Amy Pigliacampo's Home Office + Studio

Name: Amy Pigliacampo
Location: Echo Park, Los Angeles, California
Size: 264 square feet

Last week we got a full tour of Amy Pigliacampo and her husband Corey Szopinski's home in Echo Park. One of the standout features was their organization, which remained stylish, but super functional. Amy's office, which is both her work studio and closet, is an incredible example of this streamlined collectedness. 

Amy Pigliacampo's Home Office + Studio

Amy Pigiliacampo's Home Office + Studio

With absolutely no built in closets in the house, whatsoever, Amy and Corey had to improvise with shelving, bookcases, dressers and additional storage units. Amy's office is organized by type of clothing, in order by color and size. She even has things in bins, stacks and piles by style and texture. This is truly the most impressive use of space I've seen anywhere. Not only does keeping everything organized make her everyday personal use easier, but I'm sure it's incredibly helpful when preparing for upcoming photo shoots. 

Enjoy! 

Amy Pigiliacampo's Home Office + Studio

Apartment Therapy Survey:

 My Style: My personal style tends to gravitate towards 70s, bohemian, rock'n'roll, vintage... I've been obsessed with motorcycle boots and leather jackets since I was about 10 (ask my mom) and have been collecting vintage Harley T shirts since my dad bought me the first one in high school (he's got a super tricked out Harley).  My clients are very diverse, so I have the opportunity to experiment with all kinds of clothing, accessories and inspiration. Corey, my husband, is always amused by my ensembles. A recent example was a trip to this amazing nursery, deep in the valley, where I wore a vintage 70s denim maxi dress from my favorite stores in LA, Tavin, and a wide straw hat, vintage leather pouch and crocheted sweater. I really enjoy getting into character, for vacations in particular, but everyday activities as well... this is just how I experience life.  Every memory that I have, I could tell you what I was wearing. It has nothing to do with labels, designers, or other people (especially that, I wear a lot of strange pieces). I've just always experienced the world this way. In that sense, I'm quite well suited to my job as a stylist. For me, each day, each job, every place I've lived is an opportunity to tell a story and create an environment or experience. 

Inspiration: The main goal of my studio is organization and accessibility. I have to be able to see what I have and know where everything lives because I'm constantly pulling from my archive for jobs. If I can't get to it, it won't get used. Budgets aren't what they used to be for jobs and every single time, something from my personal kit helps to make the shoot a success. There are certain pieces that you cannot find at a moment's notice — great broken in denim and leather pieces, boots, belts, hats, jewelry — and those items can really add depth when styled with new garments.  

Favorite Element: My dressform. I also freelance as a visual display artist, and she is from my first Visual Manager position, 14 years ago!  She and I have been through a lot changes together, but I always find a way to re purpose her. It's a nice reminder of my journey.

Biggest Challenge: Clearly, there is a lot of stuff. I wanted the space to be really clean and convertible. All of the racks are on wheels so that I can rearrange to accommodate what I need to do in the studio. 

What Friends Say: Well, they are pretty impressed. Usually they comment on how organized it is. They also ask how I find things. Again, this is just how my brain works — I know every single piece by heart.

Area Where There Is Room For Improvement: I would like to have a more attractive system for storage underneath my desk. I would also love to have clear hat boxes. It's really difficult to store and transport hats. The wider brims won't fit into the largest of hat boxes — you have to have them custom made. 

Proudest DIY: I really love the necklace storage. This is the 4th place where I've created this system and it's a bit tedious, but so great to see everything in one place! I've been obsessed with things that come in multiple colors since I was a little kid. As a special treat, my gramma Hazel would take me to a little office supply store in Fayetteville, North Carolina where I would fill up on pens, notepads and erasers, always keeping them arranged by color. I wouldn't ever let my little brother use my crayons or Legos because he wouldn't put them back in the right order!  Clearly I have carried this into my adult life. 

Biggest Indulgence: When I first started styling, I made a major investment in racks and a steamer. Manhattan Wardrobe is one of my favorite resources, and it was hard to spend the money. I've lived in 4 different homes with my husband, none of which had closets. The racks are industrial quality and have enabled me to keep my archive nice and organized. 

Best Advice: I would recommend keeping things as simple as possible. If you cannot easily find what you need, you haven't solved the problem. 

Dream Sources: 
One of my favorite boutiques, Individual Medley in Atwater Village, has incredible shelving that was custom built for them, reclaimed wood and metal. I would love to have those for my shoes. For the clothing, you can have custom perforated drawers made by this LA company Dear Sparrow. That would be such a dream.
And of course, custom hat boxes... a few spots in NYC make them. 
 

Amy Pigiliacampo's Home Office + Studio

 Resources of Note:

I LOVE shopping online. Particularly Etsy and Ebay. My husband and I also love a good roadtrip, and that's the best time to find great pieces... outside of major cities, you can still find great deals on "coveted" or trendy vintage items. And 
I'm not sure I could exist without IKEA. I know that's probably a polarizing statement, but I really love their designs, especially for the price.


Our main computer where I work on design projects and photos lives in my husband's office downstairs. I use a Macbook Air for emails and research. iPhone of course, sadly I could not function without it...and my Canon Powershot S95 which I purchased after my sister-in-law Natalie, and my great NYC friend Stephanie, both amazing photographers, recommended it. I'm actually using my husband's now because I am a little clumsy with my technology and damaged my lens. I'm working on that. 

Furniture: IKEA and Manhattan Wardrobe, Vitra office chair which is obscured by one of my favorite pieces, a vintage Oleg Cassini sequined jacket

Organizing Tools/Accessories: more IKEA 
California Print: A gift from my mom, right before we moved here. She's always been the most supportive of my dream to live in LA. From Sugar Paper. 

Amy Pigiliacampo's Home Office + Studio

Thanks, Amy!!

(Images: Bethany Nauert) 

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