Amber Lewis's Calming Workspace Is As "Anti-Corporate" As It Gets
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."
Amber Lewis admits to not liking corporate offices. But her growing team needed a new home base, so she began looking for one. The internet-favorite designer’s former digs, a 1,500-square-foot, character-filled space across town in Calabasas, California, was getting too small. “If I had to be in a more traditionally corporate setting, it was going to have to have pretty amazing qualities,” Lewis says. Having scored a space that gave her free reign on renovations, a wraparound deck, and natural light on three sides, she’s now a convert to the office building lifestyle.
Lewis immediately tore open the ceilings, adding much-needed height while showing off the building’s ductwork, which gives it her signature laid-back energy. A coat of warm white paint (Pueblo by Dunn Edwards) and transparent drapery—Lewis’s go-to for adding depth to a space with limited architecture—softened the stark walls and square windows. Every door and piece of millwork was painted in Heather, also by Dunn Edwards, to help frame the office “zones.”
Similar to one she’d design for a home, the office kitchen is where people tend to gather, something that’s quite rare in a corporate setting. Of course, the snack drawers (filled with Chomps sticks) are a big part of the draw, but Lewis strived for a space that looked as good as it performed. There was no kitchen when the team got the space, so Lewis was able to customize every element. “Everything was built to be hidden,” she says. “But durability was the primary focus, especially when you have a revolving door of 50 people coming in and out.”
Lewis opted for paneled appliances, marble countertops, and brick paver floors, all tried-and-true elements she uses in many of her design projects. Cabinets painted a shade darker than the walls are easy to touch up when scuffs and scratches happen. The star of the space is the antique island, a piece Lewis had had in her warehouse for years but never found the right home for. “It’s the perfect butcher block top. If you get it wiped down and you cut on it, it’s just the sort of thing that will get better with age.”
The other place Lewis gravitates to, aside from the carefully curated snack drawer, is the conference room. She focused on making it feel cozy and inviting. Plush seating and sprawling valley views create a calming space for team and client meetings.
Around the corner is the sample library. An important space for any design firm, Lewis situated hers directly across from a wall of ceiling-height windows. “Natural light is everything,” she says. This ensures her team can see colors and finishes accurately. The walls are outfitted with custom built-in cabinetry, and there’s an island so people can spread out and experiment right in the room—no need to carry boxes of samples down the hall to their desks. Clients can also explore the space and get hands-on during the decision making process with the team.
Despite her love of sourcing vintage, Lewis tapped the product designer side of her brain to outfit “the pit” with a slew of wooden desks, designed as part of her collaboration with Four Hands. Secured to the floor, these desks are able to hide every single computer charger and power cord, a non-negotiable for Lewis.
In her own office, a large room at the rear of the floor, Lewis focused on comfort. “I wanted to feel like I was working at home,” she says. A large dining table serves as her desk, while ample seating allows team members to hang out close by. “It’s double the space I need,” she says. “But I like that it feels conversational. My door is literally always open.”
Salerno Desk Chair
Pueblo White Paint
Holden Office Desk
Plume Pendant Light
Call It Home
You Might Also Like
