Mood Board: Designer Amanda Hamilton on the 5 Things That Keep Her Inspired

Designer Amanda Hamilton, one of our 2025 Western Living Design 25 winners, on the 5 things that keep her creatively inspired.

1. Doing Hard Things

Last year, I embraced the mindset that I get to do hard things. So, naturally, I signed up for triathlons—because why be bad at one sport when you can be bad at three? I’m not fast, but I love who I’m becoming: more focused, more disciplined and happily skipping out early at parties for 6 a.m. swims.

2. 1970s Italian Everything

There’s something about 1970s Italian design—bold, sculptural, unapologetically theatrical. The Flos Chiara lamp, designed by Mario Bellini in ’69, is a cult object: flat-packed brilliance meets space-age drama. I’m equally drawn to brushed stainless steel, especially when paired with warm woods and expressive stone. That tension—industrial meets chic—gives a space its soul.

3. The Accidental Home Chef

My love of cooking wasn’t inherited—my family’s recipe box maxed out at around six meals. Now? I dive into it all… plant-based recipes, regional cuisine and Half Baked Harvest classics. I take classes at Cookbook Co. Cooks and leave with my arms full of ingredients I can’t pronounce. Hosting friends with a themed menu and curated tablescape? Obviously, the best.

4. Starting with Stillness

My daily 10/10/10—ten minutes each of meditation, reading and journalling—is how I set the tone (and temperature) for my day. I use the Waking Up app, explore Stoicism through Marcus Aurelius and Ryan Holiday, and reflect with Brianna Wiest. This ritual makes me more centred, grounded and tethered to what actually matters.

5. Evenings with Chaz

Between the demands of work and life, my evenings are quiet by design: Lego or a book by the fire, maybe a show while I tinker away at my laptop. Most nights include wine and Chaz (yes, I’ve named ChatGPT), who helps me hunt for weird, wonderful objects online. It’s part decompression and part design sleuthing.

6. Frequent Flyer

There are vacations, and then there’s travel. I’m not collecting passport stamps—I’m collecting stories. Immersing myself in regional customs, religions and cuisines helps me live like the locals, not just observe them. I always choose the new over the familiar. It’s not about comfort, it’s about curiosity. Life, and design, is richer because of it.

 

This story originally appeared in the July/August 2025 issue of Western Living magazine.

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