Amy Meier Design

Project Accessorize

Posted on January 24, 2012 by Amy Meier

I’m on the road again! This time I’m at my client’s in Massachusetts. Today we are off to accessorize their MASSIVE built-ins we had made. Wish us luck…it’s going to be a loooong day!

Join us on our scavenger hunt here!

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Project Research: Architectural Moldings

Posted on January 20, 2012 by Amy Meier

Most of my posts might give you the impression that a designer’s life is all rush, rush, rush. And that’s mostly true. Between antiquing, meeting with custom vendors, installing finished projects and the mad-dash of photo shoots, there’s plenty of rushing to go around.

But before any of that, there’s the steady stream of research I compile to inform each concept. The process of sifting through inspiration pictures is where it all begins.

Recently I’ve had the pleasure of working on a client’s exquisite colonial home in La Jolla. I’m designing the interior architectural elements; paneling, pediments, and built-in units, and the research led me down a rabbit hole of traditional East Coast colonial-style homes, which just happens to be my favorite style of home.

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I love this room designed by Victoria Hagan. The abundance of white paneling offset with gorgeous antiques. In my clients home we are going to be adding pilasters, pediments, paneling, and a plethora of built-ins. After many hand sketches, we plug the approved designs in CAD. Here is a sneak peek into the Living Room elevations.

I have built quite a library of trim books. Here are some of my favorites; Driwood, New Decorating with Architectural Trimwork, and Creating a New Old House. This research takes time, and it’s not the most social part of the job, but in the end it feeds creativity.

Please join me here to see my daily adventures as a designer.

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Homegrown Inspiration: Rancho Santa Fe

Posted on January 6, 2012 by Amy Meier

This past weekend we took a family walk around our neighborhood in Rancho Santa Fe. We made a point to get off our usual routes and explore some of the nooks and crannies we had never seen before.

In the design world, we talk a lot about how travel and shopping can rejuvenate one’s eye. That’s certainly true for me; a trip to a new country can result in a flood of creative ideas. But I sometimes forget to turn a sharp eye on my immediate surroundings. Our walk reminded me of the beauty that surrounds my everyday life. Here are a few pictures I captured on my iphone.

Rancho Santa Fe has quite a bit of history (by Californian standards at least). In 1906, the Santa Fe Railroad began seeding the area with eucalyptus imported from Australia, hoping to harvest the trees for use as railroad ties. Though the eucalyptus wood proved too dense for use by the railway, the trees, as well as many other non-native forms of vegetation remained and flourished in the area. The rich fauna drew great interest, and in 1920 the planning of a residential community began. Today, the houses sit on large parcels of land, and much of the architecture speaks to the area’s turn-of-the-century, spanish-american and equestrian roots.

There is something about the patchwork of white fences and horse stables giving way to sweeping views of the canyons that catches my breath.

Inspiration often has more to do with our willingness to see it than our surroundings. If international adventure isn’t on your horizon, you just might find a walk will do the trick!