Features Archives - Page 4 of 11

Evolution of a Project: Part 1

Every project, no matter the scope, begins with an initial consultation.

Every project has its own progression, its own DNA if you will. I would like to share this process with my readers over several blog posts with the goal of giving a deeper understanding of the breadth of services we provide and the level of cooperation we have with everyone involved, from contractors and clients to architects and artisans.

Every project, no matter the scope, begins with an initial consultation. My clients come from a variety of sources, and whether they find me by a referral or a magazine editorial, the beauty of meeting new clients is that I never know what I am going to walk into or where it will lead. It’s always exciting to see the potential in a project and to sense the energy and good vibe between myself and a client. Developing this good synergy is the first step as we look at the project, discuss the client’s wants, and go over the client’s needs. During this initial meeting, we often get so deep into conversation that we lose track of time. A project leads to months of time spent together, so there has to be some connection which I can almost always feel as soon as I meet a prospective client.

Recently, I had a call from a new client and set up a meeting. When I learned of the location, I felt less than enthusiastic. It was farther than I wanted to drive and I was definitely not excited about the distance. The day of the meeting was beautiful, however, and as I drove I truly enjoyed the fall colors and the down time with my thoughts. When I arrived at my client’s home, I knew from her unique interior and great personality that we would work so well together. That kind of good energy makes me thrive! The experience served as a reminder of why I love what I do.

Of course, before a project can get underway, there are negotiations and contracts to go over. This stage can be daunting and difficult, with variables and unknowns on both sides. It takes trust from all parties to commit to a project on paper, which is one reason why it’s so important to establish a good connection during the initial meetings and discussions.

After these first meetings, negotiations, and contracts, exciting things begin to happen!

CTC&G 2014 Pink Aid

I was so happy to participate in the 2014 Pink Aid Fashion Show and Luncheon by Connecticut Cottages and Gardens.

I was so happy to participate in the 2014 Pink Aid Fashion Show and Luncheon by Connecticut Cottages and Gardens at Mitchells of Westport. The event, which raises money for the fight against breast cancer, includes an auction of pink chairs and other pink items donated by designers. I contributed a chair, which you can see in the November 2014 issue of CTC&G, along with all of the other pink items created by some very talented designers.

I donated this great antique, Midcentury chair covered in a geometric Lanza Jaipur Pink from Romo. Pick up a copy of CTC&G to see the other pink items!

Rooms with a View

Over the weekend I went to the 19th annual Rooms with a View design showcase in Southport.

Over the weekend I went to the 19th annual Rooms with a View design showcase in Southport. Rooms with a View features vignettes created by twelve area designers using this year’s theme of Americanism: Timeless and Timely Design. The theme was a nod to the late Albert Hadley, the iconic designer behind the original idea for Rooms with a View. Each designer reinterpreted one of Hadley’s designs for their vignette.

Thom Felicia was honorary chairman of the event, which also included a boutique, book signings, food from local chefs, and a fashion show. The main attraction for me, of course, was the design. I love the opportunity to see what other designers are doing — it’s very inspirational and I’m always left feeling energized. Here are the vignettes I found most memorable.

Love this vignette by Christina Lake. Ski retreat -- absolutely clever. — Love this vignette by Christina Lake. Ski retreat — absolutely clever.

Sara Gilbane: Fabric from her collaboration with Peter Fasano. Smart, well put together space.

Bold and vivacious. Strong statement by designer Patrick Mele. — Bold and vivacious. Strong statement by designer Patrick Mele, who also collaborated with Peter Fasano on the fabric.

Love the table by Christian Parkay. Leather top with zig zag contrast stitching and gradating gold dust base at the root - super sexy. — Love the table by Christian Parkay. Leather top with zig zag contrast stitching and gradating gold dust base at the root – super sexy in an organic way.

If you made it to Rooms with a View, what was your favorite vignette?

New Website Launch!

I am so excited to announce the launch of the new Amy Aidinis Hirsch Interior Design LLC website!

I realized I’ve been in business eight years and my old site was four or five years old. I felt that my body of work on the site didn’t reflect the many different things I do that clients look for. No two houses are alike, meaning our brand is not so specific that you can clearly recognize it. Each project is clearly different than the next, and that is what I feel our new site demonstrates.

Another key point to my new site is my method. I want people to look at my work and understand the process. My goal in the upcoming year is to expand on my website with a more detailed explanation of my design process from start to finish. It allows clients who are serious about design and really value it to connect with me in a way that leads to their ideal environment. Knowing my approach, new clients can gauge if they’re interested in proceeding.

The new site features a clean and refined style, making it simple to navigate. It shares my work and my personal design philosophy and process in such an accessible way. My portfolio is arranged by project, showcasing the various styles according to the various needs and tastes of my clients.

I hope you’ll take some time to visit my new site soon!

