Amy Hirsch, Author at Amy Hirsch

Custom Rugs

About half of the rugs I install for clients are custom, which really allows us to hone in on the color, style, construction, texture, and pattern of the piece.

I love custom rugs. About half of the rugs I install for clients are custom, which really allows us to hone in on the color, style, construction, texture, and pattern of the piece. If I see a rug that I feel isn’t quite right for a client, I can adjust the color or keep the pattern but change the construction. The beauty of a custom design is that we can design a rug around a particular room.

Sometimes I will see a big rug that’s perfect for a client but needs to be tailored down to fit a space. Or, I’ll really like the border of a rug so will keep that element but leave the rest of the piece open.

When designing a custom rug, you have to aware of geometry and how the pattern will lay out over the entire surface of the finished rug. You also have to take into consideration the amount of traffic a rug will endure. For family room, I would create a hand tufted, completely indestructible wool rug. Another rug might consist of linen and silk with a traditional sumac construction and an integrated weave of high and low pile. A custom design results in a rug designed to look, and live, perfectly in a space.

At Home in Fairfield County: Get Fresh

At Home in Fairfield County Magazine asked forty designers, including me, to pick tried and true colors for a fresh spring look.

At Home in Fairfield County Magazine asked twenty designers, including me, to pick tried and true colors for a fresh spring look. My choices are Steep Cliff Gray and French Lilac from Benjamin Moore. Pick up a copy of the March/April issue to see all of the top color choices!

Favorite Things: Floor Lamps

One of the most important aspects of a room is the lighting.

One of the most important aspects of a room is the lighting. Lighting contributes to both the mood and functionality of a space. When choosing a floor lamp, take into consideration qualities such as style, size, and shape. It’s also important to plan for the purpose of the lighting in that particular place – is it for mood, accent, or illuminating a specific task? The right floor lamp is as decorative as it is useful. Floor lamps are such a great opportunity to bring something sculptural to a room. Here are some of my favorite examples of floor lamps:

1. Anora Lamp, Dering Hall

2. Arborescence Floor Lamps

3. Black Widow, Dering Hall4. Cesare Lacca Floor Lamp

5. Charlton Floor Lamp 6. Boston by Chelsom

7. Gold Leaf Barrel Frame Floor Lamp by Dimond Lighting

8. Mahari Floor Lamp

9. Nathan Floor Lamp

10. Soledad Floor Lamp from Roche Bobois

Design Dose

A baker’s kitchen.

Walter Arnold: The Art of Abandonment

Arnold’s series “The Art of Abandoment” has taken him to a host of dream-like places, from empty and decaying castles to haunted looking asylums.

I first became acquainted with Walter Arnold‘s photography after a friend saw his work at the iconic Woolworth Walk in downtown Asheville, North Carolina. A Florida native, Arnold eventually made his home in the mountains of North Carolina. The local natural beauty surrounding his new home inspired Arnold to pick up camera and learn photography. One day, he stumbled across an airplane graveyard and discovered a passion for abandonment photography — the art of photographing places and things that have been left behind.

Arnold’s series The Art of Abandoment has taken him to a host of dream-like places, from empty and decaying castles to haunted looking asylums. He has a gift for capturing the unusual light of these forgotten places. His photographs allow us to glimpse the beauty that used to exist in many places. They invoke a kind of stillness and leave viewers wanting to know more about why these places were abandoned.

What I love about these photos is that they show the complete opposite of what we design and curate. These are places that are no longer cared for. In spite of the decay and ruin, you can still see the architecture, what once was there, and find inspiration in the beauty of desolation.

It's Always Summer Here — It’s Always Summer Here

Arnold’s photos are available as metal prints, meaning the images are actually infused into the surface of a sheet of aluminum before being treated with a high gloss finish. The resulting print is astonishingly vibrant, lending a light to the abandonment photos that must be seen to be fully appreciated.

You can see more of Walter Arnold’s photography on his website. You can also find him on Facebook.

Play Rooms

A play room helps keep the rest of your home, including your child’s bedroom, free of toys.

Many parents choose to dedicate one room in the home as a child’s playroom. This is a great way to keep the clutter of toys to a minimum. It also lets you maintain the child’s bedroom as a place to rest and spend quiet time. In other words, a play room helps keep the rest of your home, including your child’s bedroom, free of toys.

Because the primary purpose of a playroom is to give a child a place to have fun inside, the room should be whimsical and inviting. Think vibrant color, ample light, and plenty of space to move around. The playroom must have enough room for little bodies to burn off excess energy. It should include plenty of storage for toys, books, and craft supplies. The nature of a playroom means fabrics should be durable and easy to clean. Adding furnishings that are comfortable for parents as well as kids makes the playroom a spot where the whole family can have fun together.

Whimsical playroom design by Amy Aidinis Hirsch Interior Design LLC.

Playroom by Amy Aidinis Hirsch Interior Design LLC.

As kids get older, the nature of playtime changes. A playroom that grows with your child is ideal. Storage needs may change from places for toys to places for video games and board games. Older kids prefer to socialize rather than just play, so the playroom will eventually become more of a hangout room. Plan ahead for an entertainment system that easily transitions from movie time for toddlers to gaming time for teens. When choosing a location for the playroom, keep in mind you’ll want a balance between supervision and privacy. You should be able to hear your child playing without having to hover around the playroom.

What would your ideal playroom look like?

Design Dose

The design is the sum of the details.

Exercise Space

Your exercise room can have a decorative element and still be highly functional.

When choosing an area of the home to use as exercise space, so many people go with a basement room. I much prefer the idea of getting out of the basement and into a more engaging, inviting part of the home.

An exercise space should be an environment with plenty of light, not a sheet rock box. If you plan for an an exercise room ahead of time, when building or remodeling, you can curate an area that’s derivative of the rest of the home. Your exercise room can have a decorative element and still be highly functional.

Nice mix of materials in this exercise space. From Elle Decor.

Stepping into a great space makes you feel motivated and inspired. Being healthy and fit is all about feeling good. A great exercise space enhances that experience. Rather than retreat to a forgotten room, create a workout area that you always wan

Exercise in a space you enjoy! From Architectural Digest.

Minimalist design makes the most of the scenery. From Architectural Digest.

Design Dose

Create a bright spot for yourself.

Swings

Few things evoke the carefree feelings of childhood like a swing.

Few things evoke the carefree feelings of childhood like a swing. There’s something about kicking up your feet and defying gravity that brings out your inner child. Even gently rocking back and forth on a swing can be so relaxing. There are some great ways to incorporate a swing into your home, inside or out.

Indoor swing by Studio 80 Interior Design.

Open space with swing designed by Alexander Gorlin.

Swing table designed by Christopher Duffy

Not all swings are playthings. I love the idea of a big swing as a piece of outdoor furniture. With comfortable, weather proof cushions, an outdoor swing is a great alternative to a traditional chaise or your typical porch swing.

Indoor swings can take so many forms. You really can take this idea and adapt to almost any interior, modern or rustic. With a cozy throw or a custom pillow, a swing becomes the perfect spot to relax.

What kind of swing would you love to have in your home?

Cover photo via RedAgape Blog