Amy Lau: her Light

The world of design will not be the same since Amy Lau (b. 1968), one of the most beloved members of our community and a personal friend and colleague, passed on last week after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Founder of Amy Lau Design, she created interiors like a curator, thought like an artist, and lived like a scholar. It is undeniable that her mark was left on many homes across New York City and the Hamptons. She was among the early generation of interior designers who recognized the power of collectible pieces of furniture and lighting to transform spaces and forge interesting personal narratives. Amy’s interiors were not only filled with masterpieces of modern and contemporary design (she was also known for commissioning bespoke pieces from such designers as Vladimir Kagan and Michael Coffey), but they were also defined by them. She enjoyed her career and social success, working her way to the forefront of the world of interiors.

Amy had a magnetic charisma, strong emotional intelligence, and the ability to mesmerize everyone around her. You could not miss her when she entered the room. She had the most striking, stylish persona, and she carried a vibrant aura everywhere she went. With her voluminous red hair, her beautiful figure, and her endless smile, Amy was one of a kind. She was caring, attentive, and knew how to make people around her feel comfortable and special; always offering genuine compliments and showing appreciation for every effort.

We have known each other for many years and have collaborated on many projects. I hosted Amy at one of her interiors on the Upper East Side of Manhattan for a show on New York interiors I had created for SkyArt—the European TV network—produced by 3D Produzioni. She appeared in my talk show more than once, and she would often invite me to her special events, such as the unforgottable memorial she hosted for her dear friend Vladimir Kagan in a triplex home which the two had collaborated on in lower Manhattan; or joined her when she hosted a table in a benefit for PETA. When Amy moved next door, we came to see each other more often. Whether it was bumping into each other on the street, or going out for dinner, or celebrating the seasons together.

For eight years, Amy fought cancer with courage and won battle after battle. But what was spectacular about her noble struggle was that she never gave up on chasing dreams. One after the other, she didn’t let any dream go unfulfilled. She never allowed her illness to stop her from creativity, from living a fulfilling and exciting life of boldness. She traveled the world, created beautiful interiors, kept publishing, and set to make her dreams a reality. One of these dreams was to have her own gallery. Being among those who conceived of Design Miami, she sought to take all of her knowledge and expertise into opening her own design gallery. She started by presenting a curated booth with an Art Nouveau theme at the Salon Art + Design and, in recent months, opened her own space at the New York Design Center, where she brought together objects of the past and the present.

Amy traveled to France last summer, visiting Nancy (the cradle of Art Nouveau) and spending her days in Versailles. Another dream was to complete the interiors of her own home. She acquired a flat in one of New York’s most celebrated historic buildings and turned it into the ultimate expression of her own vision and personal signature. After all, the home is the interior designer’s logo, and it took nearly five years to complete. Her final mission, it was recently styled by Michael Reynolds and photographed for publication just days before she went home to Arizona for the holiday.

Amy Lau lived a heroic life as a fighter, celebrating life like few ever do. The world of design will not be the same without her. All images of interior: curtesy Amy Lau Design.