Amy Hirsch, Author at Amy Hirsch

Things I Can’t Live Without!

We all have our favorite day-to-day items, our go-to gadgets and accessories that help us stay organized, keep us on track, or simply make us feel good and lift our spirits as we get through the day. Here’s a list of things I simply can’t live without!

We all have our favorite day-to-day items, our go-to gadgets and accessories that help us stay organized, keep us on track, or simply make us feel good and lift our spirits as we get through each day. Here’s a list of things I simply can’t live without!

1. My Camera

I love my camera! Photography is definitely an art form and I love photos. I’m not a sentimental person at all, except for my family photographs. If my house was on fire and my family was safe, I would run back inside to rescue my photo albums; they mean that much to me.

2. My Watch

I wear my Cartier Roadster watch every day. It’s a piece of feel-good jewelry for me. I don’t need to wear any other accessory, but without this watch I’d feel naked.

3. The Beach

Being at the beach, any beach, simply makes me happy. We sometimes vacation at Cabo San Lucas, and the beaches there are so incredible.

4. Lip Balm

I must use Kiehl’s Lib Balm twenty times a day. I’m never without it.

5. My Hermes NotebookI have two of these great Hermes notebooks that I use for work and, of course, in my favorite shade of orange! I’m a bit old school; I still prefer to write things down instead of using my phone or a tablet. I keep one notebook for my own notes and one for my calendar. I use them every day!

6. Helmut Lang

I wear Helmut Lang almost every day. It’s functional but looks chic and stylish.

7. Picasso Etchings

Picasso’s etchings are inspirational to me. They helped me navigate my own development with sketching and drawing.

8. Tom Ford – Black Orchid

My signature scent!

9. Ochre Chandelier

Love this! The Arctic Pear Chandelier by Ochre in any size, any color.

10. Amalfi Coast and My Italian Heritage

My Italian heritage definitely defines a bit of who I am. Being able to visit Italy as a child also exposed me to traditions that influence my family life.

11. Jeans

Love these wide legged jeans – they remind me of the 70’s!

12. High Heels

High heels are a signature of my everyday dress code. I am crazy for shoes! Contractors are used to creating planks and walkways for me to get around when I enter a construction site. I am not practical by far!

Color Obsession: Tangerine

I love the exciting hue of Tangerine.

I love the exciting hue of Tangerine. It’s such an energetic and confident color, bold and certainly trendy. Tangerine is my daughter’s favorite color and the primary color of my own business cards. This color really resonates with me!

1. Room by Mary McDonald

2. Hand painted Chinese scenic panel by Gracie Studio

3. Tangerine gown by Carlos Miele

4. Greek Key Bedding with Pagoda Headboard

5. Tangerine silk clutch

6. Elie Tahari shoe

7. Leighelena Lizard Tangerine Wide Buckle Bracelet

8. Quadrille Fabrics in Pagoda

9. Interior by Lola Agaton

Mom’s Tuna Salad

My mom is a very talented cook and gardener. She is also my new guest blogger! Please welcome Debbie Aidinis as she contributes her first post, her amazing tuna salad recipe.

My mom is a very talented cook and gardener. She is also my new guest blogger! Please welcome Debbie Aidinis as she contributes her first post, her amazing tuna salad recipe. –Amy

This is a great summer dish that can be a light main course on a very hot day or to start as an antipasto or appetizer. I am not one who measures the ingredients. If I follow a recipe, I will only do so at first and then make changes after I’ve made the dish a few times.

This Tuna Salad is a recipe I decided to try one night after having a similar dish at a restaurant. It is a lot like a scungili salad or a combination seafood salad. You can definitely substitute another seafood for the tuna.

You will need:

2 cans of Solid White Albacore prime fillet in water or Tonno, which is an Italian tuna

3 stalks celery, chopped

1 small onion, chopped (optional)

½ to ¾ cup green olives, pitted and sliced into halves

½ to ¾ cup large black olives, pitted and sliced into halves

1/3 cup 0live oil

Handful of fresh basil

Handful of fresh parsley

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Coarse black pepper, to taste

Salt to taste, optional

Romaine lettuce, for serving

To make:

Place the green and black olives and the tuna in the refrigerator until they are cold. Chop the celery and onion, if using, and place into a medium bowl. Slice the olives and add them to the bowl. Drain the tuna and pull it apart, then add this to your bowl as well.

In a food processor, chop the parsley and basil together. In a small bowl, combine the olive oil, parsley/basil mixture, black pepper, and lemon juice. Whisk together thoroughly and add to the tuna mixture. You may need to add a bit more olive oil, just to hold the ingredients together. Combine all ingredients well and season to taste with salt. Place in the refrigerator until chilled through.

