We were lucky to catch up with Andrea Lackie recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Andrea thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?
It was sometime in high school. I had always taken art classes and done well in them, despite not necessarily identifying as a particularly artistic person (which is funny because I also grew up as a dancer, so creative expression was certainly a part of my life). I was fortunate that my high school in Massachusetts had a strong art program with a dedicated department head and teacher, and I often stayed after class to talk with him.
One conversation I remember was about how I wasn’t sure if a creative path was right for me because I didn’t look or feel particularly avant-garde or unique—unlike some of the other kids in my art classes. That’s when he shared his experience of being the kid in boat shoes and polo shirts at art school—and how, in its own way, that made him different and unique. That stuck with me: perhaps there wasn’t just one way to be in order to pursue a creative future.
I can’t remember exactly how I found the career path of interior design, though growing up I did have some shared experiences with my dad that must have influenced me. He would drive us through new developments in our suburban town, and we’d critique the architecture and decor. We also enjoyed watching HGTV together (this was the late 1990s and early 2000s) and, of course, we’d comment on what we liked or what we would have done differently.
In my junior or senior year of high school, when I decided to pursue interior design as my college major, my art teacher helped all of us art students prepare for National Portfolio Day—a day when high school students can meet with representatives from schools across the country for portfolio reviews and even get accepted on the spot. I was absolutely terrified to go, but I ended up getting incredible feedback from the schools I met with and even got accepted to several top programs. My parents were quite surprised, as I hadn’t shared much of my art with friends or family up to that point. After that event, I felt a little more confident that perhaps I did have talent—and that I could be successful pursuing a creative degree.
Andrea, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
My name is Andrea Lackie, and I am the principal interior designer and founder of Andrea Lackie Design, a boutique interior design firm based near Lake Tahoe, CA. I received my BFA in Interior Design from Syracuse University in 2010 and have been working in the industry ever since.
I began my career in New York City—first as a project manager for a commercial furniture firm and later as a space planner for the luxury fitness brand Equinox. I never initially planned to pursue residential design, but a life change brought me from NYC to Lake Tahoe. With the local industry primarily focused on residential work, I had to learn the craft—and it turns out, I absolutely love it. Rather than being a cog in a larger machine, I am now deeply involved in every detail of every home I work on, which is both rewarding and complex. There’s also a significant emotional component to residential design, as we work closely with clients to navigate the often lengthy process of designing and constructing a home.
Beyond creating beautiful and functional interiors that are custom-designed for each client, I have a personal interest in sustainable and healthy building. I like to call this “responsible design”—an approach that focuses on making informed, thoughtful choices that considers both environmental impact and the impact of the built environment on humans.
Despite the challenges of finding responsible strategies, products, and materials that also meet a client’s needs, I firmly believe that designers have a responsibility to take any step forward we can—especially given the growing body of scientific research on interior spaces and health. Also, in the higher end of the market where I work, I strongly believe that resources should be invested in high-quality goods that do not exploit the planet or compromise human well-being. This commitment requires dedicating a significant amount of unbillable time to continuing education, researching products, and maintaining a sample and vendor library that meets my standards. I could certainly make more money and save time by relying on status-quo products and materials, but I don’t believe that would be the right thing to do.
While there’s no perfect solution—and construction projects are inherently impactful—I can help clients and contractors strategize how to best allocate focus and funds to integrate responsible products, strategies, and materials into projects in a meaningful and practical way. Even when working with clients who aren’t particularly focused on sustainability, I’m able to incorporate responsible materials and products because my library is stocked with vendors that align with my approach and offer durable, high-quality, and beautiful options—things every client values.
There can sometimes be a misconception that responsible interiors have a particular aesthetic, but I want clients to know that working with me does not mean your home will look like a hodgepodge of clichéd “sustainable” products (e.g., reclaimed wood everywhere). Instead, your interior will be a reflection of you and your goals, with thoughtful decisions made around materials that minimize impact on indoor air quality and emphasize heirloom-quality craftsmanship.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
Putting a piece of work out into the world and receiving positive responses is incredibly rewarding! As an interior designer, the journey to a completed project is long—usually years—and often quite stressful. There are always things I wish I had done differently, and I tend to focus on those elements, forgetting all the other successful solutions. Yet the most rewarding part of a project is seeing the client experience the finished space and share their excitement and joy with me. It’s a special feeling to know that your creativity, skill, and dedication have positively impacted someone’s life. As someone who has always struggled with insecurity and confidence, the positive responses from both clients and, once I share finished photographs publicly, the general audience, help me remember that I have something meaningful to offer—and that people genuinely want to see it!
Have you ever had to pivot?
On the evening of September 8, 2013 I got a headache. I remember exactly where I was – I was just walking back from an art class and I was standing outside my apartment in NYC talking on the phone. I recall saying wow, I have a headache. As it turned out, I would have this headache for years straight without relief. I ended up being diagnosed with New Daily Persistent Headache, which really just means you have had a headache for at least 3 months and no one knows why or how to resolve it. I spent a long time (and all of my savings) going to any doctor and health professional I could in NYC but no one knew the answer. The headache clinic I ended up at gave me the diagnosis but explained that there really isn’t a solution; some people will have the headache for the rest of their lives, while for others, it will just randomly disappear.
Looking back, I can see how completely it turned my life upside down. At the time, though, I just kept chugging along, doing my best to stay positive and hold onto my job. There was a period when I spent up to twenty hours a day in bed — I could barely make it up a flight of stairs, and walking down the streets of New York City was out of the question. Eventually, I reached a point where I realized I might be in chronic pain for the rest of my life, and if that were the case, I didn’t want to be holed up in an expensive apartment, unable to enjoy the city I’d worked so hard to live in.
It was at this time that I started to wonder about living somewhere else, perhaps out west where I had never been. I also agreed to pursue a dream my partner had – to thru-hike the Long Trail in Vermont. We quit our jobs, lived on the trail for 32 days, and then drove out to Lake Tahoe where he had gotten a teaching job and I had zero plans.
This ended up being the best decision I could have made. I discovered my love of thru-hiking and have since gone on to thru-hike almost 1,000 miles. I love the town we ended up in, Truckee CA, which I never would have selected on my own. And I love where I am at with my career, owning my own Interior Design business while also maintaining work-life balance!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://andrealackiedesign.com
- Instagram: andrealackiedesign
- Linkedin: Andrea Lackie
Image Credits
Christopher Stark, James Furman, Brad Scott Visuals