Designer Amanda Reid finds balance in interior design.
Designer Amanda Reid of Mandarina Studio.
Amanda Reid, the founder of Mandarina Studio (mandarinastudio.net), found her career in the unlikeliest of places, the Manhattan subway. One morning, while commuting to her finance industry job in lower Manhattan, she noticed an ad for interior design classes at Parsons School of Design. Craving a profession that was more creative and visual, she decided to enroll in weekend classes. Ultimately, Reid left her finance job to study design in London and completed her degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT). She started her career at an architecture firm in New York City, planned high-end corporate interiors, and managed complex construction projects for eight years before relocating to Boston.
In Boston, Reid formed Mandarina Studio. She attended networking events and had her own apartment photographed, which was published in a local glossy. Before she knew it, she had signed a big residential project, and from there, she never looked back. Today, Mandarina Studio works with clients to create layered interiors that are refined and timeless. Clients seek Reid out for her curated, eclectic design style and her ability to blend different styles and eras in a cohesive space. She’s also known for her unexpected yet successful color combinations and her use of hand-knotted carpets. “As the largest textile in the space, they are a piece of art and often my starting point for the design,” she says. Reid intentionally keeps her studio small and only takes on a select number of projects at a time, preferring to be hands-on with every aspect.
A living room in Wellesley by Mandarina Studio.
With 25 years in the design business and over 15 running her own studio, Reid is grateful that she discovered interior design as a career path so many years ago. “Interior design is the perfect blend of art and science. As a detail-orientated, creative person, it’s the ideal career for me,” she says.
Photography by: HALEY ABRAM, JOYELLE WEST
