Author: Amy Hirsch

Margaritas!

With the arrival of summer, many of us start planning summer parties, cook outs, or even lazy days relaxing by the pool, at the beach, or lounging in a shady back yard hammock. Scenes such as these aren’t complete without a colorful cocktail, and nothing fits the bill like a margarita.

With the arrival of summer, many of us start planning summer parties, cook outs, or even lazy days relaxing by the pool, at the beach, or lounging in a shady back yard hammock.  Scenes such as these aren’t complete without a colorful cocktail, and nothing fits the bill like a margarita.

The origin of the classic margarita remains something of a mystery.  Some sources claim it was created by a bartender in Mexico in 1941, while others say the first margarita hails from Galveston, Texas.  Another possibility is that Americans crossing the border for alcohol during Prohibition simply adapted a brandy-based drink called the Daisy by substituting tequila for the brandy.  It probably isn’t coincidence that margarita is the Spanish word for daisy.

Whatever its origins, the classic margarita’s combination of tequila, orange liqueur, and lime juice served up in a cocktail glass rimmed with salt has been an enduring favorite for more than just its flavor.  Perhaps more than any other drink, the margarita symbolizes everything we love about a hot summer day, whether you prefer them frozen, over ice, or straight up.

The classic margarita, instantly recognizable.

If you’re a margarita purist, sticking with the classic lime version might be your ideal.  But, creative bartenders and margarita lovers have adapted on the original to create all kinds of tempting flavors and colors.  I’m not talking about your typical frozen strawberry margarita!  Why not surprise your guests — or treat yourself — with one of these more unexpected margarita varieties?

Pink Grapefruit Margarita
Ginger Margarita
Strawberry Basil Margarita
Jalapeno Cucumber Margarita
Prickly Pear Margarita
Pomegranate Mint Margarita

Clicking on any of the delicious images above will take to you recipes for each margarita.  You can get creative with glassware and avoid using traditional margarita glasses for serving or lime slices for garnishing.  Take inspiration from the flavors and colors of each margarita and experiment with different salts and sugars for rimming the glasses.  Whether you make a single drink for yourself or a pitcher for guests, your efforts will certainly be appreciated!

Uruguay

I think most people have a bucket list of places around the world they dream of exploring. I’ve been so fortunate to visit some beautiful places, but there are still many sights I’d love to see in person. Once such place is Uruguay.

I think most people have a bucket list of places around the world they dream of exploring.  I’ve been so fortunate to visit some beautiful places, but there are still many sights I’d love to see in person.  Once such place is Uruguay.

Uruguay may not be an obvious choice, or even a spot on the map most people can immediately point out.  When you think of South American destinations, it’s probably not the first place that comes to mind.  However, for me Uruguay seems like such  an interesting combination of development and wildness.  Its rolling plains and low hill ranges form a striking geography completely independent of the beautiful coastline.

The appeal of Uruguay for me lies in the contrast between the wild beauty of the landscape and the architectural lines of places like Fasano Las Piedras in Punta Del Este.  This is an experience I would love to have, walking up through this dramatic greenery with the clean lines of the modern buildings that still manage to look like an organic part of the area.  There’s no commercialized clutter, just this stunning architecture among a rugged landscape.

Fasano Las Piedras is a luxurious estate comprised of 32 bungalows designed by renowned Brazilian architect Isay Weinfeld.  Weinfeld combines natural materials and sophisticated textures, weaving together the sensual and the severe.  His modern style has produced an artistically beautiful environment at Fasano Las Piedras.  Almost all of the color comes from the surrounding plants, a perfectly landscaped area that still feels casual and true Uruguay’s unique beauty.  It seems perfectly fitting that this resort is comprised of private bungalows instead of traditional hotel suites. The privacy and isolation of the bungalows simply reinforces the dwarfing effect of Uruguay’s sweeping skies.

What’s the most unusual travel destination on your bucket list?

Restoration Hardware, Spring 2012

When I recently received Restoration Hardware’s hefty Spring 2012 catalog in the mail, the understated, monochromatic cover gave little hint of the incredible products displayed inside.

