home design, home, art, storytelling

With an unwavering commitment to artistry, Amanda Lewis from The Den goes beyond simply staging a home. Specializing in the luxury market, she practices the unique art of storytelling through staging and design, elevating interior spaces to create livable art. Harmoniously blending modern furniture with personal touches, custom artwork and curated vintage and thrifted pieces, she seamlessly merges contrasting styles to craft a cohesive and captivating narrative. Amanda’s signature design style, “modern eclectic maximalism,” perfectly encapsulates her dedication to designing artistic visions that spark an emotional response and leave a lasting impression.

By collaborating closely with her clients, Amanda ensures that her designs reflect a home’s individual architecture, time period and design elements. Her spaces transcend functionality, tailoring each project to reflect her clients’ specific goals and lifestyles. We spoke with Amanda about her notable projects, the impact of her signature design style and the inspiration she draws from her extensive art and vintage décor collection.

How did you find your calling in interior design and staging? What drew you to it?

I have always been captivated by all facets of design. I previously worked in fashion in New York for many years and after moving to Denver, I quickly fell into staging at the suggestion of a family member. I love the fast-paced nature of staging. No two days are the same and I’m able to play with a variety of different styles with minimal outside opinions.

- Give us the elevator pitch for The Den. Who is your typical client and why do they choose you?
- The Den is an elevated staging company that specializes in the luxury market. Not only do I stage, I also rent my inventory to other stagers in town with the overall goal to push the staging niche in Colorado forward. My clients continuously return to me because of my nontraditional approach to staging and styling. I can guarantee their homes will stand apart with my unique design sensibility and highly curated furnishings and décor. I put a great deal of time and care into preparing a property and thoughtfully tailor the look and feel to each individual home.
  
  How does artistry integrate into what you do on a daily basis?
  
  There isn’t a single aspect of my business where artistry doesn’t come into play. Whether I’m painting my own art for a property or taking a specific theme to the next level, I’m always viewing my work through an artistic lens. I want to evoke an emotional response when buyers are touring our properties. I’m not your average stager and I take pride in creating livable art.
  
  What project are you most proud of and why?
  
  I am proud of so many projects. They’re like my children! Recently I had the pleasure of staging a stunning new construction in Washington Park. For some reason when I walked in the door, I immediately knew I wanted to create a space that felt like a chic Parisian had moved to the countryside. I brought in a mix of modern furniture, custom artwork and a variety of my collected vintage treasures to achieve an overall aesthetic. As a result, the property went under contract in 24 hours and sold for $210k over the list price. In addition, I’ve been fortunate to stage multiple vintage homes this year. In particular, I collaborated with my good friend of Staged on an impeccable midcentury time capsule in Hilltop. We went so far as to attend the estate sale with the sole purpose of incorporating some of the original items back into our staging.
  
  Some homes speak louder than others, but when a home needs inspiration I create the perfect story.
  
  How would you describe your signature design style?
  
  I’m definitely making this term up, but I’d describe it as “modern eclectic maximalism.” I love the clean lines of modern furniture, but enjoy the juxtaposition of pairing modern with vintage, thrifted objects and furniture. I’m also a firm believer in more is more. I mix a variety of styles into one and it somehow always has a timeless feel. I don’t believe in subscribing to one type of style.
  
  When designing a space, what is the most important factor to consider and why?
  
  When staging, you must consider many things. All homes have a story they want to tell, which is dictated by the architecture, time period and unique design elements. Some homes speak louder than others, but when a home needs inspiration I create the perfect story. Also, scale is an important factor. The wrong size furniture, rugs, artwork, etc. is usually a design killer.
  
  How do you work with clients to ensure that your designs fit their lifestyle or the story that they are trying to tell with their homes?
  
  I always conduct an initial walkthrough with every client to hear their goals for each property. What features are they wanting to downplay or play up and who they’re marketing to. From there, I’m able to provide my suggestions and guide them to the best possible result.
  
  To what or to whom do you attribute your success?
  
  My amazing family and loyal clients. Since launching this business, everyone has continuously supported me and lifted me up through the highs and lows. Owning and operating a small business at this scale is not an easy feat. I wouldn’t be where I am without their encouragement.
  
  Where do you find inspiration in your daily life? Do you have any recommended books, podcasts or publications?
  
  I like to surround myself with beauty through my extensive, ever–growing, art and vintage décor collection in my own home. It’s a constant source of inspiration. One individual piece is often the catalyst to set off an entire theme. I’m very old school when it comes to the type of media I consume and still enjoy getting magazines to flip through. Some of my favorites are Frederic, Grazia, Galerie, Flower Magazine, Elle Décor and Dwell.
  
  Is there anything else you’d like to add?
  
  I’m extremely passionate about what I do and helping my clients achieve results beyond their expectations. It’s not just about staging a home to me. I like to create an aspirational vision and leave a lasting impression for anyone who walks through a home I’ve styled.
  
  To discover more interior inspiration from The Den, visit their website .