Worthy Conversations: Amanda Beard on Working Passionately

Amanda Beard credits timing, passion, and faith for her leap from corporate America to running a home and event styling business full-time. After years of playing decorator for family and friends, she can now use the words ‘passion’ and ‘work’ in the same sentence.

photo credit: Nancy Farrar Photography

You have only one room you can style for the rest of your life. Which is it?

Bedrooms. I love creating special places for people to relax. Whether it’s a peaceful main bedroom retreat, fun kid’s room, or sweet nursery, I love them all!

Where are your favorite local haunts to find decor for your clients?

I love local florists and nurseries for fresh flowers and houseplants. Both add the perfect finishing touches to your home. Simple Things and Domain XCIV have great finds and I love Lawrence’s for housewarming gifts. Arhaus and Ballard Designs are great options for bigger retailers.

Do you have a go-to/inexpensive design hack that you can share?

One of my favorite hacks right now is making off-the-shelf curtains look more custom by adding trim and pleats yourself. Half Price Drapes, Target and even IKEA have fantastic options, and there are a lot of great tutorials online.

Another favorite is the grid gallery wall for displaying family photos. Photos help bring our family’s personality to our homes and we all want to have them on display. I love designing a grid gallery wall using the same size black-and-white photos and black or gold frames for a simple, clean, and cohesive look. You can have your photos framed through a local framer or online resource like Framebridge. Or you can source your frames at Home Goods or Target and not break the bank.

House plants seem to be very ‘in’ right now. Which do you incorporate into your designs?

House plants are definitely having a moment and I love it! I incorporate them into every space I style. Fiddle leaf fig and olive trees are still very popular, and I use them a lot. I also love succulents, snake plants and maidenhair ferns. Orchids and boxwood topiaries are classic and look beautiful in more traditional spaces. Don’t worry if you don’t have a green thumb! There are really realistic and beautiful faux options available.

photo credit: Nancy Farrar Photography

Most challenging project to date?

New construction and remodel projects are the most challenging, but also some of the most rewarding! Every project is different and there are a lot of moving parts that have to all come together. That’s where great project management systems and top-notch contractors come into play. We have a tried-and-true project management system that we’ve developed that works for every project, whether large or small. And we’re blessed to work with some really fantastic contractors who do beautiful, quality work for our clients. I love seeing peoples’ homes come to life!

What do you hope to accomplish for your clients- besides good design, of course?

I want my clients to love their homes and feel like they embody their unique personalities and lifestyles.

Describe your personal design style. 

In my home my personal style is traditional with modern and rustic elements mixed in. In my business, I work with a variety of decorating styles and budgets, so there’s not just one look that I specialize in as some decorators do…I love working with them all.

What design trend from a previous decade do you love and what design trend should just stay in the past?

I’m loving bold wallpaper! It can completely transform a space. And now there’s a great temporary option with peel-and-stick wallpaper, so you can try something bold and fun without the commitment of pasted wallpaper. I just posted a tutorial on Instagram about Tempaper actually. Tempaper has been my go-to brand for projects so far because of the quality and variety of patterns, but there are a number of great options available online and at local hardware stores. Try starting with a small project like lining the inside back of a built-in shelving unit to get the hang of it.

photo credit: Nancy Farrar Photography

Website: amandabeardstyling.com
Instagram: amandabeardstyling