Oscar de la Renta

The fashion world lost a true icon with the recent passing of Oscar de la Renta.

The fashion world lost a true icon with the recent passing of Oscar de la Renta. Since first becoming internationally known for dressing Jackie Kennedy in the 1960s, the Dominican born designer has dressed the famous and the elite.

Oscar de la Renta 3 — Michelle Obama wore an Oscar de la Renta dress at a Fashion Education Workshop event.

Oscar de la Renta began his education in Spain, studying painting. To earn extra income, he sketched clothing for fashion houses and newspapers, which led to his first commission designing a gown. That gown graced the cover of Life magazine and launched de la Renta’s distinguished career. He went on to dress First Ladies, and his fashions were always a part of any red carpet event. One of his most recent fashion accomplishments was the design of the dress worn by Amal Alamuddin when she married George Clooney.

Emma Watson looks stunning on the red carpet, wearing Oscar de la Renta.

Amal Alamuddin wearing Oscar de la Renta at her wedding.

In fashion, Oscar de la Renta was known for his glamorous designs. His goal was to make women look and feel beautiful, with lush, feminine clothing that conveyed both youth and polish. He made dresses that women actually bought, having an instinctive knowledge of the difference between the runway and fashion. Oscar de la Renta’s fashions became legendary, a hallmark of sophistication.

His personal life was as full of vitality and glamor as his designs. Whether relaxing at one of his homes in the Dominican Republic or rubbing shoulders with celebrities at a gala event, Oscar de la Renta embodied the idea of living a good life, full of love and enjoyment. He was known for being at ease everywhere he went, feeling a passionate and enduring love for both of his wives (the first died in 1983), and never hesitating to speak his mind.

His appreciate for feminine beauty is clear.

I love this glimpse at the design process.

When I think about Oscar de la Renta, I think about my own business and how fashion and interior design are parallel worlds — especially for me, as someone who is very aware of fashion. Oscar de la Renta had an approach to fashion design that mirrors what we do with interiors. His whole mantra was to make women feel beautiful. His designs weren’t about himself. What we do is similar; we make interiors beautiful through details, tailoring, and custom touches. De la Renta was, first and foremost, a fashion designer, but he also happened to have an interior line, as well as furniture and fabric. Like his fashions, his interiors were well developed and well lived — impeccable.

Oscar de la Renta's home in Punta Cana. — Oscar de la Renta’s home in Punta Cana.

At the Kent, CT, home of Oscar de la Renta

I admire Oscar de la Renta for more than his talent with fashion design. He had a fearless, generous approach to life. He seemed to be so approachable and kind, full of charisma. I look at what he’s done in the course of his lifetime and an have so much admiration for him. He was super involved in his life, his business, and his charities. Life is short, but Oscar de la Renta embraced it and lived it, and the whole world watched him do it. It really puts life into perspective. During his lifetime, he conquered so much and left behind an impressive legacy. I hope that when I am 82 years old, I can inspire that spark in someone just as Oscar de la Renta did in me.

In Progress: Pool House

I’m currently working on a pool house project which, I feel, provides a great example of the full range of services offered by my design firm.

I’m currently working on a pool house project which, I feel, provides a great example of the full range of services offered by my design firm. Rather than simply decorate a space, we take on a much more complex role, working closely with the client and the contractor to build an environment from the ground up, where every element is carefully thought out and influenced by a knowledge and respect for architecture, the client’s needs, and the surrounding landscape.

In this case, the client wanted a pool house design that would bring to mind an English conservatory, but would respect and complement the existing Georgian home with its gorgeous brick and iconic historical details. This is the part of the process I love, discussing the initial plans with the contractor and creating a new structure with a nod to the family’s home. This involved a lot pre-planning, with multiple site visits and drawings. At first, the design is conceptual — a wish list of goals, wants, and needs. We also have to consider the limitations of the site. Exploring and developing all of these elements leads to the next phase of the design.

Amy Aidinis Hirsch Interior Design — Additional elevations.

During all of this, our client was very involved and thoughtful. She came back to the contractor and me to say she decided the pool house should be in a different location. Because the structure would be in a new spot, we had to reevaluate our design. Not much of the plan altered , but we had to be mindful of the site change. For example, we initially had an open area in the design, but with the pool house in a different place we decided on a new layout that will be more functional and user-friendly for the family.

Amy Aidinis Pool House Design — Pool house design taking the new site into consideration.

Now that the structure is finished for the pool house, we can move on to architectural specifications. This is when we choose elements such as tile, appliances, plumbing fixtures, and create the cabinetry mill work drawings. This allows the contractor to give the client an accurate quote as well as to show the scale and layout. This is an exciting time because the client really sees the project come to life. From this point on, the design turns to finding the jewelry of the interior — fabrics, furnishing, art, and accessories.

A beautiful tile I am considering for the pool house.

