What if the secret to better interiors is the same method therapists use to guide change? We sit down with Anouska Milstein of Studio A.mi to unpack a simple framework that reshapes design from the inside out: observe, explain, predict, and then change or improve. It’s a candid, uplifting look at how empathy, psychology, and good systems turn “make it pretty” into “make it personal.”

We trace Anouska’s path from psychology lectures to a concept-driven degree and the small practice apprenticeship that taught discipline, file hygiene, and craft. She shares how a COVID redundancy pushed her to build a studio that centres collaboration and consent, right down to greeting clients with a hug when it feels right. Trust becomes practical: a smarter onboarding questionnaire, three feeling-words per room, and a feedback rhythm that avoids polite nods followed by next-day panic emails. We dig into planning for how people actually live, why colour misses often come down to unspoken history, and how to “step into the plan” to test light, flow, and comfort before a single wall moves.

If you’re an interior designer, architect, or design lover curious about client psychology, rapport, and creating homes that age with their owners, this conversation is filled with honest lessons. Expect talk of body language, reading the room, mentorship, redundancy as a reset, and the relief of systems that keep creative work organised under pressure. It’s a reminder that design is a service, trust is earned, and the best rooms begin with listening.

Check out Studio A.mi's beautiful work on socials:

https://studioami.com.au

Insta: @studio.a.mi

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