Amity Worrel’s love of interior design, furnishings, and art started early in her childhood. Growing up in South Austin, her mother would take her to peruse estate and yard sales on early weekend mornings. From there, her passion for collecting, curating, and design continued to grow. She took her zeal for uncovering unique finds to NYC. Here, she would start her early career at Christie’s auction house, working in the jewelry and silver department. The spark her mother ignited continued to kindle as she delved further into the history of the priceless antiques and furnishings that surrounded her. Amity went on to study interiors at the New York School of Interior Design and Parsons School of Design before taking on a mentorship working under two of the country’s top interior designers, Jeffrey Bilhuber and Tom Scheerer.

“Jeffrey taught me the principles of scale, furniture planning, and the definition of true luxury. Tom taught me how to mix highbrow and lowbrow elements to create tension and contrast in a design, pairing museum-quality antiques with the same care as street finds. Most importantly, I learned not to take any of it too seriously and always add a dash of humor! After all, our homes should be fun, not stuffy.”

While working under the guidance of Bilhuber and Scheerer and alongside the seasoned designers of their high-end NYC interior design firms, Amity designed luxury interiors across the globe for tastemakers, industry leaders, and celebrities. With a fervent initiation into the design world, she assisted on projects for Anna Wintour, Paul Wilmot, Bob Pittman, Peter Jennings, and David Bowie. After gaining indispensable hands-on experience, she decided to launch her own New York firm in 2006.

“No matter who the client is or their taste, I love finding out how folks live and helping them create a space that reflects their needs and personal flair. I pride myself on putting my clients’ goals first, rather than implementing forced ideas based on fleeting trends.”

In 2008, Amity decided to return to her hometown of Austin. Now, she conducts a team of award-winning designers with an unpretentious and warm approach to interiors. Design for better living is central to all of her work. She leads period renovations, seamless home additions, and classic decorating projects for intentional clients who desire professionalism and timeless appeal.

In 2021 Amity Worrel & Co. received the Austin Home & Design award in General Excellence for Interior Design. Amity’s range of distinct interiors, from coastal contemporary to Austin eclectic, is praised for its enduring appeal, transportive atmospheres, and dedication to client needs. Her work has been published in national and local publications, including The Wall Street Journal, House Beautiful, Domino, HGTV Magazine, Better Homes and Gardens, Home Design & Decor, and Austin Home.

DESIGN ORACLES Podcast – Amity Worrel & architect Dianne Kett co-host a weekly podcast dedicated to educate, pontificate and evangelize about the subject of residential interior design. The podcast is a discussion of all things related to homes, home design, decorating and architecture. It debuted as a “top 50” Apple podcast.

Andrée Chalaron started her journey into the interior design world through the NYC fashion and photography scene. While working as a stylist, producer, and agent for over 15 years, she represented a prominent interior photographer. From there, she cultivated a love of design, coordinating photoshoots for some of the country’s top interior designers. Her experience producing worldwide photoshoots, styling sets with impeccable attention to detail, and maintaining tight timelines gave her the skills necessary to run seamless projects on the Amity Worrel & Co. team. Her passion lies in the thrill of finding unique finds, including period antiques, rich textiles, and exciting wallpapers.

Allison Beyer discovered her love of interior design through the layered materials that convey mood, feel, and quality. She earned her degrees in apparel design and fashion merchandising and continued her studies of historical textiles at the Indianapolis Museum of Art. Her enduring relationship with materials and in-depth knowledge of fabrics and product development led her to the interior design world through custom furniture design. Whether it is selecting draperies, upholstery, or custom furnishings, Allison’s skills help the Amity Worrel & Co. team create inviting interiors made for comfortable living. She loves to find project inspiration in books and nature.

Melissa was drawn to the warm climate and southern hospitality she experienced while in Georgia receiving her BFA in interior design from Savannah College of Art & Design. After graduation, she returned home to New Jersey where she worked in the furniture industry as a designer. After a visit to San Antonio, Melissa knew it was time for a change and migrated to San Antonio. There Melissa worked under Amity’s oversight at Amity Kett, a residential architecture and interior design firm. She is now working in Austin as part of our Amity Worrel and Co. team.

As a designer, Melissa loves every aspect of design from space planning to installation. But as someone who completed a minor in fibers, she especially loves to work with different textiles and textures.

Hartley’s approach to design is based on her lifetime as an artist practiced in drawing, painting, and musical projects. Her family’s love for architecture and decorating inspired her to earn her degree in Interior Design. Hartley’s creative visions are supported by her technical skills earned from her background in home furnishings and drafting for construction fabrication. She is passionate about the psychological effects of the principals and elements of design, with a particular interest in color theory. She enjoys studying art and architectural history, hiking outdoors, and songwriting.

Becky Janes has worked in a range of diverse fields, including banking, government, and education. She loves interior design and has served as the administrative support manager for the Amity Worrel & Co. design studio since 2015. Her range of experience, attention to detail, and mastery of logistics allow her to manage our growing team of creatives with efficiency and grace. Outside of her demanding role in the studio, she likes to recharge with a good book and an outdoor run through the beautiful landscapes of Austin.

Lexi’s interest in interior design and furniture developed at an early age, spending hours rearranging the rooms in her dollhouse and accompanying her architect father to job sites in Houston. After earning her BFA in Art History, she spent time working at The Met and MoMA before switching gears and studying design at the Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC. For over 20 years, she has worked in interior design and architecture in a variety of roles including project management, design, furniture specification and space planning. She brings her skill of attending to detail while executing the big picture to the team at Amity Worrel & Co. and looks forward to contributing to their exciting and interesting work.

Outside of work, Lexi enjoys playing tennis, scouring estate sales and traveling with her family.

Chloe Larson grew up constantly rearranging the furniture in her childhood home and going to
garage sales on the weekends with her parents. Her love of architecture led her to pursue a
degree in Urban Studies at Trinity University with dual minors in Architectural Studies and
Communication. Her degree gave her a solid understanding of spatial systems and seeing the
big picture. After meeting Amity, Chloe was drawn to the world of interior design because of
the way it links spaces and people, bridging the gap between architecture and psychology. In
her free time Chloe loves to explore new places in her native Austin and hang out with her
tuxedo cat.