Check out our interview with founder, creative director, and award-winning interior designer Ami McKay who is having her TV breakout moment with her home design pilot “Vancouver Reno” for Magnolia Network. Ami creates two distinct design aesthetics for a single mom and her teenage son during a renovation, both of which draw inspiration from her own experiences and the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest. A race to finish on time unfolds as the renovation goes on through the seasons.
Ami has been named one of “Canada’s Top Five Interior Designers” (Chatelaine Magazine) and one of the “Top 5 Designers to Watch” (Rue Magazine).
Follow Ami @puredesigninc
Hi Ami, please tell us a little about you?
I am the founder and creative director of PURE Design Inc., which offers residential and commercial interior design services and construction management, both focusing on healthy, sustainable design and building practices. Along with PURE Design I opened PURE Shoppe, a beautiful boutique filled with ethically produced items carefully curated for the home. PURE Shoppe primarily sources artisan and fair-trade goods, both local and global, allowing individuals (with a special focus on women) to make a living doing work that they love. I’m filming Season 1 of Vancouver Reno, a one-hour series capturing one of my many projects from start to finish, on Magnolia Network.
My partner Don and I are currently empty nesters and reside in the small seaside town of Lions Bay, just outside of Vancouver, with my elderly father, who has stayed with us the past 7 years since suffering a stroke. When not at work, we can be found either on the water or with our feet up in front of the fire planning our next adventure, which usually involves a passport and a flight but, ideally, it’s buying and renovating a property in Italy.
Describe yourself in three words.
Joyful, positive, and tenacious! I am also a risk taker and I am not afraid.
Who is your role model?
The only role models I really needed in my life were my aunt Heather, my dad, and my uncle Dave, and they taught me all I needed to know how to love profoundly.
How did you get started in the business?
I have been creative my whole life. I am very visual, and I had several creative jobs in my 20s, including theater design, costume design, set design, floral design, and sign painting. All of these experiences with color, drama, and textures led me to choose interior design as my chosen career. Every interior that I design is a canvas for me! It wasn’t a straightforward path, but it was my path.
How has this changed your life?
I am happy, and I love my business—the design aspects as much as the business end. I love coming up with ideas and making them happen and I look forward to working on our new show, designing furniture and homewares. There are just so many exciting possibilities!
Tell us about your work as an interior designer and what are your inspirations?
I am inspired by everything—what I see, where I go, and who I meet. I am a sponge, and I try to reflect my life experience back into my interiors.
Now let’s talk about your own home design show, “Vancouver Reno” for Magnolia Network.
The show will feature one residence and the renovation process per episode. This show is real; you will see my real team and our creative process from start to finish. We share the creative journey and the nuts and bolts of a renovation along the way. It’s an entertaining evolution of interior design ideas that we bring to life!
What can we expect from the new show episodes?
I can’t really talk about the details until it airs, but I can tell you that we work with a newly single mom and her teenage son and this episode is very special to me.
Can you tell us about something funny or crazy that happened during filming?
It took us so much time to get our permits! Working in real time and doing real renovations, we had to adapt to waiting, which involved our company, the production, and all the red tape! Funny, not funny!
What mindsets helped make you so successful?
I really, truly believe in manifesting your dreams and creative visualization! You have to give yourself permission to really shine and be true to yourself and your ideas. You have to persevere, because bringing those ideas to life isn’t easy, but it is possible if you stay true to your vision. Hold tight to your vision!
If you were a book, what would be the title of the book and why?
Give Yourself Permission.
Start with a Dream.
I Am What I am.
Live Like this is the Only Life You Have! (because it is!).
If I Died Tomorrow, I would Die Happy.
Life is so F’ing Precious.
What would you say are the greatest lessons you have learned so far in business?
Failure is a blessing! Losing everything and falling on your face, then rebuilding everything, makes you fearless to move forward in both life and business
What is it like to be named one of “Canada’s Top Five Interior Designers” (Chatelaine Magazine) and one of the “Top 5 Designers to Watch” (Rue Magazine)? That’s amazing! Congrats!
Humility. I’m truly honored to be recognized among so many talented designers out there and the little girl inside of me is proud of who I’ve become.
Do you have any tips for new interior designers or new colors or trends for 2024?
When I’m asked about trends, I usually say that I’m not about trends, but I am excited about the shift towards more sustainable and environmentally friendly practices. Let’s keep doing that! We love beautiful AND healthy furniture; we repurpose old beauties for a new life; and we generally search for ethical, artisan, and smaller companies that are transparent about their practices.
Any advice to entrepreneurs out there?
Get a mentor! Do volunteer work! Travel. These will be formative and will help put your life and goals in perspective.
What book should every entrepreneur read?
