Amy Hirsch - Page 66 of 90 - Greenwich CT Interior Designer

The Butler’s Pantry

You have a great opportunity to create a whimsical, playful space with a butler’s pantry.

Traditionally, a butler’s pantry served an essential function in large, wealthy, European estate homes. In these homes, the butler’s pantry was the domain of the home’s butler, who used this area as both an office and a place to store and inventory valuable silver and china. In this space, the butler would keep track of household matters, oversee staff, and carry out his many responsibilities. In fact, the butler’s pantry was so crucial to the running of the household that the butler often slept there.

A modern butler’s pantry serves a similar purpose, giving the home additional storage space and staging area. It’s a nice alternative to storing china and serving pieces in a large hutch, allowing you to minimize furniture in the dining room and free up space in the kitchen. It can act as an extension of the kitchen, providing more counter space for prep and clean up when entertaining. The butler’s pantry is also a good place for a wine cellar, giving you ease of access whether you choose to install a small wine refrigerator or something more extensive. When entertaining, it’s nice to not have to go far to select a bottle of wine.

Design by Christopher Peacock, House Beautiful Kitchen of the Year 2013

Tracery Interiors designed this bright butler's pantry. — Tracery Interiors designed this bright butler’s pantry.

Classic butler's pantry by Pursley Dixon Architecture. — Classic butler’s pantry by Pursley Dixon Architecture.

The butler’s pantry doesn’t have to be strictly utilitarian. You have a great opportunity to create a whimsical, playful space. Consider taking risks with this smaller, less public part of the kitchen by using different materials. Elements such as tiles, stone, and colors don’t have to match the rest of the kitchen. The butler’s pantry can be a jewel box of a room!

Miles Redd designed this pantry with gorgeous blue lacquer cabinets.

Great use of hammered metal in the Paris home of Jean Louis Deniot.

The artwork makes this space, designed by Mary Evelyn McKee.

Lastly, I’d like to share images of butler’s pantries I’ve designed for my own clients. There’s something so appealing about taking a traditional, functional space like this and incorporating it into a modern home. The goal is to keep the feel and usefulness of the room but make it relevant to the homeowner’s lifestyle.

A collaboration with True North Cabinets, this butler's pantry features an eye catching back splash. — A collaboration with True North Cabinets, this butler’s pantry features an eye catching back splash.

For this bright pantry, I worked with DiBico Construction, Inc. — For this bright pantry, I collaborated with DiBico Construction, Inc.

I love the stone and wood of this pantry I worked on with Soundbeach Partners. — I love the stone and wood of this pantry, a collaboration with Soundbeach Partners.

What would your ideal butler’s pantry look like?

India-Inspired Design

When I think of India, I think of vibrant colors, saturation, and stunning details.

When I think of India, I think of vibrant colors, saturation, and stunning details. Indian architecture typically includes many elements that can easily be transposed to interior design. Patterns and shapes can be incorporated into borders, fabrics, paneling, or any number of other accents. When you look at Indian palaces and temples, the lavish, extraordinary details jump out at you. Taking one small aspect of these details and using them in your own interior brings a touch of India’s beauty to your home.

Patterns of India. Image via Wanderlust Drifted.

I love the shape of the window and details in the railing. Image via Redbubble.

Hand carved antique Indian wood block stamp.

Stone carvings of one of the four gates of Dabhoi (Gujarat), India.

Another aspect of Indian culture I love is the vibrancy of the colors in traditional clothing. I see so much life in the bright colors and extravagant details of, for example, a sumptuously dyed and patterned sari or an intricate henna design on a lovely hand or foot. Add in gold accents and you have so much inspiration to work with.

The intricacy of henna is just incredible.

Design by Preeti Chandra at India Fashion Week in 2012.

Which Indian details would you add to your interior?

Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams Fall Collection

I am so excited to be a part of a great event, happening tonight.

I am so excited to be a part of a great event, happening tonight. Sponsored by Connecticut Cottages & Gardens, this cocktail party marks the unveiling of the Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams Fall Collection. The party will feature three Connecticut lifestyle vignettes, one of which I created.

At the event tonight, I will be sure to take photos and plan on sharing them here. There will also be an editorial on the event in the November issue of CT&G, so keep an eye out for that as well!

Eddie Borgo’s Fall Jewelry Collection

I’ve always found Eddie Borgo’s jewelry designs very inspirational.

I was reading through the most recent issue of Harper’s Bazaar over the weekend and was so glad to see a feature on Eddie Borgo, one of my favorite jewelry designers. I’ve always found his designs very inspirational.

Pentagram Pendant with Horse Hair Strips, from the 2012 Collection.

Pointed Floral Pendant from the 2010 collection.