For individual portions, place lettuce on each plate and top with tuna salad.

Enjoy!

Fourth of July

We all grow up with our own Fourth of July traditions, but for me, the holiday meant a long celebration that never seemed to end.

We all grow up with our own Fourth of July traditions, but for me, the holiday meant a long celebration that never seemed to end. My birthday falls right near July 4, so as a kid the two events were so intertwined in my mind, I always expected the fireworks to spell out my name in the sky! That never happened, but spending the Fourth with my family still had to be one of the most special memories of summer.

Each Fourth of July, we’d take a boat trip to Port Jefferson for the weekend of the fireworks display. We’d enjoy local festivals, shopping, restaurants, and, of course, the fireworks. From the boat we could often see the fireworks from a few different towns. Being out on the water at night, rocking with the waves while the sulfurous smell of exploded fireworks mingles with the salty air, is about as perfect a way to watch a fireworks show as I can imagine. They may not have written my name in the sky, but that fireworks show was always the culmination of a fantastic family weekend.

Now that I have my own family, I still love to keep up with the traditions I knew as a kid. Boating to Port Jefferson, enjoying a favorite restaurant like Pasta Pasta, and those spectacular fireworks out on the water. I’m not one for going all out with the Fourth of July decorations around the house, but for a cookout or family party, a thoughtfully dressed table or collection of eclectic images goes a long way toward setting the patriotic mood. Think of adding a Fourth of July flair to your picnic basket for the beach, your table at home, or even your clothing or accessories!

july 4 candles — Sand Candles from Martha Stewart

july 4 table — Eclectic Fourth of July party elements.

red white and blue purses — Accessories with a patriotic nod.

july 4 paper lantern — Red, white, and blue lantern.

american flag couch — A vintage American flag draped over a couch.

july 4 cupcake wrappers — Patriot cupcake wrappers: Portable decor!

Whatever your traditions or plans, I wish you a happy and safe Fourth of July!

Material Girls

One of my favorite interior design blogs truly has something for everyone.

One of my favorite interior design blogs truly has something for everyone. Material Girls was founded by Emily Johnston Larkin of Dallas, Texas. With a team of contributors from across the country, readers can focus on trends near and far with a healthy dose of pop culture thrown in for good measure.

Material Girls also features tips on the best places to shop as well as great deals specific to certain cities. Dallas, Houston, Chicago, LA, and New York are all beautifully represented by contributors from various backgrounds, experiences, and design styles. In fact, Material Girls is like five fabulous blogs all rolled into one. With press and mentions by literally dozens and dozens of magazines and websites such as House Beautiful, Elle Decor, Apartment Therapy, La Dolce Vita, and countless others, Material Girls has a long-standing and well-deserved reputation as a great source of design inspiration. From textiles and furniture to hidden courtyards and stunning artwork, everything relevant to interior design from coast to coast has a place at Material Girls.

Wild Reindeer Centre Pavilion, Norway

When I first came across photos of the Wild Reindeer Centre Pavilion in Norway, the images took my breath away.

When I first came across photos of the Wild Reindeer Centre Pavilion in Norway, the images took my breath away. It is such a visually amazing place, just a rectangular box within this vast, gorgeous land. The scene is almost too far-fetched to be believed, like nothing I’ve ever seen.

The pavilion is used by the Wild Reindeer Foundation, a charity which acts to protect Europe’s last wild reindeer herd. Set against the backdrop of the Dovre Mountains in Norway, the Wild Reindeer Centre was designed by architectural firm Snohetta. The exterior is constructed of a rectangular steel frame with one wall of glazed glass forming an observation point from which the entire sweeping landscape can be viewed. The pavilion’s interior is dominated by an organic wood core built from pine beams by Norwegian ship builders. Visitors reach the pavilion by way of a mile-long nature path. Once they arrive, they can sit on the wooden form and be warmed by a hanging furnace.

When discussing the building’s formation, the architects state, “This unique natural, cultural and mythical landscape has formed the basis of the architectural idea. The building design is based on a rigid outer shell and an organic inner core. The south facing exterior wall and the interior create a protected and warm gathering place, while still preserving the visitor’s view of the spectacular panorama.” I find it fascinating how the pavilion’s shape exudes a sense of permanence while the sweeping curves of the interior reflect the mountainous lines of the distant Dovre. What an incredible place this must be to visit in person!

Cover image by Klass Van Ommerman. Other images by Ketil Jacobsen and Diephotodesigner

Aviator Style

Lately I have been loving aviator-inspired style!

