Today we’d like to introduce you to Amie Corbett.
Hi Amie, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Interior design has been a passion of mine for as long as I can remember. At 10 years old, I was already rearranging my bedroom and convincing my very patient mother to let me hang wallpaper. As I grew older, that creativity evolved through designing my own homes and building two homes with my husband. Although design had always been part of me, my professional path initially led me in a different direction. I spent more than 20 years in nursing, primarily in pediatric critical care, and also served in nursing leadership. That career taught me how to remain calm in high-pressure situations, manage countless moving parts, communicate clearly, collaborate with a multidisciplinary team, and—most importantly—care for people during some of the most stressful moments of their lives.
At the age of 40, I decided it was time to give my other lifelong passion the opportunity to become something more, and I founded Corbett Style & Design. Entrepreneurship was not entirely unfamiliar to me; my father has owned his own business for more than 40 years, and I believe I inherited much of my entrepreneurial spirit and determination from him. I started the firm while continuing to work as a nurse, allowing the business to grow thoughtfully and organically. What began as a deeply personal creative pursuit has developed into a thriving boutique interior design firm serving families throughout Northern Virginia.
While nursing and interior design may appear to be very different careers, I see them as two expressions of the same purpose: caring for people. A renovation can be exciting, but it can also be disruptive and overwhelming. My nursing background allows me to bring a sense of calm, organization, flexibility, and empathy to that process. I want my clients to feel that they have someone beside them who genuinely understands their lives, advocates for their needs, and can carry some of the decision-making weight. Because our firm is intentionally boutique, I remain personally involved throughout each project and develop relationships with clients that often extend well beyond a traditional designer-client connection.
At Corbett Style & Design, we believe a home should be an oasis from the demands of everyday life. Our work balances elevated, timeless design with the practical needs of the people who actually live there. We consider how a family moves through its home, how children and pets use the spaces, what needs to endure over time, and where an investment will have the greatest impact. Luxury, to me, is not simply choosing the most expensive option—it is creating a home that feels intentional, personal, functional, and entirely your own.
Building the business has also required me to grow into a new identity as an entrepreneur. Like many creative business owners, I have faced moments of imposter syndrome and wondered whether I truly belonged in the room. Over time, the trust of my clients, the growth of the firm, and the strong partnerships I have developed with contractors and other professionals have helped replace that uncertainty with confidence. I remain a perfectionist, and I rarely accept that something simply “cannot be done.” I believe there is almost always a thoughtful solution if you are willing to collaborate, remain flexible, and keep searching for it.
The most rewarding moments are not simply the final photographs or beautifully finished rooms. They are the moments when clients tell me they finally love their home, that it feels like them, or that they no longer want to move because we have helped transform their existing home into the place they always wanted it to be. Knowing that our work has given a family greater comfort, contentment, and peace in their everyday life is what continues to inspire me. Ultimately, that is the heart of Corbett Style & Design: elevated interiors designed with intention, supported by genuine care for the people who call them home.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has not always been a smooth road, but as many know, growing a small business is accompanied by many highs and just as many lows.
Building the firm has required me to grow into an entirely new identity as an entrepreneur. When I first embarked on this journey, I did not necessarily intend for Corbett Style & Design to evolve into a well-known design firm. I simply wanted to pursue a lifelong passion, serve people in a new way, and create beautiful, functional homes for the families who trusted me. Through many unexpected blessings, the loyalty of our clients, and the tremendous support of our community and industry partners, the business has grown far beyond what I initially imagined- and it continues to grow.
That growth has been incredibly rewarding, but it has also brought its share of challenges. As the firm has expanded, I have had to develop my skills as a business owner just as quickly as I have developed my skills as a designer. There have been many moments when I have felt as though I were building the plane while flying it- learning how to lead a team, strengthen our systems, manage increasing project demands, and make decisions that support both our clients and the long-term health of the business. It can be overwhelming, and honestly, it feels scary 99 percent of the time. Like many creative entrepreneurs, I have also faced imposter syndrome and questioned whether I truly belonged in the room or was ready for the next level of growth.