For the Fall 2013 collection, Borgo found inspiration from the ancient Egyptian world of Cleopatra. As with his past designs, Borgo spent time carefully researching designs and themes before creating his own interpretation of Egyptian jewelry, visiting the Metropolitan Museum of Art many times to study examples from this fascinating, lush time period. I love the story of Cleopatra and think every girl at one time or another wishes to live that kind of lavish life – I know I did. To see Borgo take his inspiration from Cleopatra is really exciting.

With mixed metals and stones such as jade, howlite, and onyx combined with Egyptian iconography such as the eye of Horus, this jewelry line presents a modern, graphic style while still paying homage to the fascinating and mysterious life and times of Cleopatra.

Jade Cube Bracelet with great detail on the interior, back side of the piece.

To see more of Eddie Borgo’s designs or to find a retailer, visit his website.

Rack of Lamb with Mint Pesto

This recipe updates the classic combination of mint and lamb by creating an easy pesto to season the meat.

I came across this recipe for Rack of Lamb with Mint Pesto a few years back in Williams-Sonoma Essentials of Grilling, a must-have cookbook with many delicious recipes to choose from.

This dish was a definite hit with my family. The recipe updates the classic combination of mint and lamb by creating an easy pesto to season the meat. Coated with a final layer of breadcrumbs, the lamb develops a toasty, incredibly flavorful crust. The pesto is made with mint that I grow in my garden, so it is nice and fresh. For the lamb, I use a New Zealand rack of lamb, which is smaller, and I prefer to use panko breadcrumbs.

Rack of Lamb with Mint Pesto

Ingredients:

For Mint Pesto:

1 cup lightly packed fresh mint leaves

2/3 cup lightly packed fresh parsley sprigs

¼ cup pine nuts

3 cloves garlic, freshly chopped (optional)

1 tsp grated lemon zest

1 tbsp fresh lemon juice

salt

pepper

¼ tsp red pepper flakes

1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil

½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

For the Lamb:

2 ½ cups panko or coarse dry bead crumbs

2 racks of lamb, 1 ¼ – 1 ½ lb each

Makes 4 to 5 Servings

To make the mint pesto, combine the mint, parsley, pine nuts, garlic (if using), lemon zest and juice, ½ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon pepper, and red pepper flakes in a food processor. Pulse until all ingredients are finely chopped, then process, stopping to scrape down the sides of the work bowl once or twice, until a coarse puree forms. With the motor running, pour in the olive oil and process until it is well-blended, 5- 10 seconds. Transfer to a bowl and stir in the cheese. Let the pesto stand at room temperature for 15 minutes, or cover and refrigerate for up to 24 hours before using.

Spread the breadcrumbs on a large plate. Smear the pesto over the lamb rack, covering all sides, then dredge the lamb in the crumbs to cover the pesto coating. Pat extra bread crumbs onto any areas that are not coated.

Place lamb racks on their sides on a grill rack away from the heat elements. Cover the grill and cook, turning the racks over once until nicely browned and crusty, 12 to15 minutes per side for medium rare, or until done to your liking.

To test for doneness, insert an instant-read thermometer into the thickest part of the rack away from the bone. It should register 130 degrees. The temperature will rise another 5-10 degrees while resting.

Transfer the lamb racks to a cutting board, cover loosely with aluminum foil, and let rest for 5 minutes. Cut the racks into chops. Serve with your favorite vegetable and salad. Enjoy!

Designers’ Houses in At Home Magazine

I was so happy to have my own home included in this feature!

At Home in Fairfield County recently released their Sept/Oct 2013 issue, which features the homes of 5 designers. I was so happy to have my own home included in this feature! With so much of my waking time spent focusing on the design of my clients’ homes, it was nice to take a step back to appreciate my own sanctuary and share it with someone else.

NY Now

This past weekend I had a great time discovering some incredible things at NY Now.

This past weekend I had a great time discovering some incredible things at NY Now (formerly known as the NY International Gift Fair). Other than the name and some layout changes, this amazing show at the Javits Center is still a great way to find new vendors and products. Thanks to my cell phone camera and sometimes dubious picture-taking abilities, I can share my favorite vendors and the things that caught my eye. Here are photos of the items, listed by vendor, which I loved and can’t wait to find homes for!

1. Natural Curiosities The large scale of their prints and groupings are wonderful – what a statement!

2. Worlds Away I was thrilled with the introduction of their new lamps – the emerald green is so luscious, and I love the white as well. You can’t go wrong with a white lamp! The brass lotus lanterns have a vintage vibe.

3. Made Goods With an ever growing booth, Made Goods is full steam ahead with so many new finds. The mirrored side table is substantial and the scalloped detail reminds me of scales – love! The oval side table with walnut base introduces a new color, Mushroom Shagreen.

