the story behind our name
San Stae is a historic neighborhood in Venice, Italy, known for its quiet charm along the Grand Canal. It was here that our founder Aly completed her editorial training, immersed in a city where art, architecture, and design intertwine at every corner. The name San Stae reflects not only a place of personal significance but also a philosophy — drawing inspiration from Venice’s timeless beauty, layered history, and refined sense of detail. Just as Venice balances tradition with creativity, we bring that same spirit into our interiors.
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t e a m
merlin myumyun
designer
Merlin was born and raised in Bulgaria, where she graduated from a foreign languages school. At the age of 18, she moved to England to pursue her dream of becoming an interior designer. She completed her BA (Hons) in Interior Design at De Montfort University, graduating top of her class with a first-degree diploma, where she also received the staff Endeavour Award.
Merlin shares a passion for restoring and preserving heritage properties. Her major design project at university was the renovation of a iconic historic building and former Romanian Embassy in the heart of Sofia. The design proposal looked to transform the building into a unique boutique hotel specialising in Bulgarian cuisine and culture.
She also has participated in a renovation project in Maisse, Île-de-France, where she helped restore a 500-year-old fire damaged mill with her efforts helping to preserve and accentuate many of its original features.
aly grimes
founding director + lead designer
Aly is an Artist, Curator and Designer. With training from the School for Curatorial Studies, Venice, and MA from Konstfack University, Stockholm, she has delivered over 12 years of contemporary exhibition projects across Europe attracting funding and awards from Arts Council England, The Danish Arts Foundation, Statens Kunstfund and European Connections in Digital Art (EUCIDA).
Whilst developing her art practice she accrued eight years in the design and build sector, working on private residential schemes and large commercial projects across the UK before setting up San Stae.
Aly is a co-founder of Birmingham-based artist studio and exhibition space, Stryx. She has been a visiting lecturer for Birmingham City University, New Art West Midlands and the Coventry Biennial, and an artist mentor on the esteemed Near Now digital art fellowship.
fiona harding
studio assistant
Fiona is the studio base for San Stae.
Trained as a graphic designer, she began her career in Bath before returning to her roots in the West Midlands. Fiona brings a wealth of experience to the team, drawing from a rich and varied professional background.
Her journey spans community-focused counselling and pastoral support, creative endeavours such as TV set design and art installations, and operational roles including project management and building operations.
Her passion for aesthetics and meticulous attention to detail, coupled with her strong organisational skills, ensure every project is delivered with precision and care.
Fiona’s unique blend of creativity and practicality drives success, enabling both people and projects to thrive under her guidance.
c l i e n t s
h i s t o r y
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Smallpeice House
In 2025, we moved into Smallpeice House a Grade II listed Regency villa in the heart of Aly’s hometown of Leamington Spa.
Launched design office -
Minima
Expanded to office design -
National Projects
Expanded out of the Midlands to Leeds (East Street Mills), Bath () Bristol (Georgian Family Home - completed in 2025) -
Home From Home
Working on various provate residential projects in the Midlands from Henrietta to Countryside Pied a Terre -
Title
Star to work on other projects in the JQ lucky enough to work with Urban Splash
Looking after the building -
San Stae Est.
Lockdown.
Started up a new businessSetting up the studio from a desire to blend art with architecture and interiors (Conviviality of art, architecture and design)
fusing Italian and Swedish ethoses from Italian sophistication to Scandinavian functionlaity
First projects - Paper Yard (completion due 2026) giving us leapDelivering art classes to supprort the business. For design professioanls and international suppliers from Howells architect's to Domus Tiles and TOTO Europe which we continue to do. to this day
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Cross-Cultural Experiences
The Digital Diaspora, A dual-location exhibition project celebrating digital artworks from Central and Eastern Europe
Curated for Centrala and delivered at Studio 44 and Supermarket Art Fair, Stockholm and Centrala and flatpack Film Festival in Birmimgham -
A Hybrid Practice
Maintain a international curatorial practice and working between Bimringham and Stockholm to
deliver international art commissions ‘The Digital Domestic’, an exploration of tech, art and the home within the backdrop of Dora Garcia’s exhibition ‘Red Love’ at Tensta Konsthall, Stockholm and supported by an award a EUCIDA (European Connectsions in Digital Art)
Contributing to Red Love - a reader about… published by Stenberg Press
Curatorial resreach to Seoul in partnership with the British Council
Developing an understanding for the symbiotic relationship between art, space and context -
The Jewellery Quarter Beckons
Javelin Block in the Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham, where worked to curate a provate collectionan Art in Europe,
managing the space for rental (Warner Brothers, Red Bull and Microsoft)
working on the historic renovations for the following siz years
Further curatorial studies in Sweden at the Konstfack Universiity in Stockholm -
International Exhibitions
International touring exhibitions
Short Circuit - award-winning international exhibition of digital art touring from Birmingham to Venice and CopenhagenAttracting funding from Arts Council England, New Art West Midlands and The Danish Arts Foundation
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Venice
On gradutaing from a B A Hons in Fine Art Margaret St School of Fine Art Birmingham
Set up Stryx, alongside work in a number of arts and culture venues from Ikon, Compton Verney and National Trust
Raslising creative path taking in direction of curating and exhibition making, moved to Venice to train at the School of Curatorial Studies living in San Stae, the quiet neighbourhood where she lived during her creative training.
It was here Aly discovered the natural connection between curating and interior design - both rooted in space, story and atmosphere. She learned to shape feeling through light, materials and placement.Working along the backdrop of Venicel Beinnale with the world’s best curators from Guggenheim, x to x