This week is International Women’s Day — a moment to celebrate the creativity, resilience, and contributions of women everywhere. At heiter, celebrating creative women has always been close to our hearts. This month, however, we wanted to place an extra spotlight on the inspiring women who shape thoughtful ideas, meaningful brands, and communities around them.

For this interview, we spoke with Sabine, Creative Director and Co-founder of Sagitta, a natural skincare and probiotics brand rooted in prevention, craftsmanship, and care for people and planet.

In our conversation, Sabine shares insights into her daily routines, the philosophy behind Sagitta, and the small rituals that help her find moments of Heiterkeit in a busy life.

KG: Hi Sabine, thank you so much for being here and agreeing to tell us a little bit more about yourself, your work — and how you find more “Heiterkeit” in your everyday life. Not only are you the Creative Director and Co-founder of Sagitta, a natural skincare and probiotics brand, you are also a wife, mother of three, and dog mum. What does a typical day look like for you?

S: I like to get up early, around 5am (I go to bed with the kids — by that time I am pooped 😂). First thing in the morning, I cuddle our dog, which sets me up for a great day. Being greeted so happily first thing is just really nice. I make tea, do some stretching and mobility exercises, listen to good music, have a shower, and get to work answering emails and figuring out what the day looks like.

I vacuum every morning and use that noisy time to map out my day in my head. (Visualisation is a powerful thing.) And then the juggle begins :)

KG: You juggle a lot. How do you try to stay calm in the chaos — and find heiter moments?

I am generally not that phased by work things, as there is often some action you can take to improve them. However, someone once said to me, you are only as happy as your unhappiest child, and I totally agree. As long as the kids are happy and healthy, everything feels like it’s running smoothly.

I make a lot of cups of tea… always a heiter moment — sitting down with a cup of tea.

KG: If you had to describe Sagitta to someone who had never heard of the brand, what would you say? Also, what values would you highlight for them?

We believe that prevention is key, but the health system is not set up for prevention at all. We want to educate and share information on how to stay healthy and what tools can support that — whilst keeping our planet healthy and supporting crafts, creativity, and midwifery, because you only have one start in life.

KG: The Sagitta brand and values resonate with me in so many ways, but one of the things I love most is your contemporary aesthetic. Tell us a little bit more about what goes into creating the packaging, working on your imagery, and the Sagitta branding in general.

S: My background is in design, and I was very fortunate to work with amazing people who trained my eye — to see, to notice, and to stay with a craft long enough to make it a little simpler, to work that bit harder on it, and to evaluate more thoughtfully.

A lot of thought and creativity go into great design, and at Sagitta we are willing to put that work in. Time is always the biggest challenge and what you choose to allocate time to. We feel it’s worthwhile to push really hard here and create something completely new and unique.

KG: We just talked about how contemporary your brand feels and all the steps that go into creating that, but Sagitta has actually been around for many years. How did it all start, and at what point did Sagitta turn into the brand we know today?

S: Yes, that was lucky, because our history gives us a lot of opportunities to draw from and bring into the present day.

It was in 2012 when I proposed starting Sagitta again to my dad, and he luckily agreed. That coincided with his retirement — and that’s how it all began.

KG: I love the Sagitta products and have used them regularly for more than six years. My personal favourites are the probiotic deodorant, the prebiotic shampoo, and most recently, the pre-microbiome serum. They have all contributed to how much fresher, healthier, and calmer my body, scalp, and skin feel. What are your top three products and why?

S: It’s hard to pick one… I do occasionally eat the deodorant (for advertising purposes), which makes it such a crazy product. I’m proud of making things that are so healthy yet effective that you could eat them and give them to your children without that twinge of guilt.

The urea serum and Schrubbel are really special too. The handmade Schrubbel is such a lovely object, and the serum works incredibly well, which often comes as a real surprise to customers who have struggled with bad feet for years.

*Some of the famous Sagitta products including the probiotic deodorant and prebiotic shampoo Katharina loves*

KG: In your work, you talk about and promote healthy habits. If someone is looking to introduce more of them into their daily life, where should they begin?

S: Start super, super small. The easier you make it for yourself to follow through, the more likely you will.

* When you make tea or coffee, also drink a glass of water (habit stacking).

* Drink your morning drink outside to catch some morning light (it will help you sleep better).

