Keeping It Light, Bright And White

Amy Wilson of AW Interiors, Sydney, Australia

Since her youth, Amy Wilson had always been involved in a range of planning and decorating projects, so it was a natural progression for Amy in 2013 when she expanded her successful and growing event planning business into an interior design and decorating catch-all, AW Interior Design. We connected with Amy and discussed all of the lessons, tips and tricks she has learnt along the way.

What first attracted you to interior design and decoration?

I grew up in some beautiful homes, both in South Africa (where I was born) and Australia. My mom has always been an incredible inspiration to me, and I’ve seen how she took the homes we lived in and created such gorgeous, warm homes for us. I don’t believe this is something one can learn, it’s intuitive, it’s an instinct which I’ve been fortunate enough to inherit from her. It’s in my genes, I’ve always been drawn to creative activities like painting, photography and floral arranging but my passion is really working with people and helping them to achieve their dreams- helping them to create their homes. So it felt like a natural progression to become an interior designer.

What does interior design and decoration mean to you?

To me interior design and decoration isn’t just about pretty colours, layout, furniture or materials, a true interior designers’ work improves our quality of life. It’s a profession that can not only transform a person’s physical surroundings but it can also have a significant impact on their emotional and mental well-being. 

Where do you start in the design process?

My first step in any project is to get a feel for my clients. Who they are, what they do and why they called me. Secondly is to tour their project space and start getting down to what they really want out of the project- collaboration is a very vital part of the process because both my clients and I need to work together to achieve a goal that they can be thrilled with at the end of the day.

Do you follow any rules?

There are a few rules I like to follow:

-Love it or lose it:If you’re not in love with something a colour, a shape, a piece of art, remove it from that room, it doesn’t mean it will disappear forever, it just might not be right for that particular space

-Hang your artwork correctly:This sounds simple but I work with a very respectful “professional hanger”, he is meticulous and rightly so, his work he does well and truly completes a space and even being slightly off centre can really ruin the balance of a space.

Do you have any preferred colors to work with? Why?

I love white. It sounds a little basic but believe it or not there are well over 50 shades of white! It’s a classic, it never dates or ages and can bring a lightness to a space. It’s also the equivalent of a blank canvas- it offers so much potential. I’m also a bit of a Magpie(bird)- I love metallic accents like gold, silver and brass. 

Can you play a little word association with us? What do you think of when you hear…

Playful- Yellow

Eclectic- Unique

Luxe- King Bed

Kitsch- Gillie and Marc- Rabbitwoman and Dogman (Google them)

Scandinavian- Neutral Tones

Pattern- Herringbone

Ocean- Calm

Pink- Flamingo

Rustic- Wood

Simplicity- White

Bohemian- Beads

Myths Or Not: Can you confirm or dispel the following myths…

Myth 1: Eclectic is too busy.

Not at all, eclectic can be great if there’s a balance and a synergy with the pieces you use.

Myth 2: Stone is cold

It can be a cold medium but when you combine it with other mediums like tiles, timber or metallic fixtures, it warms up without a problem.

Myth 3: You can’t do glam on budget

Totally false! You can, you just need to get creative and resourceful and spend on key items that will really elevate a space without blowing the budget out.

Myth 4: The rule of 3 is above all (60:30:10)

I like the 60:30:10 rule for people who don’t naturally have a decorative flair or are afraid to take risks with their space, it’s hard to go wrong, that said it’s a timeless rule anyone can use to make sure a space is balanced.

Myth 5: Red and green must never be seen

So I travelled to the South in the US and saw some decorating that would blow this one off the list. Red and green can be kitchy and seasonal looking but if done elegantly it can be warm, inviting and quite rich and regal.

Myth 6: Minimal is always cool

Agreed, most of the time. There’s minimal and there’s sparse. It’s a fine line so it’s important a room doesn’t look unfinished but rather just scaled back and clean and crisp.

Myth 7: Every space needs a statement

Not always, some spaces are transient and don’t need extra bells and whistles. Sometimes less is more.

Do you have any tips or tricks to share for creating warmth in the home?

Sure! How much time do you have??

To me what really warms a home is a family heirloom or piece of furniture that tells a story- a vintage rocking chair that belonged to grandparents, a hand painted artwork, a flea market bargain you couldn’t leave without etc.

Layering is also a very easy way to add warmth to a home, by taking something like a simple white bed set and adding pillows, throws and blankets you can instantly warm up that bed to create an inviting and intimate space. 

Finally, scent. A scent can have an amazing effect on the human mind, finding the right scent can help you create that space in which you feel safe and happy. Do you like the scent of freshly brewed coffee or spicy cinnamon? Or the scent of soft florals or ocean air? Find a scent you love with a candle or diffuser that matches your smell profile. It can really transform your home in an instant.

Do you have a favorite space in your home? Can you tell us why it’s your favorite? 

We just moved recently so there is still a lot to do but currently I love our bedroom. It has a lovely airy feeling to it, the walls are a soft natural white (no surprises there) and the floors are an original cyprus pine which I had refinished and they look fabulous. It also has a balcony which opens out to views of the courtyard garden below us and tucked just behind the trees is the ocean, so we get a beautiful ocean breeze blowing through our room which is just such a treat.

Can you share any of your favorite projects with us? 

One of my all-time favourite projects was a house I worked on in Bondi. The original home was a very old one story bungalow house which came with free termites, wood rot and lots of stained carpets. The project took over a year and I was part of every aspect of it, from planning to fixtures and finishes and even furnishing the property when it was ready for sale. It went from a 2 bed 1 bath one level home to a 5 bed 3 bath dual level home with a magnificent garden at the back which I also designed.

What is your average project budget? 

This varies as each client is different. For clients who want some general advice and short term help I provide them with an hourly rate or a set fee depending on the scope of work. With larger projects this can vary and would be discussed between myself and the client and their expectations of how involved they’d like me to be with their project.

Amy Wilson resides in Sydney, Australia. To contact Amy for an appointment in Sydney or virtual consultation worldwide call 043-234-5614 or visit AW Interior Design. You can also find and follow AW Interior Design on instagram or facebook.