4. Oly One of my favorite stops was Oly. The chandelier is a cluster of pearlized globes and looks like a cloud. The lucite stool with the thick glass top has great proportion and I love the mixture of glass and nickel. Oly also introduced tons of art pieces – my favorite was the bronze sculpture of a man thinking. Can’t wait to place him on a coffee table!

5. Home Treasures There were tons of bedding upon bedding vendors at NY Now – so many sources, but Home Treasures had one of the best. Super simple and handsome. What’s not to love about linen bedding?

6. Alicia Adams Alpaca Anyone who knows me, knows I love alpaca. It is my go to drapery choice for luxury. So when I came across these beautifully made pillows and blankets, I could not resist. The gray is a handsome collection, as well as the bullseye blanket – a simple graphic for any space. It’s available in one two colors now, with more to come.

7. Dunes and Duchess I love the emphasis on pure, intense color saturation from Dunes and Duchess pieces. Such simple elements bring great energy. At their booth this year, the oversized standing lamps were amazing. Their grandeur is a commanding presence, and the monochromatic hand painted shade along with the base looks so smart! I love the bobbin etagere with smashing color and the scale. The height, width and depth was perfect.

Once again, I enjoyed a successful trip to this great NYC fair. I am already looking forward to what the next NY Now event will bring!

Color Obsession: White

A naturally reflective and bright color, white accommodates a range of accent hues and pairs so well with natural tones.

White is a great color in both design and fashion. It is so clean, crisp, and refreshing. A naturally reflective and bright color, white accommodates a range of accent hues and pairs so well with natural tones. During the warm summer months, white looks cool against sun-kissed skin whether worn all over or just with accessories. How do you like to use white?

1. Modern barn design in white by Robert Young Architects.

2. Kimberly McDonald Geode and Diamond Earrings

3. Eames Molded Plastic Dowel-Leg Side Chair from Design Within Reach

4. Valentino Studded Leather Tote

5. Vanderhurd Cushion

6. Cavetto Wallcovering from Weitzner Limited

7. Beautiful white living room. Image via Safavieh

8. Christian Louboutin Very Prive

9. White dress by Alexander McQueen

Jessie Edwards Gallery

When we visit Block Island for vacation, one of the places I like to stop by is the Jessie Edwards Gallery.

When we visit Block Island for vacation, one of the places I like to stop by is the Jessie Edwards Gallery. Even while taking a break from work, I can’t resist browsing the artwork and hoping to find new artists or just the right piece for a client. On our most recent vacation, my visit to this particular gallery was rewarded with the discovery of three new (to me) artists.

The first is C. Sperry Andrews III. I really liked his scratchboard pieces. These amazing works are actually very tiny. The interesting thing about Sperry’s scratchboard art is the way they are created. He paints over gesso-coated canvas, then scratches away the paint to bring out each image.

Heidi Palmer is another artist I saw at the gallery and really enjoyed. Her paintings are so tranquil and have such perfect colors. I love the abstract vibe of the wave painting.

The third artist whose work I fell in love with is Susan O’Donnell Kearney. She creates these vibrant fish prints using an old Japanese technique. Each print is unique, and her work flies out of stock at the gallery. They are very cool! You can see more of her work at her website, Nantucket Gyotaku.

You can see more of the artists featured at Jessie Edwards Gallery by visiting their beautiful website. You can also find them on Facebook.

The Well Appointed House

The Well Appointed House blog covers home decor news, trends, DIY projects, as well as lifestyle topics such us travel, parenthood, shopping, gardening, fashion, and living well.

Melissa Hawks of Greenwich, CT, founded The Well Appointed House, a luxury home retail site, in 2002. Specializing in furniture, gifts, and decorative accessories, the online store was created with the goal of bringing the kind of home decor finds which are abundant in Manhattan to a more widespread audience. Since its launch, The Well Appointed House has grown to include over 10,000 items and has been featured by The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, CNBC, In Style, Harper’s Bazaar, House and Garden, and many others. The company offers items for every room in the house, including the patio and garden. There are so many different styles available, it’s possible to find just the right piece for any decor in a wide range of price points. The Well Appointed House is also great source for unique and beautiful gift ideas.

White bubble and Tail Estancia Chandelier

Quadrille Ikat Turkish decorative pillow

Tufted Gallery Bench in Brown Vintage Leather

In 2010, Melissa created The Well Appointed House Blog as an extension of her retail brand. The blog covers home decor news, trends, DIY projects, as well as lifestyle topics such us travel, parenthood, shopping, gardening, fashion, and living well. With weekly updates, the blog is always a good source of inspiration. You can read about events in and around Greenwich, examine reviews of various products, and stay up to date on new fabrics, trends, and popular styles. Between the blog and the retail site, there is so much here to love!

Gray home décor from Well Appointed House

In addition to the blog and retail site, you can find The Well Appointed House on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter.