Variant Collaborative

The Team Behind the Experience:

Meet Amelia Hoover, Senior Interior Designer at Variant.

Since joining the studio five years ago, Amelia has become an integral voice within our team, contributing to both the evolution of our work and the refinement of our internal processes. Her background in hospitality design, shaped by work on notable hotel projects in Chicago, informs a design approach that is layered, precise, and deeply attuned to experience.

At Variant, Amelia has led the design of multiple projects across restaurants and luxury student living, guiding concepts from vision through ex*****on with clarity and intention. She’s also a driving force behind our marketing efforts, helping to articulate who we are and how we think about design.

Beyond the studio, Amelia serves as Executive Advisor of the NEWH Chicago chapter, staying closely connected to the broader hospitality community and bringing that insight back into our work.

QUICK TAKES:

HOMETOWN: Buffalo, NY

WHERE DID YOU START YOUR CAREER? My first interior design internship was in college at Nest Interiors in Buffalo, NY (I interned there for two summers) and my first full-time position was at Koo Architecture in Chicago, IL.

FAVORITE PROJECT COMPLETED PRIOR TO JOINING THE TEAM: The conversion of the old Cook County Hospital into the Dual Brand Hyatt House/Hyatt Place Hotel

FAVORITE PROJECT YOU'VE COMPLETED AT VARIANT: Feld

A DETAIL YOU ALWAYS NOTICE IN A SPACE: Grout lines and tile cuts! I'm a stickler for aligning grout lines and centering tiles in spaces.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO YOUNG OR EMERGING DESIGNERS? Don't be afraid to ask questions! No one expects you to graduate college knowing everything. As long as you are trying and listening, you will go far.

Meet Variant's Procurement Coordinator, Isabella!

Born and raised in Chicago, Bella studied at the University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign before heading to New York for the past few years - and now she’s back in her hometown, ready to dive into the city’s creative energy again.

Her favorite part of the design process is the space where creativity meets clarity — pairing her design instincts with her experience in sourcing and organization. At Variant, she’s looking forward to diving into meaningful collaboration and contributing to spaces that are crafted with intention and care. (Meeting the office pets is definitely a bonus.)
Being back in Chicago, she’s thrilled to reconnect with the design community that first inspired her and to design in the city she calls home. A few fun facts: she loves hunting for vintage furniture wherever she travels, she’s an enthusiastic dinner-party host, and she’s recently taken up jewelry fabrication and silversmithing - a hands-on creative outlet she’s really enjoying.

We’re so glad she’s here and excited to expand our procurement team!

From sunrise workouts to gameday gatherings, the amenity spaces at Rambler Columbus were thoughtfully designed to enhance every aspect of the student experience.

The building features a fully equipped fitness center, a tranquil yoga studio, and a sprawling pool deck complete with a jumbo screen. Inside, the expansive club lounge offers plenty of space to gather, study, or recharge, blending comfort and sophistication with nods to Ohio’s Midwestern charm.

Rooted in style, built for connection - Rambler Columbus redefines student living.

Developer:
Architect:
Interior Designer: .collaborative
GC:
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Completion: Summer 2025

Something exciting is underway... but we’re keeping it under wraps for now. Let’s just say things are shifting... in the best possible way. Stay tuned!