When I first met Amye it was behind the eye of her camera in 2002—a beautiful and confident young photographer bursting with creative ideas and boundless energy. Having since collaborated with her on a unique photography exhibition and some funky photo shoots in between, I now get the pleasure of watching her interior design career blossom…and at an incredible speed.

Chicago Interior Designer, Amye Charfoos

The owner of Foosology (www.foosology.com), an interior design firm in Chicago, I am thrilled that Amye included Pfeifer’s Cowhide Low Stool in her latest design project at Chicago’s prominent Trump Tower. Having known her for so long, I’m proud to introduce such a dear friend.

Pfeifer Studio's Cowhide Low Stool in a bedroom by Amye

You’ve had such an interesting background, and I know that creative mind of yours was sparked at a very early age…I think I read somewhere that it started at the dining room table. Well, they say the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. My mom is an Interior Designer and my dad is a Builder. It is something in my blood. I grew up talking about design and construction around the dinner table. I can still remember, as a young kid, wearing a tiny hard hat and walking construction sites with my dad. With my mom I browsed through various furniture showrooms and art galleries. Through this exposure, I developed a heightened sensitivity for interior environments. I remember rearranging my bedroom furniture every which-way throughout my childhood; when we went out to dinner I took notice of the décor in the restaurants and commented on their bathroom finishes; I loved to get tours of my friends’ houses to see how other people lived and decorated. I think a lot of people can relate to this interest in interiors, but I just started at a particularly young age.

When you received your first degree, a BFA in Photography with a minor in business from Washington University, was there ever a part of you that would have imagined pursuing anything else? As an artist you have to stay fresh, current and motivated to be on top of your game. With that said it is so important to keep an open mind for potential opportunities. I never really know what’s around the corner. Photography was a great creative vehicle for me. I enjoyed the process and the medium. At the time, it was still the age of film and there was something magical about the dark room. I especially loved working in color.

I know a BFA and a minor in business seem like an odd pair, but growing up I met a lot of wonderful artists that lacked a savvy business sense. I met great business-minded people, but they weren’t able to work creatively. I have the ability and interest to work in both. That makes for an unusual but extremely valuable combination. I wanted to find a career that allowed me to make a business out of making art. Photography certainly fit that roll for some time. Even though I had a successful career as a portrait photographer, in Chicago I fell in love with interiors again. So I went back to school to get a second degree in Interior Design from Harrington College of Design.

Now with a degree in Interior Design, do you feel like this is it, or is there something else waiting around the corner? The world of Interior Design is so vast with many different paths to explore. So, I’m very excited about all the potential opportunities to grow and change. Around the corner, I’d love to take on more construction and renovation projects. It’s one of my strong suits and sets me apart as a designer.

In the design/build process, it is important to remember form and function. There’s a lot of value in having an experienced interior designer as a part of the construction phase to help with picking timeless finishes, navigating the world of contractors and ultimately designing a space that fits your lifestyle….and your furniture!

Do you think your experience as a photographer has contributed to your design career in anyway? Absolutely. The camera was great tool for me to again observe and analyze the world I lived in. Looking through a lens forced me to choose and edit my view. The composition was imperative. This editing skill has been a great asset in my design business. As a designer, my clients need me to help create an overall picture or theme for their space. As you go through a project and pick out the smaller details, it is so important to continually take a step back and analyze the entirety. Clients often get overwhelmed in the details. That’s why I have a job! I continually circle back to evaluate the project as a whole.

Tell me a little bit about how Foosology came to be. Do you think you’ll stay independent? My photography business was named Foos Photography. Foos, stemmed from my last name Charfoos, has been my nickname throughout life. As I expanded my business to include Interior Design and Construction, I needed a company name that was all-encompassing. Foosology, the Art of Creative Living, came to be. I believe my job is to help my clients live a more creative life. I help them see the design world through my eyes and show them all the joys and pleasure to be had in a well-designed environment.

