Talk Shop: Adam and Amber Ford // A.A. Ford
ABOUT ADAM AND AMBER
Adam and Amber Ford are the husband-and-wife duo behind A.A. Ford Interiors, a design studio known for crafting spaces that feel timeless, joyful, and deeply personal. With a shared passion for interiors that started early in life, they believe the most compelling rooms are true reflections of the people who live in them — layered with meaning, style, and a sense of home.
Their approach is thoughtful and intentional, rooted in the idea that home is more than a backdrop — it’s where life happens. Whether raising kids, gathering with friends, or simply enjoying everyday routines, Adam and Amber design spaces meant to be lived in and loved. Their online publication, Screenshot, is an extension of that philosophy, celebrating design, culture, and the everyday moments that make life beautiful. Read on to learn more about their design process, what inspires them, and how they bring warmth and soul into every space.
Describe your style in three words or less:
Adam: Personality-driven, tailored, and edited.
Amber: Classic, easy, and cheerful.
What have been the three biggest influences on your aesthetic in your life:
Adam: Books, travel, and studying art — all things my parents fostered and taught me to value from a young age. My parents always encouraged reading, and our coffee table was full of architecture and floor plan books. I took art lessons from a young age, and I feel strongly that this shaped my perception of scale, color, and form.
Amber: Travel, nature, and my family. I was always surrounded by people who really cared and gave careful consideration not only in the home but also in gardening, cooking, and sewing. My family is pretty industrious, and everyone was always tinkering with something. We are fortunate to live in an area with four true seasons. Learning to live in and embrace these seasons inspires an aesthetic that is alive and ever-changing.
How did you start your company, and/or what is your favorite thing about what you do:
We have always been drawn to creative endeavors and spend a lot of time talking about and seeking beauty. We were spending all of our free time on design, which ultimately pushed us to launch A.A. Ford Interiors. We have been married for eleven years and together for eighteen, so working together feels very natural for us. Amber really loves the problem-solving component of design. Adam loves getting lost in the details and obsessively working to make the world a little more beautiful. We both enjoy getting to the heart of who our clients are and infusing their personal essence into their homes.
Adam: If I had to pick a favorite thing about what we do, I would say planning. There is something intoxicating about stepping into a new project rife with possibility. With the right team together, there is a real synergy to it.
Amber: I agree with Adam – there’s nothing like the initial burst of inspiration when getting into a project. The initial vibe setting is really creatively fulfilling.
Do you have a mentor in your career, and if so, how have they helped to shape your trajectory:
Not a specific mentor, but we both come from different backgrounds (music and public health) that have absolutely shaped our trajectory. These backgrounds informed our work ethics, how to work with a wide array of people, and the importance of living well. In these fields, we learned a lot about discipline, a commitment to excellence, and that kindness always matters.
What does your home say about you:
We prefer home to feel collected – personal effects are important. At heart, we are sentimental people who take great care to set our home up to make others comfortable and to create lifelong memories with friends and family.
Where do you find inspiration:
Adam: Visually, the project often dictates where we go. Sometimes, it’s history, other times it’s a more lifestyle-driven approach. I also find inspiration in art and people. There are so many amazing human beings in the world doing the most ingenious, creative things. I love getting to know people and what makes them tick. I find people with the ability to curate and edit and feel secure in their taste to be magnetic.
Amber: We are very sensitive to color and how it interacts with place. The light, seasons, and setting of a project all influence color, and we often start there. It could be art, fabric, or even nature. Unstructured time is also important for me to feel inspired. I may have been an only child to thank, but I rarely get bored and have an active imagination. Finding time for activities that let me get more in a flow state (gardening, cooking, cleaning) lets me more deeply reflect on recent inspirations from a book I read to a meal I ate, to a project I’ve seen. I always leave these moments with a renewed sense of clarity and inspiration.
Who are your style icons:
Honestly, neither one of us has true style icons. We love people-watching and take more inspiration from how people around us put themselves together than anything else.
What are your key ingredients for entertaining:
Adam: Non-scented candles in classic glass hurricanes and a little background music go a long way. For food, Amber actually went to culinary school and is a great chef. There is nothing like one of her meals prepared with high-quality, simple ingredients. Everyone walks away feeling full and cared for.
Amber: Casual glassware that sets people at ease and doesn’t feel too precious, and games to get the conversation going.
