sara moreno merritt designs

Sara Moreno Merritt's design studio near Sawbridgeworth is the sort of place you'll either love or walk straight past - depending on whether contemporary craft and bespoke design work speaks to you. The gallery showcases her own pieces alongside selected makers, with an emphasis on textiles, jewellery, and functional art that actually makes you stop and look twice. It's intimate rather than grand, and that's rather the point. You won't need more than 45 minutes here unless you're genuinely keen on design; an hour if you're chatting to Sara herself, who's usually around. Perfect for the sort of holiday-maker who treats galleries as pit stops rather than destinations - the kind of person staying at The Wild Retreat at Redricks Lake or Toad Abode who wants a proper afternoon out beyond the caravan. Worth ringing ahead to check opening times and whether there's anything new in - independent studios like this can be variable with their hours. It's not worth planning your entire day around, but if you're passing through Sawbridgeworth or heading between nearby parks, it's worth 20 minutes of your time to see what's on. Real work, real artist. No pretence.