When I recently received Restoration Hardware‘s hefty Spring 2012 catalog in the mail, the understated, monochromatic cover gave little hint of the incredible products displayed inside.  I was completely blown away by so many of the pieces — right now, nothing else can compete.  They nailed it!  Restoration Hardware’s current lines have so much to offer to many clients on many levels.  I could easily see myself doing a whole house with these pieces!

I believe the Spring 2012 catalog signals the pinnacle of Restoration Hardware’s shift over the years from a focus on authentic period hardware to true furniture gallery offerings suited to a luxury lifestyle.  When Gary Friedman became CEO in 2001, Restoration Hardware was still being affected by multiple store closings and restructuring of the company.  They began to expand their offerings to include bathware, textiles, furniture, and lighting and gradually moved away from such items like toys, books, and gadgets.  The core of the company now seems dedicated to fine, historical design as well as updated classics, all with superior quality.  If this most recent catalog is any indication, Restoration Hardware has truly come into its own as a distinctive and responsive source for home decor.

The bath furniture is just genius.
Couturiers Chair - love the metal frame. Really charming!
Sputnik Filament - a great nod to the mid century!
Soho Tufted Chair - Think about grouping two near a fireplace.
I love the idea of the metal with the geometric pattern.
My all time favorite nail head ottoman. So reasonable!
Vintage factory bar cart - it looks like an antique!
Concrete dining table, in 2 sizes! I can't wait to install this in my next project.

Have you seen this Restoration Hardware catalog?  If so, what do you think and do you have a favorite piece or line?  I know I am really looking forward to incorporating a lot of these furnishings in my own projects!

 

Beds to Adore

A bedroom is a special retreat in your home.

A bedroom is a special retreat in your home.  Your own private space to start and end each day, a relaxing and personalized place that should be a reflection of what each of us finds most attractive and calming.  Naturally, the bed tends to be the centerpiece to any bedroom.  Like other pieces of furniture, beds come in a vast array of styles, from traditional to modern to completely fanciful.

I’ve collected some examples of beds that caught my attention.  Each of them appeals to me for different reasons, but what they all have in common is beautiful, unique design.

Silk bed by Cisco Brothers.
Yum.
Lisbon Bed by Martyn Lawrence Bullard
Spindle Bed by Lawson-Fenning
Great canopy idea.
Greydon Bed

How does your bed compare?  Is it an afterthought still waiting for a headboard, or is it exactly the right piece for your bedroom?

 

 

 

Viceroy Anguilla, Caribbean Beach Resort

With its white sand beaches, lush landscape, and luxury accommodations, it’s difficult to imagine a more sumptuous and relaxing destination than the Viceroy Resort at Anguilla.

With its white sand beaches, lush landscape, and luxury accommodations, it’s difficult to imagine a more sumptuous and relaxing destination than the Viceroy Resort at Anguilla.  The most stressful part of a vacation here could be deciding how to spoil yourself rotten.  Snorkeling, swimming in picture-perfect pools, treating yourself to an incredible spa day, enjoying drinks at the cliff side beach bar, experiencing authentic local culture, or playing at water sports are just some of the ways guests can while away their tropical days.

But what makes the Viceroy Resort so stunning is the  incredible design of the resort and its guest accommodations.  The 116 guest spaces, from private villas to bluff top guest rooms, showcase amazing design by Kelly Wearstler.  The resort’s modern architecture interacts seamlessly with the surrounding nature, while the interiors feature organic, locally-inspired palettes, and textures.  Sophisticated and contemporary, with natural, complex textures, everything about the decor immerses guests in luxury.

 

5 Under 40, New England Home Magazine

I am so honored and pleased to announce that I was chosen as a 2012 New England Home Magazine 5 Under 40 Award Winner for Interior Design!

I am so honored and pleased to announce that I was chosen as a 2012 New England Home Magazine 5 Under 40 Award Winner for Interior Design!  Receiving this recognition from one of my favorite publications has certainly been a highlight of my year.  Thursday night I attended a special winners’ reception at the Landry and Arcari Showroom in Boston and felt very humbled to find myself in great company!