Do you collect anything:
Adam: Ceramics and art.
Amber: Notebooks and pens- we always wind up at a stationery store.
Favorite Instagram accounts to follow for inspiration (please include links):
Anyone doing cool things right now. It’s always changing. To name a few: @gardenista_sourcebook for garden inspiration, @alex_delany and @phoebecolesmith for food, @wilkinson_rivera, @sawkillecompany, @chrispearsonfloors, and @lightsong.exchange for creatives.
What design “rule” do you always follow, and which is made to be broken:
Both scale and the placement of rugs and window treatments are vital for the success of any room. As far as one to be broken, this may not be a rule (are there really any rules?), but we find success and style in playing with unconventional art placement.
What are you working on right now:
We have some exciting, diverse projects in the works that are giving us wonderful opportunities to explore varied aesthetics, from a house in Upstate New York to a Swedish-inspired cottage in Tennessee.
Education is also important to both of us, and we are always talking about ways to help others experience or see beauty with clarity. We believe that a better understanding of your surroundings and what makes great spaces tick helps you appreciate them. We recently started a Substack called Screenshot, encouraging everyday whimsy and living now.
Wardrobe staples:
Adam: Anything Sid Mashburn. Button-ups, slacks with a 1 ¾” cuff, and tassel loafers. Anything that is stylish but not flashy or garish.
Amber: I’m very petite and always feel most confident in a monochromatic look. I love matching sets, and Elizabeth Suzann is a favorite. I prefer my clothes to be comfortable, tailored, and a little edgy.
Favorite fabric/wallpaper:
Raoul’s Secret Garden and any Tillett fabric.
Best interior advice you ever received:
You can’t say everything you want to say in one room or even one home.
Best career advice you ever received:
Show up - relationships and communication are everything.
Types of home purchases you invest in, and save on:
Invest in art and furniture. Save on rugs and accessories. A simple sisal is often enough, and accessories can be personal and stylish without breaking the bank.
Your greatest extravagance:
Probably not very extravagant, but we don’t limit ourselves when it comes to books. Can’t put a price on learning. Other than that, deliberately create unplugged time with friends.
Favorite places to shop for home:
For personality and quality, it’s hard to beat working with independent artists and furniture makers.
If it suits the style of the project, Schoolhouse Electric makes some stylish pieces that are both durable and comparatively affordable. We also spend a lot of time browsing Etsy and auction catalogues.
Most prized possession and why:
Our art collection and family photos are the most personal and sentimental to us.
Your interiors motto:
Stylish and personal spaces for easy living. We believe in living now.
Your life motto:
Adam: Be pleasant and present.
Amber: Don’t waste energy on things you can’t control.
Advice for someone looking to define their own interior style:
A+A: It doesn’t happen overnight. Educate your eye and pay attention to what you are drawn to. Can you find common themes in what you are inspired by? Style is never fixed. We are humans and always evolving. Have fun and enjoy it. Labels are only so helpful: you are far more complicated than the bounds of one particular style.
Take Ten: My Favorite…
Food:
Adam: Pasta and Oysters
Amber: Pizza
Drink:
Adam: Coffee or mint tea
Amber: Ginger komboucha
Film:
A+A: The Family Stone
Hotel:
Adam: The Lowell in New York or Como Point Yamu in Phuket
Amber: Le Château des Alpilles in Provence
City:
Adam: New York or Paris
Amber: Any walkable city- New York, Paris, Savannah
Bedding:
A+A: Crisp white percale sheets from Leontine and a luxurious blanket. C&C Milano makes the most luxurious throws and blankets.
Tea or Coffee (and how do you take it):
Adam: Coffee- Iced Cappuccino
Amber: Coffee with a bit of milk- I’m not very techy and enjoy making my everyday cup using an AeroPress
Playlist:
Adam: Classical or Pop
Amber: Something chill – Norah Jones or Fleetwood Mac
Weekend Activity:
Adam: Grabbing coffee at a coffee shop and walking
Amber: Going to the farmer’s market, long walks, and cooking something that requires a bit more time
Design Book:
Adam: We both love The Way Home by Jeffrey Bilhuber and anything Gil Schafer. I also garner a lot of inspiration from art monographs.
Amber: Scrapbook for Living by Bunny Williams