When you take into consideration the full scope of a project like this pool house and the involvement of the design firm literally from the ground up, you can see how important it is for us to help orchestrate the many components and specifications which are crucial in the master planning of any project.

ABCDCS by David Collins Studios

Published by Assouline in July 2014, ABCDCS features the incredible designs of the late David Collins.

Published by Assouline in July 2014, ABCDCS features the incredible designs of the late David Collins. Born in Dublin in 1955, David Collins studied at the Bolton Street School of Architecture. He eventually made his home in London, where his design of a friend’s home led to further projects and inspired him to launch his own studio with a diverse team from various design disciplines. Collins called it The Studio, and his projects in restaurants, hotels, residences, and retail locations became known for their incredible details. His studio’s interdisciplinary approach resulted in designs that are contemporary, yet grounded in tradition.

The book is seriously invigorating. Madonna’s introduction was so insightful! Collins was a master at what he did. He was a wealth of knowledge and his work embodied that trait, with interiors that were ingenious and clever. This is just a beautiful book.

ABCDCS presents David Collins’ projects in alphabetical order by design term, giving a spectacular look at the wide range of influences at work in his aesthetic. Full of lush photographs, ABCDCS showcases the texture and restraint of The Collins Studio. This is a wonderful book to add to your collection.

Chizi’s Tale

During this past weekend, my daughters and I had the opportunity to attend a book signing for Chizi’s Tale, hosted by the author, Jack Jones. Chizi’s Tale is the story of an orphaned baby black rhino discovered in Zimbabwe by two park rangers; the rhino, only a few days old, would be unable to survive the African wilderness alone. Determined to save the baby black rhino, the two park rangers notified the park manager, who took it upon himself to take the animal home with him.

During this past weekend, my daughters and I had the opportunity to attend a book signing for Chizi’s Tale, hosted by the author, Jack Jones. Chizi’s Tale is the story of an orphaned baby black rhino discovered in Zimbabwe by two park rangers; the rhino, only a few days old, would be unable to survive the African wilderness alone. Determined to save the baby black rhino, the two park rangers notified the park manager, who took it upon himself to take the animal home with him.

Chizi’s Tale is a remarkable, moving story about an endearing and vulnerable rhino and the brave family helping him. Both sincere and charming, the introduction to Chizi’s Tale was a great way to bring awareness to my children.

A cousin of mine is currently climbing a mountain in Nepal to bring awareness to the endangerment of the black rhino. The stories shared with me regarding the prestige poachers take in hunting the black rhino left me wondering whether Chizi will survive once released from his family at age three.

Senior high-school student, Jack Jones is the author of the book, Chizi’s Tale. Focused on preserving and protecting nature, Jones wrote Chizi’s Tale hoping to raise awareness.

The world took notice of the critically endangered black rhino in 1963, when a noticeable decline of the species was documented. Reasons for population decreasing are attributed to poaching for pleasure and sustenance. Due to conservation efforts, there has been a gradual increase in the black rhino’s population numbers.

To read more about the press, ordering information, or media kit regarding Chizi’s Tale, click here.

Chizi’s Tale is available for purchase at Diane’s Books on Grigg Street in Greenwich, Connecticut; all proceeds go to Tusk: The Save the Rhino Trust.

To learn more about the endangerment of rhinos and how you can help, visit Tusk: The Save the Rhino Trust here.

Architectural Digest: Sky’s the Limit

In the August 2014 issue of Architectural Digest, I found so much inspiration in an editorial titled “Sky’s the Limit.”

I love to have tons of magazines for summer reading and, of course, the design magazines are my favorites. For me, the magazines are about looking for things that really stand out and inspire me, and in the August 2014 issue of Architectural Digest, I found so much inspiration in an editorial titled “Sky’s the Limit.” The article features a NYC residence designed by Jean-Louis Deniot. Jean-Louis is so gifted. He has the classical architecture but throws in a curve ball with the way he mixes various elements. The design of this apartment is made by all of the incredible details. There are so many intricate pieces that make up the overall design; I’ll probably go back to this article six or seven times to digest every little detail. The superb Art Deco-inspired railing in the living room, for example, is a truly custom design that immediately caught my eye, as did the amazing art. Other pieces that stand out for me as being really well executed are the bar cabinet and the window treatment fabric in the living room. Work like this makes me want to be a better designer. What have you seen lately that’s inspired you?

Veranda: Grand Traditions, Enduring Appeal

The latest issue of Veranda features a beautifully designed shingle style house on Long Island.

The latest issue of Veranda features a beautifully designed shingle style house on Long Island. Designed by David Kleinberg, this home was completely revamped to reflect the client’s art collection. I love the neutral palette of this home and how it really complements the great art. Every part of the interior is done with a refinement you can see if each detail. The execution of the design is very tailored and of high caliber.