Amber Lewis, a celebrated designer, has released a new book, Interiors: Curated Spaces from Start to Finish, which shares her design process and lessons learned over 15 years in the industry. The book launches on September 29, and features nine projects that showcase her approach to design.
Lewis’s design philosophy is centered around creating spaces that feel calm and lived-in, rather than precious or polished. She aims to evoke a sense of relaxation and history in her designs, often incorporating vintage pieces and unexpected textures.
Designing with Instinct
Lewis’s journey into interior design was not traditional. She started working in retail and gravitated towards display and styling, eventually leading to clients asking for her help with their homes. She learned by doing, teaching herself Photoshop and building a blog, without formal design education.
A common misconception about Lewis’s success is that it came from a single big aesthetic breakthrough. However, she attributes her success to 15 years of evolving taste, real projects, and a growing team. The finished, pretty version of her designs is what people see, but it’s the behind-the-scenes work that built the business.
Lewis’s aesthetic is now synonymous with her brand, and she wants people to feel like they can exhale when they enter a space she’s designed. She achieves this by combining a neutral background with unexpected layers, such as worn vintage pieces or odd textures.
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The Book’s Format and Insights
The book, Interiors, walks readers through nine full home projects, organized around the six P’s: Ponder, Play, Procure, Patience + Panic, Pull It Together, and Pride. Lewis shares the emotional and practical arc of each project, including the mental work that happens before a single swatch is pulled and the moments when things go sideways.
Writing the book forced her to articulate her instincts and lessons learned. She realized that much of her job is invisible, building the finished room in her head months before anyone else can see it. The book includes source callouts with specific paint colors, fabrics, and finishes, making it a useful resource for readers.
One thing Lewis believes every room needs is something with a little age or history to it, such as a vintage piece or a worn texture. This adds soul to the room and keeps it from feeling flat. Lewis thinks home design is important because it’s where people land at the end of the day, and a well-designed home can provide comfort and inspiration.
Getting to build something on her own terms, without outside investors, has been the most rewarding part of her career. She’s proud that her work has stayed true to her vision, even as the business has grown.
Lewis plans to continue growing her design firm, focusing on the creative decisions and hands-on work that excite her. She doesn’t have a script for what’s next, but she follows her excitement and interest, which has worked for her so far.
