Interior Design meets TV, Ami McKay opens up about her new show ‘Vancouver Reno’ and her partnership with Magnolia Network.
Written by: Gracie Lowes
From a young age, Ami McKay has always had a strong passion for design, now she’s sharing that love with the world.
On December 2, 2023, McKay launched her debut TV show on Magnolia Network called "Vancouver Reno". Inspired by her own experiences and the beauty of the Pacific Northwest, Ami crafts two distinct design aesthetics during a renovation for a single mom and her teenage son. A race to finish on time unfolds as the renovation goes on through the seasons.
I had the chance to sit down (virtually) with Ami to talk about this experience as a whole, what she has planned for the future and more.
You can read the full interview below.
Gracie Lowes: Congratulations on both "Vancouver Reno" and your partnership with Magnolia. How did that come about, and what has the creative process been like?
Ami McKay: "It started with an idea I had of a group of our friends all buying 1 euro homes in the same village in Italy. A producer friend loved the idea and we all got together and he filmed a sizzle reel of the concept. That reel was shared to a producer in LA who wasn’t interested in the Italy pitch, but saw me doing a show on Magnolia. He pitched an idea to Magnolia with a show about me and my design process here in Vancouver and now here it is a reality.
The creative process has been great and the production crew following me around doing my job is just the best. They capture me working with Don, my life partner and Construction Manager, along with members of my design team and my clients while incorporating our home and PURE Shoppe. The entire process has been smooth, natural, easy and enjoyable."
Gracie: I know this is your debut/ transition into TV. What's something that you've learned about yourself in this experience?
Ami: "I have previous experience on camera, however, time has helped me get my confidence and comfort level to where it is today. This time around, I want to share my love for life! The layers of shyness have fallen away, and I can truly embrace my passion and joy for my life and career.
My intention is not only to create beautiful spaces and homes but also to transcend the work process to be more about a human connection! I want to inspire people to love their lives and homes as well as work with people who love what they are doing, just as I do."
Gracie: What got you into Interior Design? Was there an exact moment you realized your passion?
Ami: "No exact moment… When I was 7, I would sit on my bum in my living room and use my legs to move furniture around to change things up. I also delivered the newspaper and looked forward to the home section, pouring over the new homes and floor plans after my route was delivered. Also, as I delivered the paper, I would look at homes in the neighbourhood and dream about how I could change the colours and features to be more pleasing to my eye. I have always loved design, even before I knew it was a job!"
Gracie: You've had quite a few accomplishments in your career one of them being "Top 5 Designers to Watch", what is next on your bucket list?
Ami: "We are still working towards my dream of buying a house in Italy. I love the history there, and we dream about creating a beautiful property and travelling back and forth between Vancouver and Italy.
I also want to work with lovely people on fabulous projects globally, so Italy would be a great home base for that. First hand sourcing of artisan products from around the world for our PURE Shoppe, and of course I plan on filming Vancouver Reno for many seasons to come."
Gracie: How would you describe your work/style in three words?
Ami: "Fun. Intuitive. Collaborative".
Gracie: Do you have any future projects that you could tell us about or hint at?
Ami: "Currently I’m super busy with my 3 companies; Interior Design, Construction Management and PURE Shoppe, but stay tuned, there is more in the works."