* Walk, walk, walk. Could this phone call be a walk? Could I walk to the shop? Could I take the stairs? Walking in nature feels different — and it often starts with wearing comfortable, healthy shoes.

* Prioritise sleep. Get up at the same time every day — it will help you fall asleep at the same time, too.

* Spend time with great people. Ask yourself if they make you feel better or worse. It matters who you give your time to.

KG: Last but not least, what are the things that make you feel the most heiter?

S: Definitely my family. They equally drive me absolutely mad at times, but teenagers are also hilarious and great fun. They make me a better person every day. In the end, it’s all for them.

For over 40 years, McLean Quinlan has been creating distinct, beautifully crafted homes and retreats — in towns, in the countryside, across the UK and overseas. A family of architects working from studios in London and Winchester, the practice carefully attends to a select number of projects, led by a close-knit team of architects and designers supported by a trusted network of craftspeople and specialists.

Recognised for their ability to curate warmth, texture, scale and atmospheric light, McLean Quinlan designs spaces with a unique and tangible character. Natural materials and traditional processes are used in highly crafted, contemporary ways. Detail matters. The sensory matters. The tactile matters. Their award-winning buildings are designed to endure — and to inspire beyond a lifetime.

It is this philosophy that now finds physical expression in their newly completed Winchester studio.

A Studio Designed to Demystify the Architectural Process

Beneath the practice’s existing Winchester office, the ground floor has been transformed into a welcoming architectural studio. Rather than functioning as a formal showroom or corporate meeting room, the space has been conceived as something more intimate — a relaxed, domestic environment that grounds the design journey in lived experience.

The aim is simple yet powerful: to demystify architecture.

Here, clients don’t just discuss materials — they touch them. They don’t simply imagine atmosphere — they sit within it.

The studio is accessible through two entrances. An internal door allows the team to use the space for meetings, shared lunches and focused work away from the main office. A second landscaped street entrance welcomes clients directly into the experience.

From the road, stepping stones guide visitors through considered planting towards a raised, covered entryway. Brick paving, Millboard composite cladding and timber-framed glazing create a deliberately residential tone. A small bistro table and chairs soften the threshold, signalling from the outset that this is not a showroom — it is a space for conversation.

Where Materiality Takes Centre Stage

Inside, the studio unfolds in an open plan, gently zoned by furniture and bespoke joinery. A generous kitchen island replaces the traditional reception desk, anchoring the space in a familiar domestic gesture. It becomes a natural pause point for introductions and coffee before moving into the wider room.

At the heart of the space stands a substantial oak dining table, seating up to twenty people. It is both functional and symbolic — a place for collaboration, discussion and shared ideas. The studio can easily transition from hosting elegant evening events to intimate client meetings.

Soft clay plaster walls and warm timber finishes temper the scale of the room, ensuring that smaller conversations feel comfortable rather than cavernous.

A timber-panelled feature wall forms the studio’s evolving ‘project wall’. Here, curated palettes and mood boards from current residential projects are displayed. Instead of overwhelming clients with endless catalogues of samples, the wall presents harmonious, proven material combinations — inviting clarity rather than confusion.

Throughout the studio, every element has been chosen to demonstrate McLean Quinlan’s architectural aesthetic while functioning in daily life. From plaster walls and panelling to the kitchen island, oak table and seating, clients experience the very materials and detailing that may one day define their own home.

The space remains flexible — hosting evening gatherings, team workshops or simply offering a quieter retreat from the main office. Yet at its core, the studio exists to make architecture tangible. Warmth, materiality and attention to detail — the defining qualities of a McLean Quinlan home — are immediately legible.

As Emily Johnson, Senior Architect at McLean Quinlan, explains:

“We wanted to create a familiar space where the conversation about design feels natural and intuitive. When clients can sit at a table we would specify for their own home, or run a hand along a timber wall that could feature in their project, it demystifies the process. They experience the quality and aesthetic firsthand, which makes decisions less intimidating and the entire creative journey more collaborative and exciting.”

In grounding architectural design in sensory experience, McLean Quinlan reminds us that homes are not abstract concepts. They are lived spaces — shaped by light, material and atmosphere — and best understood not only through drawings, but through feeling.

Finding "Heiterkeit" in everyday life: a conversation with Sabine from Sagitta

Inside McLean Quinlan’s Winchester architecture studio: a material-led approach to designing contemporary homes