Lately I have been loving aviator-inspired style! It’s such a classy blend of retro and modern, representing a chic period of American history when people were adventurous, optimistic, patriotic, and willing to take risks. Amelia Earhart embodied all of these traits, smashing stereotypes and becoming a symbol to the world that the role and image of the American woman had changed forever. Aviator style brings all of these various ideas to mind and, at the same time, looks fantastic.

aviator style — AVIATOR FASHION, created by ffpava on Polyvore.

ray-ban aviator sunglasses — Ray-Ban Aviator Large Sunglasses - Never leave home with out them.

giuseppe zanotti shoe — Leather flat, Giuseppe Zanotti Design. Love the aviator-style details.

Aviator style doesn’t have to be limited to fashion; it can also inspire interior design. Aged leather, sleek metallics, and details such as rivets create a look that is retro, chic, and memorable.

Blackhawk Coffee Table by Restoration Hardware

phillip jeffries aviator — Phillip Jeffries Aviator Wall Covering

restoration hardware aviator interior — Aviator Interior from Restoration Hardware

david catta aviator chair — Aviator Chair by David Catta

plane over new york — Plane Over New York from Bobo Intriguing Objects

*cover images via Harper’s Bazaar

Color Obsession: Ink

This deep inky color, just shy of black, is a shade I really love right now.

This deep inky color, just shy of black, is a shade I really love right now. I can see so many uses for it, from accents to wall coverings to fashion.

Cover Image: Photos by (left to right): Blue Pool Road, Pia Ulin, and Kate Mathis

1. Indigo Intrecciato Nappa Duo Bag

2. Beautiful industrial-chic kitchen with rustic touches by Richard Powers

3. Totem V by Meredith Pardue

4. Porta Romana Glass Slinky Lamp

5. F. Schumacher Greek Key Sisal

6. Surfacing by Eric Zener

7. Glazed Garden Stool by Dennis and Leen

8. Liya Kebede

9. Maharam

Michael Dweck’s The End: Montauk, NY

Photographer Michael Dweck often turns his lens toward Montauk, NY.

Photographer Michael Dweck often turns his lens toward Montauk, NY. His Montauk photos so perfectly represent the mood and feel of the area that simply looking at them evokes all of the feelings of my family summers spent in this old fishing village perched on the farthest point of Long Island.

calm before the storm michael dweck — Calm Before the Storm

surfing the break michael dweck — Surfing the Break

When Dweck published his collection titled The End: Montauk, NY in 2004, it was featured in several art fairs and exhibits that year. The work is so chic and sexy. I really like the black and white photography and am especially drawn to Dweck’s nudes. I think the human body is a work of art, and the way Dweck exhibits it is so free and casual. These images really symbolize summer, especially the summer of the young and carefree, full of potential and excitement.

jacqueline and friend 2 michael dweck — Jacqueline and Friend 2

Michael Dweck’s photo collections, including his images of Montauk, are available in book format. His website also contains stunning galleries of his work as well as essays on his collections that beautifully describe his photographs.

Fashion

It probably comes as no surprise that fashion and interior design are closely linked. A passion for one usually includes a strong interest in the other and we can see overlapping trends in color and texture.

What is it about fashion that appeals to designers? I think it’s the creativity and individual expression allowed by both. Fashion designers often take risks, combining materials and colors in unconventional ways. They focus on details, on creating a certain mood or feel, and typically have their own signature style. Like interior design, fashion often includes unique uses of materials, layers of textures, and important accessories. You don’t see a model sauntering down the runway without jewelry, makeup, a hand bag, and a gorgeous hairstyle. For the same reasons, a thoughtfully designed room has its own accessories that are crucial to the overall design.

Being both a mother and a busy designer, actually wearing the fashions I love on a daily basis is sadly impractical. As much as I’d adore spending my days looking fabulous, some styles just aren’t meant for grade school concerts, installs at new construction, or afternoons at the playground. If I could have my way, however, these are some of the gorgeous fashions I’d be seen in!

louis vitton — LV - The skirt reminds me of a laser cut leather pillow I just installed.

fashion detail — Love the metallic embroidered detail.

gold ring — Enamel hand hammered ring - so cool!

Alexander McQueen - Absolutely love the structure!

beckham shoe — Victoria Beckham - Fabulous shoe!

I may not be able to spend my days dressed as a runway star, but I do love my high heels. Anyone who knows me, knows I wear heels every day. It actually becomes comical sometimes when I visit new construction. The contractors comment on the heels and occasionally have to improvise platforms as we tour the site! I can’t run around in high fashion, but at least I still have my high heels!

*Cover image via Felicity Brown