Hannah Armstrong of Amanda Louise Interiors
Photo by Emily Bolt Photography
Amanda Louise Interiors is a Greenville, SC, based design studio known for their use of color and pattern! They do a beautiful job weaving in artwork, textiles and furnishings into homes, which of course immediately drew me to their work!
I'm excited to bring you this interview with Hannah Armstrong, the associate designer at Amanda Louise Interiors! Enjoy!
Photo by Emily Bolt Photography
Hannah, tell us a little about yourself and how you got your start in interior design!
I majored in Communication Studies in college but really desired to do something creative. My classes led me to considering corporate event planning and that evolved into wedding planning. After graduation I spoke with a few wedding planners and quickly realized that was not the path for me. About two years out of college, I accepted a job at Celadon Home in Charleston where I came to love all things furniture and interior design. Meeting so many designers from the area and helping customers build their dream homes using what the store offered helped me realize that this was what I wanted to pursue.
What's your favorite thing about your job?
I love the challenge of taking what clients have — whether that be a furniture piece, a quirky layout, a unique art collection and finding how to merge that with my own vision for the space to create a place that feels new / exciting yet familiar / true to their personality.
What do you hope your daughters will take away from seeing you in your role at ALI?
My hope is that they see how rewarding it is to pursue what you love despite the temptation to compare yourself to others and how to approach what they are passionate about with confidence while also remaining open to growth.
Photo by Emily Bolt Photography
Where do you find design inspiration?
I find inspiration in tiny moments a lot of times — the way afternoon sunlight hits a particular spot in the kitchen, how two patterns pair together perfectly, leaves on a gravel pathway, to name a few. Of course, I am also inspired so often by other designers and how they execute their ideas. I love to look at an image and decide what it is that sets it apart for me and really hone in on that piece to file away in my mind.
Tell us about a favorite project you've worked on lately!
'Park Bungalow' is one we just wrapped up at ALI and I was so thrilled with how it came together. It felt like a home immediately and that's when we know we've done our jobs. The colors used were not neutral necessarily but yet there was still such a sense of calm in the home.
What advice would you give someone looking to add art to their home?
I feel like we are a broken record at ALI but, for the most part, collect what you love! When my family and I moved into our new home in 2021, I saw this at work. We were in a new home where I had changed a lot of things around to look different from our previous house (new textiles, paint colors, furnishings, etc.) yet my art collection translated because I had curated art that spoke to me. I also appreciate that because the art in my home is an extension of my design style, I can move pieces around and enjoy them in new rooms, making them feel new!
Glow is Hannah’s favorite Sarah Jane Tart painting, right now.
Glow, 24x18 in., email hello@sarahjanetart.com to inquire.
“It feels like one of the 'tiny moments' I mentioned above. Like sitting down and appreciating your surroundings after a long day and noticing how the leaves on the trees catch the golden hour sunlight.”
— Hannah Armstrong