The Outliers and for every creative, read The Artist’s Way
What was the toughest decision you had to make in the last few months?
My father lives with us, and he has dementia, so deciding to go on our last trip to Asia was very difficult. I make sure he is well taken care of, and he has always wanted me to be happy so we went. Of course he benefits from me being happy as well!
What is the most rewarding part of your work?
Working with my beautiful team members. It’s wonderful to help make dreams come true, and I love the journey of each project, but mostly I just care so much about my people, and that is the rewarding part.
Which place that you have visited do you think changed you in a particular way, maybe for motivation or to see a different reality, etc?
India! When I was 23, I lived and volunteered in India. Seeing how much of the population lives and how their lives are predestined, in a way, I realized that even on the worst day of my life, I am so very fortunate. After India, it was never far from my mind that the future is mine. I decided at 23 that if I didn’t become a success in life, it would be my fault, as I have every opportunity in the world as an educated Canadian woman. I won the lottery for being born here in this day and age. We have the ability to achieve anything we dream of.
Favorite countries to travel to
Italy for beauty, Thailand for peace, and Cambodia and Vietnam. That’s 4!
And which countries or cities are still on your bucket list?
Morocco, Ethiopia, Peru, Brazil, Sri Lanka…
What is your favorite healthy food?
I LOVE fruit and vegetables!!
And your favorite cheat food?
Potato chips
How would your best friend describe you?
I asked my bff and she said I am the most positive person she has ever met!
What’s next for Ami McKay in 2024?
Well, next we are hoping to be picked up for a full season for our Magnolia show Vancouver Reno very soon. I will also be starting up my line of sustainable furniture and homewares, and I would like PURE to be a household name!
What is your own definition of happiness?
Happiness for me is feeling so much gratitude for everything I have in my life.
How is a normal day in your life?
I wake up, and Don brings me celery juice, and I take my Poppers coffee, a banana, and a muffin! My days usually start early, and I hit the ground running, whether working on the show, our interior designs, or our shoppe. I do enjoy working from home because I love my house and the environment that we have created, plus it’s very efficient for me and I get a lot done. I’m lucky because, whether I’m at home or at the office, I’m happy!
What is your idea of a perfect Sunday?
It’s often our date day! We go do whatever we want, which includes antiquating, wandering, eating together, and fixing up the house.
If you could meet someone living or dead, who would it be and why?
Obama! He is my favourite person, and I would love to sit down and talk about everything and nothing. He emanates a special energy that I would love to be around.
Best advice ever given?
Believe somebody when they show you who they are.
Do you support any charities?
Yes, a number of them, philanthropy is very important to me. Recently, I have worked with Kids Help Phone, designing 4 kitchens for a women’s shelter, mentoring women through the Forum for Women Entrepreneurs, helping resettle 3 Syrian refugee families in seven years, donating $10,000 to Plastic Bank in design services, and donating to several downtown Eastside Vancouver organizations, among others.
Name three things you can’t live without.
Words of affirmation, positivity, and random acts of kindness, both giving and receiving!
Where do you see yourself and your career in 5 years from now?
I see myself set up in a house that we have renovated in Italy, with an olive grove and surrounded by beauty and delicious food! Always lots of travel, developing product lines, meeting artisans, and supporting them. Of course, I will still be running my company and will hopefully still be on TV!
Favorite song? Why?
Any live opera will bring me to tears. I recently had the chance to see Andrea Bocelli at an outdoor concert in his hometown of Ladjatico, Italy, this past July, it was fantastic
What kind of music do you like?
I love Damian Rice, I love music that is deep and a little bit dark. I am stoic with the complications in my life, and I listen to him to help me process feelings!
What do you think of social media?
I love social media, and it helps that I am a certain age so my identity isn’t tied up in it. I love that I can pop in and see what people are doing, plus I find inspiration from what other people are creating in their lives! I love IG because you don’t have to say much, it’s very visual, which I love, and it’s super easy to connect with others.
Where can we follow you?
IG: @puredesigninc
FB: PURE Design INC
Pinterest: PURE Design Inc.
Quote: Dream it and do it!
Favorite Singer/Artist: Damian Rice and Amos Lee
Movie: I don’t have one, I prefer TV shows where the relationship with the characters is longer, for example, I am still upset that Breaking Bad is over!
Travel Destination: So many places, I love to go to beautiful hotels, and we are big explorers. I also want to travel more to find makers for our shoppe.
Sports Team: Can’t help you there
Tv Show: The Morning Show was great, I loved Homeland, the The Diplomat
Book: I love Covenant of Water and Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese. I also love A Gentleman In Moscow by Amor Towles
Cover Photo credit: Janis Nicolay