However, some of the biggest leaps of faith I have taken- particularly when expanding the business, investing in new resources, or accepting opportunities that stretched me beyond my comfort zone- have led to our greatest periods of growth. The trust of our clients, the dedication of my team, and the strong partnerships I have developed with contractors and other professionals have gradually helped replace uncertainty with confidence. I remain a perfectionist, and I rarely accept that something simply “cannot be done.” I believe there is almost always a thoughtful solution when you are willing to collaborate, remain flexible, and keep moving forward. I am still learning as the business evolves, but I have come to understand that growth often requires stepping forward before you feel completely ready and trusting that you will rise to meet the opportunity.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Corbett Style & Design is a boutique interior design firm serving Northern Virginia. We specialize in creating elevated, functional, and deeply personal homes through renovation design, furnishings, finish and fixture selections, procurement, and ongoing design support throughout construction. Our work ranges from focused consultations and individual-room transformations to extensive, multi-level renovations and whole-home design. Regardless of the project size, our goal is to create a home that feels intentional, cohesive, and distinctly reflective of the people who live there.
What truly sets our firm apart is the warm, personal connection we establish with each client. We take the time to understand not only a client’s aesthetic preferences, but also how they live, what they value, how their family uses the home, and where they feel most overwhelmed. Our process is not one-size-fits-all. We are comfortable adapting our services, communication, and level of support to meet each client where they are. Some clients want us to manage nearly every detail, while others need professional guidance at specific points during a renovation. We believe both approaches can produce a beautifully designed home when the process is thoughtful and clearly defined.
We are also comfortable designing within a range of investment levels. Elevated design does not have to mean selecting the most expensive option in every category. Protecting our clients’ investment is central to our work, so we help them determine where it makes sense to invest in quality and longevity and where a more budget-conscious selection can achieve the desired result. Our designs balance beauty, durability, function, and cost so that our clients feel confident about both the finished home and the decisions made along the way.
Another quality that distinguishes our firm is our collaborative relationship with contractors and other trade professionals. As I discussed during my podcast interview, several contractors have told me that our firm is unique in its willingness and ability to work alongside them as a true partner. We recognize that every contractor and project team communicates and operates differently, so we adjust our communication style, documentation, and process to support the way each team works best. We value clear communication, flexibility, mutual respect, and the shared goal of delivering an exceptional result for the homeowner.
Brand-wise, I am most proud that Corbett Style & Design has become known for making elevated design feel approachable and attainable without sacrificing quality or intention. We offer a highly personalized, boutique experience grounded in warmth, responsiveness, and genuine care. Our clients are never simply handed a design and left to navigate the details alone. We remain present, adaptable, and invested throughout the process, helping transform an often-overwhelming experience into one that feels organized, supported, and exciting.
How do you think about happiness?
What makes me happiest is creating a sense of comfort and contentment- both in my own life with my family and in the homes I design for others. I love the moment when clients are finally able to look around, exhale, and feel completely at home. A beautiful space is rewarding, but knowing that it also functions well for a family’s everyday life and gives them a place to feel comfortable and at ease is what brings me the greatest joy.
One of my earliest clients especially reminds me why I love what I do. We have been working together for nearly three years, gradually transforming their builder-grade house into a bespoke home that reflects their clean, modern style and the needs of their family. We initially focused on furnishings and surface-level changes because they did not consider the house their forever home. Over time, the project evolved to include most of the main level, and we are now beginning work upstairs.
Recently, the clients told me they had decided not to move. Through everything we had created together, their house had finally begun to feel like their home- a place that reflected their personalities and where they could imagine their family staying for many years. Helping a family with five children avoid the disruption of moving while creating a home they genuinely love was incredibly meaningful. Every project gives me something special, but moments like that- when design meaningfully improves how someone feels and lives in their home- are what make me happiest.
Pricing:
- Our services are customized according to each project’s scope, needs, and desired level of support.
- We offer options ranging from focused consultations to comprehensive renovation and full-service design.
- Our pricing is intentionally budget-friendly and accessible across a range of project types and investment levels.
- We help clients determine where to invest and where to save while balancing beauty, function, durability, and cost.
- Each client receives a clear proposal outlining the recommended services and anticipated design investment.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.corbett-style-design.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/corbettstyleanddesign/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Corbett-Style-Design/61567764894630/?mibextid=wwXIfr&rdid=NV5F0G6w8esCOmo9&share_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fshare%2F1MLstNsh63%2F%3Fmibextid%3DwwXIfr
