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.

The post Setting the Table for What’s Next in Life appeared first on Williamson County Living.

PHOTOS BY PARKER YOUNG PHOTOGRAPHY

Bringing the Global Water Crisis Home: charity: water’s Experience Lab Opens at The Factory in Franklin

In a world where clean water flows effortlessly from our taps, it’s easy to forget that 703 million people still lack access to this basic necessity. For millions, the daily struggle to find safe drinking water is a harsh reality that affects every aspect of their lives. Charity: water, a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing clean water to every person on the planet, has long been a leader in innovative fundraising and awareness efforts. 

They have created the 100% charity model, where one hundred percent of public donations directly fund water projects, while separate private donors cover the charity’s overhead costs;  The Pool, a unique way for entrepreneurs to donate private shares in their company to be liquidated to provide clean water; and the Bitcoin Trust, securing 100 Bitcoin and holding until 2025 now valued at just under $10M to fund clean water.

Charity: water’s newest innovation is The Experience Lab, a first-of-its-kind immersive storytelling space designed to bring the global water crisis to life. Funded by a single anonymous donor, The Experience Lab officially opened at the Factory in Franklin on March 22, 2025. More than just an exhibit, the Lab offers an emotionally and sensorially rich journey, following the story of a family in Uganda’s Kiryandongo District. Visitors step into the lives of 37-year-old Likiso and her two daughters, 15-year-old Esther and 10-year-old Grace, witnessing firsthand how access to clean water can transform lives.

The Experience Lab is the brainchild of Scott Harrison, founder and CEO of charity: water, a former New York City nightclub promoter whose life was transformed after volunteering on a medical ship in Liberia. Scott spent 10 years helping people get into the best clubs and worrying about which private plane he would take next. Tired of the superficial nights out, he realized he didn’t like what he was doing with his life and seized the opportunity to volunteer as a photojournalist aboard a hospital ship off the coast of Liberia, West Africa.

Witnessing the devastating impact of dirty water — the leading cause of disease in the region — he dedicated himself to solving the crisis, launching charity: water in 2006. Today, the organization has raised over $1 billion, provided clean water to 20.2 million people, and funded more than 184,000 water projects in 29 countries through partnerships with best-in-class local organizations working in their respective countries and communities.

However, there are still 703 million people without access to clean water. Harrison created The Experience Lab to accelerate this work, turning awareness into urgent action. “We believe that when people truly understand the need for clean water around the world, they’ll be inspired to engage,” says Harrison. “In a world where it’s almost impossible to have someone’s undivided attention, we use this hour to create a space where you can’t look away from the problem.”

A Journey Through the Crisis

The Experience Lab is designed to be deeply immersive, using cutting-edge technology to transport visitors into the daily lives of those who lack access to clean water. One of the most impactful features is the Water Walk, a 4D experience where visitors pick up a jerry can and walk alongside Esther as she embarks on her daily journey to fetch water. The environment– complete with heat, sights, sounds, and textures–recreates a fraction of the harsh realities of her trek. One that women and girls around the world make every day, averaging 3.7 miles each day.

Visitors then peer through a microscope to observe bacteria found in contaminated water, interact with a stunning art piece representing the colors of dirty water, and engage with a pump-styled interactive exhibit showcasing charity: water’s diverse solutions, from drilled wells and piped systems to biosand filters and rainwater catchments. Each step of the tour is designed to build a deeper understanding of both the crisis and its solutions.

The final experience in the Lab shifts focus to Grace, the younger sister of Esther. A state-of-the-art virtual reality (VR) film allows visitors to spend seven minutes immersed in her world. At first, they see her struggle to make it to school after spending her mornings fetching water. “I feel like water is ruining my life,” Grace narrates. But the experience doesn’t end in despair. Visitors witness a charity: water funded team arriving in her village, drilling a well, and seeing clean water burst from the ground for the first time. It’s a moment of hope and transformation that drives home the profound impact of access to clean water.

More Than an Exhibit—A Call to Action

The Experience Lab is designed not only to educate but also to inspire action. By the end of their visit, guests are encouraged to take practical steps to help end the global water crisis—by giving every month as a member of The Spring for as little as $10/month, sponsoring an entire water project for $10,000, or taking a kid’s piggy bank to raise funds and awareness as a family. The impact has already been significant.

Visitors to The Experience Lab have been raving about the experience, highlighting the impact that they’ve been able to feel in their Tennessee hometown. “The lab opened my children’s eyes to the reality of the water crisis affecting 10% of the world,” says Shanda Damphouse. “It transformed their understanding into empathy and action, inspiring them to donate and become part of the solution.”

Among the many who have been moved to action is Hudson Dyer, a young boy who was so inspired by his visit that he started his fundraiser. On opening night, charity: water announced that Hudson had raised $10,000—enough to fully fund a water project for an entire community. “Seeing people like Hudson take immediate action gives us hope that we can solve this crisis in our lifetime,” says Ben Greene, Chief Revenue Officer of charity: water.

A Gift to Franklin’s Community

For the Franklin community, The Experience Lab is more than just an attraction—it’s an opportunity for families to bond over a shared mission. The interactive elements engage both children and adults, fostering a deeper understanding of global issues and a renewed sense of empathy. The Lab also serves as a model for the future of immersive philanthropy, a concept that Harrison envisions expanding beyond Franklin. “Imagine you’re at the airport, and you see a VR booth: Flight delayed? Take seven minutes going to Africa and back,” he says. “This is just the beginning.”

Visit The Experience Lab by charity: water, located on the second-floor mezzanine at The Factory at Franklin, near the stairs at Johnnie-O. To learn more or plan your visit, go to charitywater.org/experience. Follow them on social media at @theexperience.lab.

BRADY JOSEPHSON is the VP of Marketing & Growth at charity: water, the world’s leading clean water nonprofit. He’s also a charity nerd, adoptive dad, and 5X fantasy baseball league champion. Brady navigates the intersection of nonprofit strategy, digital marketing, and fundraising, leveraging his extensive experience to drive growth and amplify the organization’s mission to bring clean water to every person.

The post Charity: water’s Experience Lab: A Journey into the Global Water Crisis appeared first on Williamson County Living.