As for staying independent, my parents were both small business owners. The idea of owning my own business, to follow-suit, was appealing early on in my career. I wasn’t intimidated by the concept. I was really motivated to go out on my own right away. So, just after college I started Foos Photography. However, I quickly realized there was a lot to learn about running a business that school didn’t teach me. Because I was both new to the field and the city of Chicago, learning on my own time and dollar wasn’t ideal. So, after I finished my degree in Interior Design a few years later, I decided not to make the same mistake twice. I found a job with a residential developer and learned the industry while getting paid. It was a fantastic opportunity and an amazing growth period. After 2 years into the job, I was ready to go out on my own again and I started Foosology. Even though owning a business is a ton of work, I can’t imagine ever working for someone else again. I love the independence and challenges of running my own company. I do, however, enjoy collaborative projects and working with other creative people. So, that’s always a possibility.

Do you have a design philosophy or a particular approach you take when you encounter a project? Is there one thing in particular that says Amye Charfoos designed this space? My approach is to be a very good listener and an advocate for my clients. I first want to understand their goals for the project. How do they live in their space? What are they missing in their current layout? How can I help them add to or change their living environment to make it even better. My approach is to teach my clients about design and provide them with tools to make good design decisions. What makes a Foosology design is really the fact that you wouldn’t know it was Foosology. First and foremost, it should be a wonderful reflection of my client. At the end of the day, it is not my place; it’s their place. I want them to be happy and love the environment they live in. So, the design decisions we make, as a team, ultimately have my clients’ best interests at heart.

How do clients find you or vice versa? Word of mouth is the best form of advertising. A happy client is a wonderful referral source. When they show off their space to friends and family, well, I couldn’t pay for better advertising. So between happy clients, supportive furniture reps, contractors and great friends, I have a wonderful base of advertisers.

Let’s talk about that gorgeous project you just finished up at Trump Tower in Chicago. Was this a main residence or second home? Was there a specific situation or design issue you had to overcome? What’s your favorite thing about the project? The Trump Tower project was absolutely amazing. I had a great time working with my clients and we’re all thrilled with the finished product. If I could just move right into that condo I would! I find the space to be exceptionally inviting and relaxing. And the views are simply the best in the city.
This residence is a second home for my clients. With second homes I find clients are willing to push the envelope a bit more. They also tend to be more relaxed in general with the project. Here in Chicago a large part of my business are clients investing in second homes in the city. I really enjoy working on vacation or second homes.

Every project has its specific challenges. In this project a few issues stick out in particular. First off, there weren’t any overhead lights in all the main rooms. Although during the day, the floor-to-ceiling windows provide enough soft light, we worked really hard to create an ideal evening setting. The table and floor lamps had to be both functional and beautiful. So, I found several lights that seem more like art objects than lamps, but still provide the right light needed.

The Living Room in Amye's recent Trump Tower Project

The second challenge was the powder room. The existing white walls, white pedestal, white toilet and slate floors didn’t have the impact we were looking for. However, it just wasn’t the best use of money to replace these new fixtures. So, we decided to play-up the existing finishes. I found a gorgeous charcoal-blue pebbled mosaic that matched the color of the floors. We tiled the wall behind the vanity to add a focal point, swapped out the builder’s grade mirror for a fantastic framed decorative mirror and painted the walls the same color as the floor and mosaic wall tile. With the addition of some accessories and artwork the powder room is now one of our favorite spaces in the residence and probably cost us the least amount of money in the whole place! Designing this powder room was a great reminder to take cues from the existing environment and finishes. If you work with what you have versus fighting it, the end result will be much more cohesive and complete.

The Trump Tower Powder Room

Thank you for purchasing Pfeifer Studio’s Cowhide Low Stool for your project. I’m wondering if you can tell me why you selected this particular stool and any general thoughts you have regarding Pfeifer in general. I hope Pfeifer Studio and Foosology will work together again soon! I have admired Pfeifer Studio and it’s collection for a long time. I am always excited when I have a project that includes something from Pfeifer Studio. For this Trump Tower project, we needed a foot-stool for the master bedroom’s lounge chair. I was looking for something more sculptural with a hand-crafted, almost tribal, look. My client and I fell for the Cowhide Low Stool! It was the perfect addition to the space. The mixture of hair-on-hide and a sculpted wood base makes for a great conversation piece and really helped round out the room. Thanks Pfeifer! I look forward to showing off your pieces to my other clients.

Posted By: Angela (loftshoppe@gmail.com)