Episode
Let Go of Aunt Sue's Chair: Patina's Amanda Mertins on Designing a Home You Love
- Published
- May 22, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 2972
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Summary
Amanda Mertins, co-owner of Patina Polished Living , Old Town Alexandria’s beloved home goods and interior design shop, joins The People You Meet in Old Town podcast to talk about a life spent making spaces feel like home. From setting the table at elementary school dinner parties and rearranging furniture in her tiny bedroom, to building a thriving retail and design business alongside her partner Kim, Amanda shares how passion, persistence, and a head for economics turned a lifelong instinct into a 14-year-old business. Amanda breaks down her signature approach to editing a home, how she walks through every room before touching a thing, spots the hidden gem gathering dust in a guest room, and gives clients permission to finally let go of Aunt Sue’s chair. She shares her philosophy on mixing vintage and new, high and low (in both interiors and fashion), the two things you should always spend money on, why you should never buy a sofa online, and the design rules she loves to break. She also talks about the reality of running a retail store in Old Town: the joy of installation day, the grief of broken deliveries, and the partnership that has kept Patina thriving for over a decade. Timing: 00:00 What Makes Home 01:32 Amanda’s Design Origins 04:42 Launching Patina 06:38 Retail Reality Check 08:21 Editing Homes Superpower 13:29 Inside the Storehouse 16:48 Paint Color Shortcuts 18:53 Retail Joy and Client Reveals 23:52 Installation Day Magic 27:44 Client Reactions and Referrals 28:22 Sourcing Trips and Vintage Finds 29:41 Estate Sales and Market Hustle 30:26 Retail Grunt Work Realities 33:00 Designing for Family and Heirlooms 34:42 When Husbands Drive Design 37:09 Investing in Quality Furniture 38:07 Old Town Lightning Round 41:55 Personal Style Over Trends 44:14 Designing S…