Each year, the 5 Under 40 award focuses on up and coming talent in the areas of architecture, interiors, furniture, and home design products and accessories.  Winners are chosen by a committee of regional design leaders, and are “people to watch, producing some of the most innovative and beautiful work available today.”  At a celebratory event in Boston on Thursday, April 26, the winners were officially announced.

John Day and Me

Winners with NEH Editor-in-Chief Kyle Hoepner and Publisher Kathy Bush-Dutton

New England Home Magazine’s July/August issue will also announce the complete winners list and the September/October issue will feature profiles of the 2012 winners in a special magazine section as a prelude to the September 13 awards celebration.

As part of the awards celebration in September, an auction will be held featuring custom rugs designed by each of the 5 Under 40 winners.  Proceeds from the auction benefit Barakat, Inc., a Cambridge, Mass.–based charity promoting educational opportunities for women and children in central and south Asia.  Sponsored by Landry and Arcari, the auction promises to be a really fun event showcasing some extremely creative designs.

Display of my rug design

Texture and layering is a signature element of my design aesthetic. The area rug was designed with that in mind, taking an antique sumac construction fabricated from wool and layering the large scale Moroccan pattern in silk. Two very simple elements, yet a complex overall design pattern. The Moroccan tile originated in the 10th century; always inspired and influenced by the past, I wanted to incorporate a sense of history in my design choice.  The rug is made up of two colors, cream and chocolate brown. Initially, I struggled to insert a bold, vibrant hue which is familiar with the Moroccan tiles, however, I always found myself returning to a monochromatic palette. This color selection is a true representation of what I gravitate towards. I decided to finish the rug with a leather bound border. This added element makes you aware of something unexpected and adds a slight modern twist to a traditional design.


A Fit Lifestyle

I’m not an obsessive health nut, but I do love the way a good workout clears my head and energizes me for the day to come.

Each morning, I wake up early to exercise.  I’m not an obsessive health nut, but I do love the way a good workout clears my head and energizes me for the day to come.  Between my work and my family, my head is constantly buzzing away with things I need to do and remember.  Running gives my mind a rest and focuses me like nothing else.

Besides running, I also do Cross Fit and circuit training so, overall, I feel strong to the core and ready to take on whatever challenges might come my way.

Also, I think it’s really important for my kids to see me making my workout a priority but not going overboard with crazy diets.  In fact, you’re much more likely to see me enjoying a big steak than picking away at a salad!

For workout clothes, my favorite source is Lululemon.  They are the best and have different styles all the time.

What’s your fitness routine, and how does it impact your lifestyle?

 

 

 

Jeffrey Bilhuber Lecture and Luncheon

Earlier this week I had an incredible time at the Jeffrey Bilhuber Lecture and Luncheon, hosted by the Greenwich Historical Society.

Earlier this week I had an incredible time at the Jeffrey Bilhuber Lecture and Luncheon, hosted by the Greenwich Historical Society and exclusive media sponsor Connecticut Cottages and Gardens.  Jeffrey Bilhuber has long been one of my all-time favorite designers.  I find his style so inspirational, with his use of amazing color combinations and his knack for layers.  He has such an extravagant, eccentric design flair and a fascinating personal story.  When I heard about this event to benefit the Historical Society, I knew I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to hear Jeffrey Bhilhuber speak and showcase his new book, The Way Home: Reflections on American Beauty.

Jeffrey’s lecture demonstrated his mastery of design and set my mind spinning with ideas and possibilities.  His creative design concepts never fail to amaze me.  One particular highlight of the luncheon was the chance to meet Jeffrey and speak to him face-to-face.  If you’ve ever had the opportunity to meet someone you’ve long looked up to as an inspiration and icon, you can imagine how I felt at that moment!

