Today we’d like to introduce you to Amy Kalikow.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I always had a passion for all things creative. I had worked as an account director for very creative advertising and PR firms and loved the creative process but was really good at the business side too. I always went to all the NYC furniture shows and any other furniture events in the city as interiors was always a passion. Once I started to have my family, I have 4 daughters, I took time off from work to raise them. During that time, we purchased a home that I decorated. I loved the process and friends really loved the house, even going as far to saying they would hire me when they purchased their home.
I began taking on smaller projects to get back to work as my children were now fully in school and I needed a creative outlet.
My first big project was a friend that bought an apartment in NYC and then a home in the Hamptons and had me design both. From there, it just was word of mouth and I was fortunate to continue getting amazing projects from homes to apartments to full building renovations.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Finding talented people that share my vision has always been a challenge, I have been fortunate to have one of my designers working with me since I opened my firm, and have since added 2 more. Additionally, in the earlier years, I would always worry about the next project. Interior Design is a word-of-mouth industry and you rely on past clients and past work to help secure your next project.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My work is always true to my instincts and creativity. I shy away from trends and other designers work and I like to be genuine to my creative path. As I have a large family of my own, I really understand the complexities of families and how to design a chic home that is livable. Not everything has to be super expensive. Understanding what to spend money on and how to save and still make an impact is important. I design for how people live. I always want my clients to feel that their home is unique to them and their style. I believe that clients hire me because my work resonates with them and I design their home based on my feeling from their home. No two homes are alike. They each have a specific personality that comes to life throughout the design process.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
I think most people don’t know that I have 4 children. It seems to be a shocker when it comes up in conversation. Juggling work and my family is always challenging but, having a large family has really crafted how I think of design.
Contact Info:
- Email: amy@amykalikowdesign.com
- Website: www.amykalikowdesign.com
- Instagram: @amykalikowdesign.com
Image Credits
Regan wood
