. One of the entrepreneurs, Andrea Lenczner, is actually a childhood friend from middle school, while the other, Christie Smythe, is her sister-in-law. Sounds like a perfect fit! <br><br> Check out these exclusive shots of <a href="https://www.hgtv.ca/shows/sarah-off-the-grid/photos/sarah-richardson-renovation-1927190/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sarah Richardson's off-the-grid rental home</a>.Sarah Off The Grid14 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Sarah RichardsonHer Favourite Fashion Designer
PHOTO 4 of 14READ LESS -“I 100 per cent have a favourite Canadian designer!” Sarah enthuses. That's right, she's been wearing Smythe jackets <em>long</em> before duchesses Meghan and Kate caught wind of the fabulous design company. One of the entrepreneurs, Andrea Lenczner, is actually a childhood friend from middle school, while the other, Christie Smythe, is her sister-in-law. Sounds like a perfect fit! <br><br> Check out these exclusive shots of <a href="https://www.hgtv.ca/shows/sarah-off-the-grid/photos/sarah-richardson-renovation-1927190/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sarah Richardson's off-the-grid rental home</a>.Photo Credit: HGTV Canada
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She Loves Instagram
5/14She Loves Instagram
5/14Photo Credit: Instagram/Sarah Richardson
Sarah's a heavy-hitter on Instagram. She has more than 300,000 followers and scrolls through the popular social media app first thing in the morning before she's even finished her first cup of coffee. “I love the visual world, so I absolutely feed off the inspiration that is on Instagram.” <br><br> For more design and decor inspiration, follow us on <a href="https://www.pinterest.ca/hgtvcanada/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Pinterest @hgtvcanada</a>.Sarah Off The Grid14 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Sarah RichardsonShe Loves Instagram
PHOTO 5 of 14READ LESS -Sarah's a heavy-hitter on Instagram. She has more than 300,000 followers and scrolls through the popular social media app first thing in the morning before she's even finished her first cup of coffee. “I love the visual world, so I absolutely feed off the inspiration that is on Instagram.” <br><br> For more design and decor inspiration, follow us on <a href="https://www.pinterest.ca/hgtvcanada/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Pinterest @hgtvcanada</a>.Photo Credit: Instagram/Sarah Richardson
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She's an Explorer at Heart
6/14She's an Explorer at Heart
6/14Photo Credit: Instagram/Sarah RichardsonSource: www.instagram.com
Sarah, pictured here with husband and partner Alexander Younger (aka. AY), may be all about design and decor, but she's also a bona fide explorer at heart. "The best holidays combine a variety of activities and landscapes with awesome food, gorgeous surroundings, sunshine, water and fine wine," she says. "A couple of years ago, we went to Carmel Valley, California for my brother's wedding. Driving the Pacific Coast Highway, staying in a luxury resort, hiking, horseback riding, lounging in the sun and being by the ocean all in a few short days ticked every box and delivered a fabulous experience. Every holiday should be like that no matter where the destination takes you!"Sarah Off The Grid14 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Sarah RichardsonShe's an Explorer at Heart
PHOTO 6 of 14READ LESS -Sarah, pictured here with husband and partner Alexander Younger (aka. AY), may be all about design and decor, but she's also a bona fide explorer at heart. "The best holidays combine a variety of activities and landscapes with awesome food, gorgeous surroundings, sunshine, water and fine wine," she says. "A couple of years ago, we went to Carmel Valley, California for my brother's wedding. Driving the Pacific Coast Highway, staying in a luxury resort, hiking, horseback riding, lounging in the sun and being by the ocean all in a few short days ticked every box and delivered a fabulous experience. Every holiday should be like that no matter where the destination takes you!"Photo Credit: Instagram/Sarah RichardsonSource: www.instagram.com
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Brotherly Love
7/14Brotherly Love
7/14Photo Credit: Instagram/Sarah RichardsonSource: www.instagram.com
Sarah has an older brother and two younger half-brothers. “Brothers are good,” says Sarah. “Nobody was ever trying to steal my clothes.” They also have good taste in friends: Sarah married her older brother’s best friend. Her hubby AY is also a big part of her renovation projects.Sarah Off The Grid14 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Sarah RichardsonBrotherly Love
PHOTO 7 of 14READ LESS -Sarah has an older brother and two younger half-brothers. “Brothers are good,” says Sarah. “Nobody was ever trying to steal my clothes.” They also have good taste in friends: Sarah married her older brother’s best friend. Her hubby AY is also a big part of her renovation projects.Photo Credit: Instagram/Sarah RichardsonSource: www.instagram.com
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Sarah Loves Potlucks
8/14Sarah Loves Potlucks
8/14Photo Credit: Instagram/Sarah RichardsonSource: www.instagram.com
You may not automatically think “potluck” when you envision Sarah entertaining guests – but think again. “When I entertain in the country, it's friends coming together and everybody brings what they do best. And if you only have to make one thing to get to a gourmet feast, how great is that?”Sarah Off The Grid14 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Sarah RichardsonSarah Loves Potlucks
