Interior and exterior confidence
Create Academy has been such a great resource. I'm in the middle of renovating a bungalow with a very large garden and the courses have offered a wealth of inform...
Harvey
Jun 10, 2026
Design Interiors for Entertaining
Finding inspiration
with AMANDA LINDROTH — Acclaimed interior designer with offices in Palm Beach, Charleston and Nassau. Queen of island chic.
Lesson 3 of 24
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Amanda emphasises the importance of study when it comes to designing an interior, and shares her favourite places to find inspiration.
From the Lesson Workbook
Finding Inspiration
There's so much visual beauty to be found – from looking at books to searching Pinterest or Instagram – and I always go back to this process of study before embarking on a project.
Inspiration from Books
Going back to favourite books will always lead you to discover a piece of inspiration – no matter how big or small. It could just be a ruffle on a cushion, or a way to set a table.
Use Post-it notes to mark pages where you find something interesting, so you can easily refer back to it.
These decorators inspired 20th-century interior design:
- Maison Jansen
- Elsie de Wolfe
- John Fowler
- Nancy Lancaster
Inspiration from Instagram
Instagram can be an amazing tool – style makers and designers from across the globe are posting images that inspire them, or sharing pictures of recent projects, and it's all there for you to explore.
Take screenshots of images that you like, and, if you're a little tech-savvy, put them into categories and folders. Whether you organise them or not, be sure to revisit them to keep discovering something new.
Inspiration from Magazines
I've always coveted monthly interior design magazines, and I've collected them for decades.
If you don't have the storage space to keep the entire magazine, tear out the pages that inspire you the most and file these away for future reference.
Find Vintage Books and Magazines
You don't always need to buy books and magazines new – look at eBay or local vintage booksellers for a more affordable and sustainable way of seeking inspiration.
Discover More:
Some of my favourite Instagram accounts are:
- @Citychic4ever
- @Devonshireofpalmbeach
- @Filipa_de_abreu
- @Serena Crawford
- @Ivanamalondon
- @Aldous Bertram
- @Mrmitchowens
- @Thedevotedclassicist
- @Peter.Lyndon
- @Jonibwebb
- @Strawshack
- @Pigottsstore
- @Torimellott
- @Adorabletimes
- @Cedricgrolet
- @Johnyunis
- @Soulguidance
- @Angeloasis_com
I love to read these magazines:
- House Beautiful
- House & Garden
- Elle Decoration
- Architectural Digest
as well as:
- World of Interiors
- Veranda
- Frederic
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Read moreAbsolutely love Create Academy
Absolutely love Create Academy! The instructors are extremely informative, and it is beautifully filmed. Create Academy is great value for money and plan on renew...
SG
May 31, 2026
Magic in small spaces
Butter's creativity is stunning! Her ability to incorporate brilliance in small gardens is magical!
Carla
May 30, 2026
The best adventure
The best adventure. I like all the courses, but my favorite are both Rita Konig interior design courses and Anna Jones. Excellent!
Karolina Kluczewska
May 20, 2026
Interior and exterior confidence
Create Academy has been such a great resource. I'm in the middle of renovating a bungalow with a very large garden and the courses have offered a wealth of information to dive into and explore new ideas. I'm...
Harvey
Jun 10, 2026
Absolutely love Create Academy
Absolutely love Create Academy! The instructors are extremely informative, and it is beautifully filmed. Create Academy is great value for money and plan on renewing my subscription yearly because there are ...
SG
May 31, 2026
Magic in small spaces
Butter's creativity is stunning! Her ability to incorporate brilliance in small gardens is magical!
Carla
May 30, 2026
Your Instructor
Amanda Lindroth
Acclaimed interior designer with offices in Palm Beach, Charleston and Nassau. Queen of island chic.
Evoking warm tropical breezes and dreams of sun drenched mornings, Amanda Lindroth’s colourful style epitomises the lust-worthy aesthetic of island life. Born and raised in Palm Beach, Florida, Amanda’s childhood instilled in her a love of coastal living. After stints in Paris, New York and London, she relocated to The Bahamas in the early 2000’s and set up her interior design practice in 2010, bringing her signature style to the homes of island-dwellers all over the world. She authored her debut book ‘Island Hopping’ in 2018 and launched her first homeware collection in the same year. Creating spaces for entertaining is Amanda’s speciality, and she’s a firm believer in the benefit of thoughtful, clever design for effortless and elegant hosting.
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