Podcast Summary: "The Art of the Nursery: Sara Adam Slywka on Nestig and Design"

Talk Shop with Ariel Okin: A Fenimore Lane Production
Date: November 5, 2025
Guest: Sara Adam Slywka, Co-Founder of Nestig

Episode Overview

In this insightful episode, host Ariel Okin welcomes Sara Adam Slywka, co-founder of the modern nursery brand Nestig. The conversation explores Sara's professional journey, her inspiration for launching a thoughtful, design-forward children’s furniture company, and the unique challenges and triumphs of building a business centered around both aesthetics and emotional resonance in family spaces. Sara and Ariel discuss Nestig’s brand DNA, product innovation, personal reflections on motherhood, and practical advice for creating meaningful kids' spaces.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Nestig’s Founding Story and Sara’s Career Path

• Sara’s transition from merchandising and marketing into design entrepreneurship, despite a "numbers heavy" background, was influenced by opportunities and her deep appreciation for beautiful, functional spaces.
  • “It was a little bit of kind of luck and right place, right time... Really learned it’s part product and part the world that you create around that product.” — Sara (06:36)
• Past experience in the baby registry world and a gap in the nursery market inspired Sara and her co-founder to create Nestig.
• Becoming mothers during the Nestig journey made the work personally meaningful and helped inform better business decisions.

2. Defining Design Style & Brand DNA

• Sara describes her style as “fresh, eclectic, and playful” (02:57).
• Nestig’s ethos is to blend modern, design-forward aesthetics with practical, family-focused function. The focus has always been on making the nursery a place of joy, comfort, and enduring beauty.
• “We know that our homes and our environments have such a big impact on just how we feel throughout the day... Starting Nestig and getting to work with extremely talented artists and designers to bring some of the ideas I have in my head to life has been so magical.” — Sara (08:17)

3. Addressing Market Needs and Product Innovation

• Nestig was born from recognizing a stagnant market in nursery furniture: “The nursery category had been pretty slow to innovate... Pottery Barn Kids was around 20 years old and... needing a bit of a refresh to really connect with this new generation of parents.” — Sara (11:01)
• The brand’s cribs are a hallmark product, thoughtfully designed to grow with children, converting from bassinet to crib to toddler bed.
• Commitment to creating products that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing drives every new launch—such as Montessori bookshelves in fun palettes, and convertible twin beds.
  • “What in here can we make more functional, more long lasting, and more beautiful?” — Sara (17:25)
  • “It’s really a sea of opportunity... to bring something that’s maybe useful but really boring and not delightful and make it special.” — Sara (19:53)

4. Building a Brand Through Challenges & Authenticity

• Early days marked by small budgets and launching during COVID. Sara believes limited resources led to authenticity and a more original brand:
  • “We didn’t need the biggest budget or the most resources. We just needed to be the most authentic and inventive versions of ourselves.” — Sara (14:20)
• Emphasis on organic growth and word-of-mouth within parenting communities.
  • “There’s no more powerful marketing than a recommendation from another mom.” — Sara (15:55)

5. Parenting, Product Design, and Memory-Making

• Personal experiences as a parent deeply inform product direction and priorities.
• The ability for pieces to evolve with families is foundational.
• Ariel and Sara agree on the deep tie between physical items and memory in family life.
  • “The pieces in the room are always going to be special to them.” — Sara (37:39)

6. Exciting Collaborations & What’s Next

• Upcoming collaboration: Hill House mini chairs in iconic prints (21:31) — “I’m hoping to see some fun pictures of little kiddos in their kind of matching jammies or nap dresses in their mini chairs.” — Sara (22:22)
• Nestig will release its own collection of nursery chairs — larger, more beautiful, and more family-friendly, launching just in time for Sara’s second baby (35:40).

7. Favorite Design Insights, Shopping, and Advice

• Go-to places for home sourcing include Hudson Valley antique stores, ABC Carpet & Home, and Tanya Bulhoes in Brazil.
• For product recommendations and style picks, Sara’s ShopMy storefront features favorite fall jackets, loafers, Nestig products (like the Montessori shelf and bedding), and her top beauty must-haves (Crown Affair air dry mousse, Beauty of Joseon sunscreen).
• Advice for designing children’s spaces: “Start with the things you love... It’s really special to kind of lean into that moment that you’re in now.” — Sara (36:35)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Style:
  “Fresh, eclectic, playful.” — Sara (02:57)

• On Resilience and Resourcefulness:
  “Betting on yourself is not as risky as it appears. It really gave me the confidence to go out on my own.” — Sara (07:38)

• On Authenticity in Business:
  “We just needed to be... the most authentic and inventive versions of ourselves.” — Sara (14:20)

• On Product Evolution:
  “We know that people are struggling with this transition from the crib to the full size bed. Can we make something that really bridges that gap...while still being a design anchor in the room?” — Sara (18:03)

• On Personal Connection to Product:
  “It’s been really special to know ... the story behind these products... how much love goes into them from design phase to production.” — Sara (16:38)

• On Collaboration:
  “We have partnered with Hill House on our mini chairs... just in time for the holidays. The perfect thing to give your child or niece and nephew.” — Sara (21:31)

• On Advice to Design Enthusiasts:
  “Start with the things that you love ... find ways to incorporate these wacky things that your kids are excited about...they’ll always remember that feeling.” — Sara (36:35)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Sara’s Design Style: 02:57
• The Origin of Nestig: 04:21, 09:27
• Early Career Path and Founding Story: 06:36 – 08:47
• Challenges in Startup Life: 12:24 – 14:20
• Design Process and New Products: 17:25 – 19:53
• Upcoming Collaborations: 21:31 – 22:43
• Favorite Places to Shop & ShopMy Picks: 25:35 – 29:51
• Rapid-Fire ‘Take 10’: 30:19 – 34:14
• Advice for Designing Kids Spaces: 36:35

Tone and Flow

The episode is warm, personable, and candid—Sara and Ariel’s conversation is engaging, relatable, and filled with practical advice for parents and design lovers alike. Sara’s humility and thoughtfulness shine, and Ariel’s questions steer both deep dives and lighthearted exchanges.

Recommended For

• Parents designing or updating children’s rooms
• Design professionals seeking insight into kid-focused product innovation
• Entrepreneurs interested in authentic brand-building
• Anyone looking for stylish, lasting family furnishings
• Listeners who enjoy personal stories and actionable advice from modern creatives