As a full service boutique firm specializing in timeless interiors, the Divvy house uses a proprietary questionnaire to create one of a kind design concepts, followed through to completion. The approach has proven effective in a luxury residential and hospitality projects throughout the United States and Mexico. The Divvy House team takes pride in their ability to create value for their clients and their ability to deliver beautiful end projects on budget. We further your vision with the best architectural planning, industry knowledge, qualities, textures, and trade partnerships. By combining architecture, art, and furniture, the feeling and effect is truly unique.
Our process is streamlined, and easier for the client because Amy Erb, lead designer and business owner, works directly on every project. Amy can offer comprehensive turn-key interior design services and support in an organized, goal driven way. Amy adapts to work with the client’s timelines, not the firm’s and provides the necessary focus to carry out the goals of each project. From the onset, we are able to fully adapt our services to our clients specific needs whether it’s project management, working with local artisans to craft distinctive furniture design or simply choosing the correct color or finish.
Amy
Founder / Principal Designer
As a homebody, I believe in the great importance of the home and the impact it has in people’s lives. Growing up in England and extensive traveling abroad has given me a rich design history. One of my hobbies still includes collecting and purchasing antiques to use in my clients’ homes. Being reared on antiques has given me a wonderful perspective to be able to use them to lend history and character to bland spaces.I left corporate America in 2002, after working for nine years in marketing. My dream was to return and pursue a career in interior architecture after a decade-long hiatus.
I created the Divvy House so that I could be a working mom while creating a professional life that blended my architectural talents and business sense.My undergraduate studies at Ohio State had me focused on architecture for three years before shifting to a double major in journalism and business before graduating in 1993. In 1998, I traveled to Costa Rica for a Spanish language immersion. Later, in 2003, I graduated from Harrington Institute of Interior Design as Valedictorian and as the recipient of the Alpha Beta Kappa award for academic excellence. I am also a proud member of ASID since 2003.
I was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan. My family relocated multiple times for my father’s career from age 2 – 14. I lived as far as England to the East and Miami to the South. I attended Lake Forest High School and graduated from the Ohio State University in 1993. In 2010, I left Chicago and relocated to Glencoe with my three daughters. When I am not working, you’ll find me: running to the lake; spontaneously entertaining friends in my home; hiking anything with trees; refinishing furniture, rescuing animals, typically cats; gardening in my yard; whipping up different vegetarian food combinations for my family; or spending quality time with my girls.
My decade long experience in client management taught me invaluable business planning skills, research design and development, marketing and most importantly,how to effectively manage a Blue Chip Client. I did extensive competitive analysis before starting my residential design firm and created a business model that would fill the gaps most homeowners, architects and builders were missing. I developed proprietary tools to help Clients figure out who they were and implemented a comprehensive client-management approach from conception to completion.
I envisioned a small boutique design firm that included multiple designers and architects with various design styles, along with an integrated team of stylists, stagers and organizers. The end goal was to bring together a team with diverse skill sets to meet all life-cycle needs of a home owner, thus the name Divvy House, not Amy Erb Interiors.
My top priority when creating the Divvy House was to remain completely client driven. In order to do this, I priced us competitively and by the hour, leaving the client in control of time spent on our services. I also chose to pass along our trade discount, allowing for significant cost savings for our clients. Lastly, I implemented a design approach that prioritizes the taste and needs of the client, instead of adhering to a specific design taste or style.
At the Divvy House, we pride ourselves in being true client advocates. I believe this is what has led us to many repeat clients and a clientele that is largely referral based. We have worked hard to create strong relationships with partners who we trust, and who we know are also looking out for the client’s best interest. Over the past seventeen years, we have had great success in delivering beautiful spaces in the multi million dollar home market in Chicagoland, Colorado, California, Wisconsin and Michigan.
If you probe, I will tell you that my personal design tastes are rooted in clean lines, timeless interiors, sophisticated spaces, and a touch of humor (usually in the art). I like the space to feel warm and inviting, never fussy or too precious.
When possible, I love to use family heirlooms to help tell the story, drop in some antiques to add character, refurbish materials from the space, mix in modern pieces and custom design a signature piece or two. I like blending high and low-priced items with new and old and I’m a stickler for quality.
Divvy means “Divine.” It’s turn of the century English slang. My childhood years in England made a lasting impression on me. I want to recapture that sense of history, the layers of complexity juxtaposed with a simple life, elegance and sophistication balanced by structure and surrounded with support and coziness. These are what we stand for here at the Divvy House.
Brindy
Designer
Originally from the Northwest Indiana region, Brindy now resides in the Wicker Park neighborhood of Chicago. Having a strong background in the arts, Brindy has always had a passion for design. She received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Denver, where she also spent time as an apprentice for a hospitality design firm. While living in several different areas of the country, including San Francisco and Phoenix before returning to Chicago, Brindy’s passion for design continued to grow as she observed the unique design styles and approaches in the different regions of the country. Since she has returned to Chicago, Brindy has furthered her technical knowledge through CAD courses and is a design associate at the Divvy House. She now manages project install and has been involved in projects completed around North Shore and in California.
Alex
Design Assistant
5 years ago Alex left the east coast and started a new life for herself in Lake Forest, Illinois. Recently graduating from Lake Forest College with a degree in Business and a minor in Communication – Alex joined the Divvy House team in 2017 as a marketing intern. Being extremely passionate about fashion, marketing and design – this was the perfect fit. She now not only manages our social media, but is also our design assistant and stylist. She is able to express her creativity and passion through social media as well as gaining experience in the interior design industry.
Robert
Architect
Robert is an architect licensed in Illinois, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin. He has over 20 years of experience designing residential and commercial buildings that connect with the natural landscape while aspiring to greatness. At architecture firms including Kessler | Francis | Cardoza, Rossetti, Thomas Roberts Architects and most recently Swatt | Miers Architects in the Bay Area, Robert has artfully conceived of buildings and places which are intended to have a positive effect on people’s lives. Resilient Architecture is his passion, engaging the client and listening to the site are his process. Robert is excited to collaborate with the skilled craftsman and thoughtful practitioners at the Divvy House on developing our design ideas into built projects.