In this episode of Beyond the Design, we sit down with Light and Dwell founder Aymee Kuhlman and design principal Katie Cunningham—two creative powerhouses who believe a home should be more than a backdrop. They share how a farm childhood in Oregon, grandmothers who collected antiques, and a mother who painted murals in the eighties quietly shaped their design eyes and set them on a path toward interiors that feel deeply personal and lived in. From early guinea-pig projects for friends to full-scale renovations, Aymee and Katie trace how curiosity and courage slowly turned a side passion into a nationally recognized studio.

Together, Aymee and Katie unpack their client-focused, designer-led philosophy and what it really takes to translate a family’s stories, habits, and hopes into spaces they can grow old in. They explain why they’re just as interested in how a room will be used on an ordinary Tuesday as how it will photograph, and why they intentionally break certain “design rules” to make homes truly livable. You will hear how they educate clients in the age of Pinterest and fast furniture, set realistic expectations around timelines, and use intuition and trust-building as some of their strongest design tools.

We also go behind the scenes of some of Light and Dwell’s most memorable projects—from a sprawling compound in Mexico to a cozy lake house in Montana and a Victorian in New York—and talk about what it means to be named one of Architectural Digest’s New American Voices. Aymee and Katie get candid about running a remote boutique studio, balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship, and the legacy they hope to leave in the homes they touch. If you’ve ever wondered what it really means to design a home that holds your whole life—highs, lows, and everything in between—this conversation will stay with you long after you listen.