20 young Designers

AMANDA REYNAL
Des Moines

You have been described as a "young traditionalist." Can you elaborate?
In my designs, I provide clients with an elegant and balanced but young approach to home decoration. My ability to combine my understanding of the traditional principles of design with a contemporary aesthetic and the use of bright color has made me a welcome addition to my local design community. I understand what life is like at home for my contemporaries who share their homes with children, pets and an unpredictable climate.

Describe the range of projects you have designed.
In Des Moines, I have had the opportunity to work on a variety of projects including a mid-century ranch renovation, an updated center hall colonial, an early American colonial and a brick Georgian house.

Is there a common thread running through all of your designs?
A. Yes, there is. It's not "the same look," however, but the fact that I have been able to achieve for my clients elegant homes that do not sacrifice comfort and practicality. Most men want to sink into a great armchair every night, women want a chic dining room that can sparkle at an elegant dinner party and accommodate three generations of a family for Thanksgiving dinner, and everyone wants great-looking upholstered forms that won't get ruined by children. If I can create beautiful rooms for my clients and satisfy all of their needs, then I can feel proud of my work.

Tell us about your design background.
I started Reynal Interiors in Des Moines, Iowa, after working in New York City as a designer with architect Alison Spear, and as a senior design associate at Cullman & Kravis. With Alison Spear, I developed a working understanding of the architecture of a room and how to respect the tenets of proportion and balance.

Then, as a senior design associate at Cullman & Kravis, I defined my signature as a traditionalist grounded in the classical elements of symmetry and proportion that are really at the core of my work. I worked side by side collectors of fine art and English and American antiques. Combining the elements of fine design with contemporary lifestyles has become my credo.

Reynal Interiors
Des Moines
515/418-8715
reynalinteriors@att.net