Her Story
Amanda Ward practices what she preaches. The 35-year-old naturopathic doctor is the founder of Bloom Naturopathic Health in Encinitas, where the governing philosophy is “let your life be your medicine.” In other words, she believes diet, exercise, meditation, and other lifestyle choices are the key to wellness. This sense of Zen carries over to Amanda’s life at home, which she shares with her partner of 10 years, Chris Cozzi, and their six dogs. Stepping into their 1962 house feels like entering a spa—gentle soothing music playing on the sound system, the scent of essential oils wafting through the air. The décor is part Balinese with midcentury bones, but mostly it’s a testament to Amanda’s passions—the first being health, followed by her love of rescuing dogs and a fascination with ancient cultures. In the front yard (above), a colossal stone Olmec head is juxtaposed with an 80-pound quartz crystal. Every two months, feng shui specialist Shauna Piscitello performs acupuncture on the land, balancing the energy of the surrounding plants and clearing any negative energy from the property. “Om”-mazing!
Home: A House in Bloom
Colorful Kitchen
The sun-filled kitchen features vivid yellow and turquoise accent walls, inspired by Amanda’s travels to Mexico. “Color is super important,” she says. “Each color emanates a different frequency or energy.” Not pictured are her trusted Vitamix blender and assortment of natural supplements. The doc adheres to a mostly paleo diet and remains gluten- and dairy-free, but allows herself to cheat one-fifth of the time. “I don’t think we should live in bubbles. I like the 80/20 rule.” As for one thing we could all do to improve our health? “Stop eating sugar. And find an outlet for your stress. Sugar and stress are the root of all disease.”
Home: A House in Bloom
From Drab to Fab
When the couple moved in two and a half years ago, “it was the darkest, drabbest thing you’d ever seen,” remembers Chris, who serves as operations manager at Bloom. They replaced the green 3-inch pile shag carpet with natural bamboo floors, which are nontoxic, sustainable, and durable enough for the pups. So is the white Italian leather sofa, where Amanda’s first rescue dog, PJ, rests. (Faux sheepskin rug from Amazon, poufs by Jonathan Adler, vintage cocktail table)
Home: A House in Bloom
The outdoor living area and sprawling backyard make perfect stomping grounds for the couple’s dogs. Amanda talks a lot about feeding your heart by taking care of others. She’s VP of It Matters to One Animal Rescue, which has saved 241 dogs so far. Some of them, up to 20 at a time, have been fostered at Amanda’s house. “Dog rescue—that’s my meditation,” the doc says. “I forget about myself.”
Home: A House in Bloom
A large statement mirror hangs above a West Elm console, creating a place to display more healing crystals and meaningful trinkets from her travels. Note the bronze yoga fingers—the thumb and forefinger are pressed together, a gesture of consciousness and knowledge. The doc also loves to have fresh flowers in every room. “It’s flower power!” says Amanda, who aptly named her business Bloom.
Home: A House in Bloom
Hues of Blue
In 2010, Amanda took an Eat, Pray, Love trip to Bali. She bought a bunch of furniture while she was there, including this four-poster bed frame and the hand-carved mirror that doubles as a headboard. Both were made by a Balinese woodworker. The elephant tea set belonged to Amanda’s great-grandmother Rose, who shared her love of travel. Not pictured is the full-sized mattress underneath the bed, which provides a cushy spot for the dogs to sleep. (Organic cotton linens available at West Elm, pillows from Home Goods, blue-and-gold vase by Jonathan Adler)
Home: A House in Bloom
