Devotees of a certain luxe-yet-laidback California style are already big fans of Los Angeles-based interior designer Amber Lewis. They’re among the 1.6 million followers who check in regularly with her well-curated Instagram account (@amberinteriors), zooming in on in-progress rooms featuring her signature blend of “layers on layers of textures and mixing of patterns,” reading about her struggles with an MS diagnosis, and tagging along on a recent trip to Paris. They’ve toured the 4,000-square-foot Calabasas residence—an homage to a “funky barn in Sonoma”—that she shares with husband Mike and daughter Gwyneth in the pages of Architectural Digest. Some have retained her design services. Far more have benefitted from her
For those new to the fan club: Lewis is an in-demand interior designer who comes by her Golden State aesthetic honestly. She grew up on the beaches of Malibu in what she calls a “modest” house. “It wasn’t like what you see on TV. My family was a bit ‘Malibu hippie,’ if you will. My mom would make us avocado sandwiches for lunch, before avocados were trendy, and it was very much an artistic household with no shortage of crafts,” she says. “My dad is a builder, so I grew up watching and learning about construction at a very young age. By age six, I was picking paint colors for my room and had very strong opinions.”
The idyllic surroundings also set the tone for the sophisticated palette she’s become noted for as an adult. “Spending my entire childhood and upbringing in California, I’ve always been inspired by the nature I’m surrounded by—the earthy tones of the ocean, forests, and sunsets that we are lucky enough to experience here,” says Lewis. Although she always felt confident in her taste, a career in interior design was far from a sure thing. As she explains in her book, Lewis quit school to get hands-on experience assisting a prominent L.A. designer. The gamble didn’t pay off—she got fired.
Luckily, to paraphrase Plato, unemployment is the mother of all invention. Forced to pivot, Lewis started a personal design blog that showcased her innate talents for mixing textiles, organic materials, and vintage finds, along with an approachable, down-to-earth voice that people in all tax brackets could appreciate. “I’ve always believed in creating homes that feel ‘lived-in’ and not too precious. Even if you’re splurging on a specific material or object, it’s always important to have the expectation that the marble will most likely stain over time, and that is totally okay. Enjoy and embrace it while you have it—that’s my motto!” she says.
Once Lewis was able to build a loyal audience, she launched her eponymous design firm, Amber Interiors, and big opportunities followed. But it wasn’t part of some master plan. “Over 10 years ago, I didn’t know I’d be writing books and signing partnership deals with some of the biggest names in the country,” Lewis explains. “I always say this, but it’s a been crazy combination of determination, timing, and little luck. I am a very driven person. You mix that with a bit of strategy and bit of risk taking, and it’s landed me here.”
While she believes wholeheartedly that even the finest homes should feel laidback and relaxed, Lewis has no intentions of slowing down professionally. “We have so much we’re working on right now, from design projects across the country, to Shoppe Amber Interiors’ retail expansion, and more partnerships in the works,” she says. She also remains laser-focused on hunting down the very elements that make her projects so singular. “ There’s nothing quite like finding the perfect textile or vintage piece,” says Lewis. “ I’ve never won the lottery, but it basically feels like it every time.”
Amber Lewis + Loloi products are available in the Loloi Showroom (WTC 506)