With all the moving parts of my work, sometimes I feel like my head is under construction!  But the truth is that I love the chaos.  The energy of this profession is what gets me up every day.

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Want to keep the conversation going?  Email me, follow me on twitter, or join me on Facebook

Today I’m thrilled to tell you about an upcoming collaboration with Joss and Main. It’s an honor to participate in their Curated Collections feature, where designers personally comb through hundreds (thousands?) of items and whittle them down to a short list encapsulating their style.

My Curated Collection revolves around anchor pieces steeped in tradition: ones with great lines that will stand the test of time. Then I sprinkled in accent pieces for a bit of punch. If you’re designing a room for the long haul, accessories are the place to experiment.  You can always switch them out later when your taste changes.

Here’s a sneak peek of some of my favorites. This was a fun opportunity to translate my style into easily accessible retail items. If custom work is beyond your reach or patience, this is a great way to get your hands on home goods I love from the convenience of your couch.

If your not a member, join now!The full collection launches Tuesday February 7.  Mark your calendars and get clicking!

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Luckily I stumbled on Megan of Toast and Laurel while reading Urban Grace Interiors.  Megan worked with my existing brand identity platform, using it as a springboard to create new pieces:  letterhead, envelopes with pre-printed logo and address, and uniquely-shaped cards for dashing off notes to clients and vendors.

The old saying that you only get one chance to make a first impression couldn’t be truer or more important to small business owners.  Right from the get-go, when I didn’t have a single client, I took care (and spent money) on my business cards. People still comment regularly on their quality.  It’s a subtle way of telegraphing how much I value craftsmanship and quality in my work.

It’s such a joy to work with someone who fully “gets” your brand, and is able to stay true to it while bring freshness to the table. I couldn’t be happier with Megan’s work.

Here’s a toast to Toast and Laurel, and all the first impressions still ahead for Amy Meier Design!

Want to keep the conversation going?  Email me, follow me on twitter, or join me on Facebook

Want to keep the conversation going?  Email me, follow me on twitter, or join me on Facebook

Join us on our scavenger hunt here!

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.

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!

Oh, and I have created an Amy Meier Design Facebook page.  Please join me here to see my daily adventures as a designer.

I am thrilled to be included in the January issue of Ranch & Coast Magazine!  In the article “Innovative Home Renewal Tips“, three interior designers give readers advice on how to spruce up their homes.  (Guess who is one of the designers?) Here are the pages from the article.

I hope enjoy the article!

Happy almost New Years!

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Nothing like a white Christmas.  Happy Holidays!

See you all in 2012