Name:  Amy Kartheiser

Company Name:  Amy Kartheiser Design

Position:  Principal

Website:  amykartheiserdesign.com

Tell us a little about your background in design:  

I grew up with design in my blood.  My mother was an interior designer and as a child I would sit in my mother’s office as she was pulling together projects for clients. I would spend hours scouring through design magazines at an early age and eventually began to design my own bedrooms.  With a degree, from Purdue University, I found myself, in the business world before working with my mom as her partner in her interior design business.
My experience in the business world has helped me immensely in managing client budgets, making customer service my number one goal and meeting key client deadlines.  These attributes are as important to a successful client relationship as making creative choices.
My design process is: listen, design and follow-through.

How would you describe your personal design style?

I love design that balances traditional elements with modern interjections.  Their relationship in a room makes the space more interesting.  Traditional elements look less fussy when juxtaposed with more modern items and modern pieces look less sterile next to traditional touches.

Where does your design inspiration come from?

I travel and travel often.  I take photos of every place I encounter from the vegetable markets, to the hotels, to the city palaces, to the people. I pay attention to the colours, the fabrics, the personalities, the architecture, the texture, etc and I never cease to be amazed and inspired.

In what direction do you feel that design is moving towards in a general sense:

I am seeing a wonderful balance of masculine and feminine in design.  The two together create a rather harmonious home.

Name five key themes to consider when approaching design in 2019 and beyond:

1)  Colour and Pattern, 2) Wallpaper, 3) Custom Furnishings, 4) Statement Ceilings and 5) Art

If you could offer one piece of advice when it comes to design schemes, what would it be:

Be intentional in your design. Make sure all your pieces have a specific function, you love them, or they have a sentimental value attached.

How important are The International Design and Architecture Awards?

The International Design and Architecture Awards bring together people of all different backgrounds, cultures, countries and languages that have one thing in common – good design.  It is a unique opportunity to get to celebrate all these amazing projects on one night, in one room, together.

What projects are you currently working on?

We have a fun, eclectic, new construction home we are working on in Houston, TX, a beautiful gut rehab on the North Shore of Chicago and a new construction summer residence in Northern Michigan.  All in all, 2019 should be an exciting year!

What are your aims and goals for the next twelve months?

1) Since I have a strong love of travel, I would love to continue to expand our business to include numerous projects throughout the US and abroad. 2) To continue to elevate recognition of our twice yearly “AKD Pop Up Shop” that raises money and awareness for the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention, 3) To be awarded with the International Design and Architecture Award for our Tribeca Project 🙂

Final Thoughts:

Your most treasured possession: My family

Your favourite holiday destination: Morocco

Your favourite hotel, restaurant and bar:  Hotel: The Palace Hotel/Udaipur, Restaurant: Alinea/Chicago, Bar: The Bar at the Peninsula/Chicago

Your favourite book, film and drink: Book: Anna Karenina, Film: Annie Hall, Drink: Paloma

Your favourite way to spend an afternoon: Reading on the beach

If you weren’t a designer, what would you be? A Travel Agent