Though Lori Anderson Wier didn’t start her career in interiors, it was no surprise it’s where she landed after a ten-year stint in politics. (At four, she requested antiques for her birthday, and by eight she was sketching floor plans.) She enrolled in design school and soon after landed a position with a top firm, spending five years honing her craft before launching her own firm.

Anderson Wier Studio operates with a personal approach to design. “Whether considering a new build or the renovation of an existing home, our work celebrates architecture, character, and craft to compose spaces that balance form with function, and honor our clients’ identity, history, and aspirations,” she says. 

She gives us a look at her portfolio and tackles our #5MinutesWith Q&A—sharing everything from must-haves to what inspires her most:

MY LIGHT-BULB MOMENT:
I started my career as a press aide in the White House. It was a dream job, but the dream wasn’t mine. My aha moment came when I realized I could start over and dream a different dream.

I CAN’T START MY DAY UNTIL:
No matter the season, my day begins with iced coffee (and all-too-often email).

SUCCESS IS:
Having the confidence to define it for yourself. You know what they say about comparison being the thief of joy.

YOU’LL NEVER SEE ME WITHOUT:
My glasses—the world is an abstract painting without them.

MY DREAM COLLABORATION:
Is it cliche to say that I want to design a boutique hotel? 

THE ONLY PLACE BETTER THAN WASHINGTON DC:
I grew up in Northern California and have spent more than half my life in DC, but the Hudson River Valley—a place I’ve often visited but never lived—feels like home. 

WHEN I FEEL UNINSPIRED:
I remind myself to put my phone down and make something. Lately, I’ve been playing around with slab-built pottery. I’ve been leaning into the process more than the results, and then delighting in the happy accidents that have emerged from the kiln.

ADVICE I WISH I HAD 5 YEARS AGO:
I was a one-woman band for far too long and expected myself to be good at everything. If only I had realized then that it was okay to focus on what I know and ask for help with the rest. 

IN 5 YEARS, FIND ME:
I am doing the work I’ve always wanted to do. In five years, I want to be in the thick of it still (but the house on the edge of the marsh that currently lives in my imagination will be a real thing).

ABOVE ALL ELSE:
Listen to your instincts and have empathy for yourself.