PHOTO 8 of 14READ LESS -You may not automatically think “potluck” when you envision Sarah entertaining guests – but think again. “When I entertain in the country, it's friends coming together and everybody brings what they do best. And if you only have to make one thing to get to a gourmet feast, how great is that?”Photo Credit: Instagram/Sarah RichardsonSource: www.instagram.com
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She Endorses Quality over Quanity
9/14She Endorses Quality over Quanity
9/14Photo Credit: HGTV Canada
One of the biggest design mistakes that Sarah sees in homes is when people try to get more for less. In fact, she believes that less is more if you invest in quality pieces. "If you live within your means and commit to living smaller with less while celebrating quality, you get SO much more!" she says.Sarah Off The Grid14 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Sarah RichardsonShe Endorses Quality over Quanity
PHOTO 9 of 14READ LESS -One of the biggest design mistakes that Sarah sees in homes is when people try to get more for less. In fact, she believes that less is more if you invest in quality pieces. "If you live within your means and commit to living smaller with less while celebrating quality, you get SO much more!" she says.Photo Credit: HGTV Canada
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She Doesn't Believe in Guilty Pleasures
10/14She Doesn't Believe in Guilty Pleasures
10/14Photo Credit: Getty Images
Guilty pleasure? There's no such thing for Sarah. "I’m certain my love of champagne, chocolate and Chardonnay would come as no surprise to anyone," she admits. "What’s hard work without a little reward? I also don’t believe in ever feeling guilty about things that bring you pleasure."Sarah Off The Grid14 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Sarah RichardsonShe Doesn't Believe in Guilty Pleasures
PHOTO 10 of 14READ LESS -Guilty pleasure? There's no such thing for Sarah. "I’m certain my love of champagne, chocolate and Chardonnay would come as no surprise to anyone," she admits. "What’s hard work without a little reward? I also don’t believe in ever feeling guilty about things that bring you pleasure."Photo Credit: Getty Images
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She's in Awe of Tiffany Pratt's Hair
11/14She's in Awe of Tiffany Pratt's Hair
11/14Photo Credit: Instagram/Sarah RichardsonSource: www.instagram.com
When asked which HGTV star has the best hair, Sarah didn't even hesitate. "Tiffany Pratt rocks a rainbow like no one I’ve ever met," she gushes.Sarah Off The Grid14 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Sarah RichardsonShe's in Awe of Tiffany Pratt's Hair
PHOTO 11 of 14READ LESS -When asked which HGTV star has the best hair, Sarah didn't even hesitate. "Tiffany Pratt rocks a rainbow like no one I’ve ever met," she gushes.Photo Credit: Instagram/Sarah RichardsonSource: www.instagram.com
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Fall is Her Favourite Season
12/14Fall is Her Favourite Season
12/14Photo Credit: Instagram/Sarah RichardsonSource: www.instagram.com
Who doesn't love fall and all of its gorgeous colours and design inspiration? That's part of why Sarah easily names it as her favourite season. "Colourful leaves, crisp walks, cozy fires (and cashmere sweaters), picking apples and baking a crisp with the girls and those harvest sunsets," she says, listing all the things she loves about autumn.Sarah Off The Grid14 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Sarah RichardsonFall is Her Favourite Season
PHOTO 12 of 14READ LESS -Who doesn't love fall and all of its gorgeous colours and design inspiration? That's part of why Sarah easily names it as her favourite season. "Colourful leaves, crisp walks, cozy fires (and cashmere sweaters), picking apples and baking a crisp with the girls and those harvest sunsets," she says, listing all the things she loves about autumn.Photo Credit: Instagram/Sarah RichardsonSource: www.instagram.com
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She Completely Loves What She Does
13/14She Completely Loves What She Does
13/14Photo Credit: Instagram/Sarah RichardsonSource: www.instagram.com
What kind of job would Sarah do if she could pick another career? It's simple: she wouldn't. "Are you kidding? If this isn’t my dream job, I’m missing something," she says. "I’m right where I’m meant to be, doing exactly what I’m supposed to be doing and I realize how very lucky I am!" There's no arguing with that.Sarah Off The Grid14 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Sarah RichardsonShe Completely Loves What She Does
PHOTO 13 of 14READ LESS -What kind of job would Sarah do if she could pick another career? It's simple: she wouldn't. "Are you kidding? If this isn’t my dream job, I’m missing something," she says. "I’m right where I’m meant to be, doing exactly what I’m supposed to be doing and I realize how very lucky I am!" There's no arguing with that.Photo Credit: Instagram/Sarah RichardsonSource: www.instagram.com
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She Loves a Cozy Fireplace
14/14She Loves a Cozy Fireplace
14/14Photo Credit: Instagram/Sarah RichardsonSource: www.instagram.com
We've all been mesmerized by a good old-fashioned fire, but sitting by those embers is one of Sarah's most favourite ways to relax. "Family, friends, fine food, good wine, lots of laughs..." she says, listing off all the things that put her at ease.Sarah Off The Grid14 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Sarah RichardsonShe Loves a Cozy Fireplace
PHOTO 14 of 14READ LESS -We've all been mesmerized by a good old-fashioned fire, but sitting by those embers is one of Sarah's most favourite ways to relax. "Family, friends, fine food, good wine, lots of laughs..." she says, listing off all the things that put her at ease.Photo Credit: Instagram/Sarah RichardsonSource: www.instagram.com
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