About

Amy Tsao and Manisha Agarwal met through KLC School of Design’s interior design diploma course in 2019. Two years of intense studies, many late night talks and one pandemic later, they launched Studio AM in West London.

Amy Tsao

I've had two careers to date, as a business journalist and an events coordinator for a financial services company. I am mum to Antonia, age 8, and wife to Sal. In our house, we are Chinese, American, Egyptian, Syrian, and British! I love exploring heritage buildings around the UK, playing tennis, listening to comedy podcasts, and finding new uses for old things.

Sensitivity to nature and the environment are central to my approach to design. My final project at school - the reimaging of Chelsea Creek’s marketing suite - showcased sustainable luxury and was recognized by House and Garden Magazine for Outstanding Sustainable Design. I also made the winning design for a console table I created for furniture designer Tom Faulkner.

After an engineering and business management degree, I worked in the banking sector and finance roles for large infrastructure projects before becoming a full-time mum to Ishikaa, now a teenager. I am a keen painter and love exploring colour and pattern in my paintings. I love the modern aesthetic and like to incorporate my Indian heritage through colour and pattern.

Space planning and sensory-focused designs are my passions. My team’s design for a charity’s multi-use space for teens was the winning proposal, and will be implemented in the coming months. One of our key design features for this space was an interactive music wall that I discovered and researched. I was also runner-up in a Porta Romana competition, featuring a bold light fixture I created, and I was also short-listed in a room redesign competition hosted by luxury home furnishings platform Amara.

Manisha Agarwal