Photo by Neil Landino

I loved this brochure handed out at the luncheon.  Titled “Jeffrey Bilhuber Unedited,” it listed Jeffrey’s responses to 14 prompts about his favorite things and places, featured a very cool design,  and included references to unique Greenwich spots!

 

Bunny’s Buzz

In 1988, after more than two decades of design experience with Parish Hadley Associates, Bunny Williams opened her own interior design company: Bunny Williams Incorporated.

In 1988, after more than two decades of design experience with Parish Hadley Associates, Bunny Williams opened her own interior design company:  Bunny Williams Incorporated.  Her design style reflects her training in a classic, refined style.  Known for perfectly balanced textures, patterns, and colors, Bunny’s designs look so appealing and effortless.  Her focus and attention to detail show in all of her projects, from the living room to the garden.  In fact, she co-owns a New York garden furniture and ornament shop called Treillage with antique dealer John Rosselli.  Bunny also has her own line of home furnishings and accessories at Beeline Home.

Bunny and her design team work around the US and abroad.  Her success is a tribute to the timeless appeal of her design style and, thanks to her blog Bunny’s Buzz, accessible and enjoyable by all.  Loaded with visually charming photo collages featuring products, rooms, magazine spreads, and more, Bunny’s Buzz highlights many of the best things the world of interior design today.  At the right side of the blog’s page are links to other blogs worth visiting so you will never find yourself with a shortage of amazing design inspiration!

Fig and Olive Restaurant, NYC

One of my favorite places to eat in NYC is Fig and Olive Restaurant.

One of my favorite places to eat in NYC is Fig and Olive Restaurant.  With three locations around town (also in Westchester, NY and West Hollywood, CA) and delicious food and wine for lunch or dinner, I can always find a good reason to stop in for a meal!

Laurent Halasz, founder of Fig and Olive, expresses the restaurant’s philosophy best:  “At FIG & OLIVE, I want to highlight our menu’s core ingredient of olive oil, which we use in place of butter in our dishes. From a sweet and delicate olive oil from the French Riviera that pairs well with a Steamed Lemon Sole Papillote to an assertive Spanish Picual or a Tuscan olive oil that holds its own with Seared Salmon with Fennel and Green Olives, and a green-fruit Provence olive oil that we serve with a Green Apple Sorbet. Our cuisine along with an elegant white, green and terra-cotta décor immerse our guests into the essence of the Mediterranean region in which I grew up.”

This philosophy serves Fig and Olive very well.  Featuring a communal table and tasting bar backed by a beautiful display of olive oils, the entrance to the restaurant immediately stresses that treasured ingredient at the center of each dish.  The warm and intimate main dining room provides a view of the open kitchen where more bottles of olive oil from around the world are on display.

Of course, the true star of the show at Fig and Olive is the food.  For lunch, you absolutely can’t go wrong the the Prix Fixe menu.  Served Monday through Friday, you choose three courses for one set price:  crostini, soup or carpaccio, and a main dish.  Following the meal, coffee or tea is served with biscotti.  Choosing what to order from the prix fixe menu provides quite a challenge.  Crostini choices include Prosciutto, Ricotta, Fig, Olive, Walnut or Manchego, Fig, Marcona Almond, among others.  Follow that with a Cote d’Azure Fish Soup or Beef Carpaccio and a main course of Grilled Steak Skewers and Couscous or Pumpkin Sage Ravioli.

The regular lunch or dinner menu includes temptations such as the Fig and Olive Club Sandwich, the Riviera Shrimp and Salmon Salad, assorted cheeses, Rosemary Lamb Chops, Trio De La Mer Bouillabaisse, and Filet Mignon from grass fed beef.  In other words, the menu boasts a range of dishes to appeal to any tastes, all expertly prepared and elegantly presented.  Desserts range from Raspberry Sorbet to Chocolate Pot de Creme to Marzipan Cake with, of course, various coffees, teas, and dessert drinks.

If you’re looking for a pleasant lunch or sumptuous dinner, you really can’t go wrong at Fig and Olive for food, service, and atmosphere!  They are also on Facebook if you’d like to keep up to date on events and menu changes.