Some projects stay close to your heart. This was one of them.
After losing her beloved husband, Stan, and selling their family home, my client and longtime tennis friend Kate was ready to make her condo feel like her own. Our time together was about creating a home that honored her past while making room for her next chapter.
We spent hours looking at tile, talking about how she wanted her new space to feel, and reminiscing about her family home and the life she and Stan had shared. Getting reacquainted with Kate through that process was such a meaningful part of this project.
Her dated bathroom became a spa-like retreat, thoughtfully designed for aging in place. New flooring, countertops, and a redesigned fireplace brought a fresh feel to the condo. Updated tables and carefully chosen accessories complemented her existing furnishings and incredible art collection, adding the final layer that made everything feel complete.
The result is a home that feels perfectly Kate—comfortable, personal, and ready for the chapter ahead.
She was kind enough to share a few words about our time working together:
Kate's kind words
I think of Amy Nakamura of Lei Low Interiors as an empathic designer. From the first meeting, she wants to know more than what colors or styles you prefer. She takes the time to understand who you are, what is meaningful to you and what resonates with you, then uses that knowledge to shape her concepts for your home.
Amy amplifies your vision, drawing out details that reflect your life and surprising you with thoughtful touches. In my case, she placed a beautifully framed vintage photo of my wedding day in the kitchen—a lovely nod to my late husband, Stan, who always did the cooking.
Amy delights in all things visual and textural, so shopping with her is a joy. Whether in a high-end store or a thrift shop, she revels in the colors, shapes and textures of the pieces she finds. Her intuition about what will harmonize in your home and fit into your life is remarkable.
She also worked seamlessly with my contractor, providing plans that helped the remodel go smoothly. Whenever either of us had a question, Amy was quick to respond.
Thanks to Amy, my home feels peaceful, happy and beautiful. She has helped create a space that nurtures me whenever I enter it, where I love to welcome friends and family, and that makes room for the life I’m living now.
If you’d like to read more about Kate and journey follow along her substack - https://widowingafterstill.substack.coml
Photography: https://www.kimkellyphotography.com
Contractor: https://www.lighthouse-remodeling.com
Interior Design: https://www.leilowinteriors.com
