There’s an old saying that the only way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time. Often used for overwhelming seasons of life, it reminds us that even the most significant transitions can be managed thoughtfully and steadily. For Amy Montgomery, that idea has become both philosophy and practice.

For four years, customers and friends have walked into Amy Montgomery Home in Columbia, Tennessee, greeted by warmth, southern charm and hospitality, and beautifully curated pieces for entertaining and home goods. This January, she closed the shop and pivoted back to her roots in interior design.

While she focused on retail, Montgomery intentionally paused taking design clients. Now, she’s returning to the work she has loved for more than three decades: helping people see what a space can become. “I’ve never stopped being a designer. I just stopped saying yes for a while.” The pause wasn’t an ending; it was a deep breath to a new beginning.

Her design career began organically in the early 1990s, when word of mouth was everything. Montgomery loved to invite people into her home and entertained often. Guests visited her West Nashville home and left inspired, often asking for help recreating the warmth and balance they experienced there. These guests left saying the same thing, “Whatever this is, I want it.” Then, somewhere between dinner parties and conversations over coffee, design requests began to pile up. Bookshelves and living rooms soon grew into full-home projects.

Early opportunities came with challenges: staging homes on tight budgets, selecting finishes for stalled builder projects, and transforming uninspired spaces into inviting ones. The results spoke for themselves — homes sold, clients returned, and referrals multiplied. “I designed things that made sense,” said Montgomery, and practical, honest design quickly became her signature.

When she moved to Columbia and opened her shop, it wasn’t part of a master plan. The transition was difficult at first. Life felt unfamiliar, but something unexpected happened: people lingered. They talked. They shared life’s milestones, celebrations, losses, and everyday moments. Montgomery took great pleasure in helping her customers one-on-one.

Just like that, Columbia was home. The shop became a gathering place. “There’s not a day that goes by that someone in Columbia doesn’t check on me,” Montgomery said. “You don’t leave a place like that.” Though the storefront has closed, the relationships remain. She continues her involvement in community events, including the Maury County Benefit Ball, the Polk Home, and The Polk Ball, carrying forward the connections that matter most.

As her professional life evolved, so did her personal life. Montgomery navigated divorce with intention and reflection. “There’s no blueprint for life after divorce, but redesigning your life is possible, one thoughtful decision at a time.”

Rather than viewing the change as loss, she approached it as refinement. “I was still me — just a different, happier me.” Balance became central: balance in work, relationships, and personal well-being. Daily walks, mindful meals, quiet mornings, and deepened friendships became foundational rather than optional.

Divorce changes the relationship status and rearranges the architecture of life. It isn’t about erasing the past or starting from scratch. It’s about meeting yourself where you are and moving forward with intention. “Over and over, friends and strangers have commented that I am glowing, my smile is brighter,” Montgomery said. “Yes, I think that what you feel inside definitely reflects how you are feeling emotionally, spiritually, and physically.”

The art of presence is equally important to Montgomery. “Dressing with intention and leaving the house composed even on ordinary days is a quiet declaration of self-respect and can easily raise my mood. I show respect for myself and my surroundings by choosing to dress mindfully. I think a woman who moves through the world with a little polish is dignified, poised, and quietly confident.”

Equally important has been community. Letters, notes, and gestures of kindness from friends became tangible reminders of support. “Strength isn’t measured by solitude alone,” she said. “It’s measured by the wisdom to reach out.” Those expressions of care reinforced her faith, which she says has been refined rather than diminished. “Divorce has not weakened my faith; it has deepened it.”

Today, Montgomery is stepping back into design not as reinvention, but as a return. Her approach remains consistent: take something that isn’t working and shape it into what it should be. That philosophy also extends to hosting flower tutorials again in her Columbia home. She has created a welcoming home that reflects her signature warmth. Built-in bookshelves anchor a thoughtfully designed library. A refreshed kitchen supports her love of cooking and entertaining. Family antiques hold places of honor. “Nothing has to be finished to be meaningful,” she said. “You just start.”

Beginning in March, she will host intimate private gatherings in her home; dinners, floral workshops, pop-ups with guest artists, and brunches centered around conversation and the art of hospitality. Evenings will begin with appetizers in the library, followed by shared meals and discussions about entertaining and design. “It’s what I’ve always done,” she said. “Just more intentional.”

She has also launched a refreshed website, featuring longtime collaborators who are picking up where she left off and updating it to reflect where she is headed. Her designer pillow line was re-launched in July. The locally made pillows will be available exclusively at her Nashville shop, Gas Lamp, Too, and are made with materials sourced in the United States. The pillow collection reflects her belief that beauty should feel welcoming and lived-in.

Alongside her product offerings, she consults on renovations and new builds, guiding homeowners and realtors in thoughtfully elevating spaces. Most recently, she has partnered on a new home build in Williamson County and will be showcasing a behind-the-scenes look at creating a luxe home from the ground up.

This design is about presence — about showing up with clarity, confidence, and gratitude. It’s about honoring the past while embracing what’s ahead. “There’s freedom in starting again, and power in knowing who you are,” Montgomery concluded.

And so, the elephant is tackled. Slowly. Purposefully. With intention and at a beautifully set table.

AMY MONTGOMERY has over 25 years of design experience and is the owner of Amy Montgomery Home, located in Nashville. Her Columbia design studio is available by appointment only at (931) 982-4988. Montgomery’s curated collection of entertaining essentials is available online, along with a selection of her many design services and a calendar of events. Visit amymontgomeryhome.com to learn more.