Amy Hirsch - Page 70 of 90 - Greenwich CT Interior Designer

Inspiration from Clients

There is beauty in collaboration, and although I am surrounded by my own favorite and trusted sources, I appreciate being introduced to great resources by my clients.

When beginning a design project for a client’s home, I ask myself, “Who lives here?” It’s important for the design to tell the client’s story, not my own. With that in mind, I keep myself open to what my clients bring to the table. There is beauty in collaboration, and although I am surrounded by my own favorite and trusted sources, I appreciate being introduced to great resources by my clients. It broadens my horizons and adds to what I have to offer my future clients. Here are some examples of products, artists, and other resources I’ve learned about from clients.

1. Books by the Foot

Stocking a library or extensive bookshelves with antique books can be expensive. You also want to collect books you would actually read. However, putting together a set of books that also looks great with the room around them can be more of a challenge. A client introduced me to Books by the Foot, where you can order books by color, in matched sets, vintage books, wrapped books, and even faux books. This makes it possible to achieve just the pulled-together look you want in any style. This is an amazing site, even offering coffee table books and sets for commercial interiors!

books by the foot 2 — Vintage cloth books.

2. Artists Ben Ham, Vik Muniz, and Eric Zener

Ben Ham Images — Plantation Road by Ben Ham

Art changes the dynamic of a house and makes my work speak better. It creates a visceral reaction that varies from person to person, which is why art choices sometimes have to come from the client and not from the designer. When a client introduces me to an artist I am not familiar with, it’s such a gift! The photography of Ben Ham (who I’ve written about in the past), Eric Zener’s paintings, and Vik Muniz’s eclectic modern art, were all brought to my attention by clients. Expanding my knowledge of artists and having a relationship with a local gallery such as Samuel Owen Gallery, helps me collaborate with clients to find just the right art for each project.

Vik Muniz Zebra — Zebra, after George Stubbs by Vik Muniz

3. Trainspotters Industrial Lighting and Salvage

Trainspotting Lighting UK — Opaline drum pendant salvaged from a chapel.

A client from London who bought a house here in the US sent me a link to Trainspotters website and I fell in love with their amazing lighting. They have great scale and colors — I’d use these products in my own studio! This lighting, salvaged from a huge variety of places around Europe, are authentic and interesting. We used lighting from Trainspotters in my client’s kitchen and the results were fantastic!

Trainspotting Lighting UK 3 — Lighting salvaged from a hangar at Heathrow now installed in a hostelry in Portugal.

Trainspotting Lighting UK 2 — Czhech arms factory lights.

4. House Beautiful’s Colors for your Home

House Beautiful Colors For Your Home — Colors for your Home

This book is a great resource I first learned of from a client. As a guide to color and creating a palette for a room, it’s an invaluable resource to share with clients. With actual paint swatches from a variety of manufacturers and beautiful examples of rooms, Colors for your Home makes it easier for clients to visualize an unlimited number of color schemes.

House Beautiful’s Paint Color App

One of my favorite tools for choosing colors with a client is House Beautiful’s 500+ Paint Colors App.

One of my favorite tools for choosing colors with a client is House Beautiful’s 500+ Paint Colors App. This handy, visually pleasing app lets you browse colors along the entire spectrum. The app also puts complementary colors together and gives you related options. This useful app stemmed from House Beautiful‘s book Colors for Your Home.

I find the value of this app comes from the ability to help clients visualize ideas and color interactions. When I can show my clients their preferred colors next to complimentary hues and examples of those colors in a room scheme, they begin to think about how colors work together and feel confident we are on the same page.

house beautiful color app — Favorite Paint Colors App

house beautiful color app 2 — Color App Menu

For homeowners who want to color shop on their own, the House Beautiful app encourages them to branch out from their safety zone and consider colors they may not use on their own.

house beautiful color app 4 — Choosing from a color spectrum.

The app includes several tools to help choose a color palette. Color River lets you browse paint colors and read reviews from professionals. Editor’s Picks features House Beautiful’s top color picks in ten different hues while the Color Personality Tool lets you learn your personalized color based on numerology. In My Paint Box, you can save and compare paint colors. There’s also a social aspect to the app that allows you to share your favorite colors via Facebook and Twitter.

house beautiful color app 3 — My Paint Box

You can download the House Beautiful 500+ Favorite Paint Colors App on iTunes!

My Top 3 Must-Visit Hotels

It’s not easy for me to step away from my hectic work schedule and give myself some down time, but if I were to treat myself to an incredible vacation I know exactly where I want to go!

It’s not easy for me to step away from my hectic work schedule and give myself some down time, but if I were to treat myself to an incredible vacation I know exactly where I want to go! When I’m on vacation, I want my surroundings to be the opposite of my day-to-day life: serene, calming, and free of distractions. There are three hotels that are definitely on my must-visit bucket list and what all of them have in common is an incredibly appealing atmosphere of tranquility.

Blue Palace Resort and Spa, Greece: Stunning scenery, incredible blue water, and all of the luxuries you could desire on vacation. I would love to spend a week or two being pampered and spoiled here.

blue palace resort 1 — Infinity pool at Blue Palace Resort

blue palace resort 3 — Arsenali Lounge Bar Pool

Rosewood Little Dix Bay: An amazingly gorgeous Caribbean destination in the British Virgin Islands. I love being near water, and Rosewood Little Dix Bay provides more than enough beautiful ocean for even me. With thoughtfully designed accommodations, a spa, and fine dining, this is exactly the kind of destination that I am drawn to!

rosewood dix 1 — One of the dining areas.

Mayflower Inn and Spa: Nearer to home in Washington, Connecticut, the Mayflower Inn is a truly tranquil place to escape to. With beautifully landscaped grounds, luxurious fine dining, and spa you’d never want to leave, visitors here can indulge in as much (or as little) activity as they like. I love the clean, refreshing design and traditional sophistication of the accommodations.

mayflower inn spa — Mayflower Inn’s lovely grounds.

mayflower inn spa 1 — Understated sophistication.

mayflower inn spa 2 — Simple and uncluttered.

mayflower inn spa 5 — A treat from the dining room.

mayflower inn spa 4 — A more traditional, elegant room.

What hotel would you love visit?

A Bedroom to Grow With

My goal is to create a handsome room that will be suitable for my client’s son for many years to come.

I recently worked on an interesting project for a client who asked me to design eight bedrooms. The rest of the home had already been decorated by another talented designer, so I had to be conscious and respectful of the work that had previously been done while at the same time designing for eight different personalities. Sometimes it can be harder to adapt to a style already in place than to start with your own vision from the beginning! One of the bedrooms belongs to a young boy and has been particular pleasure to work on.

The goal is to create a handsome room that will be suitable for this boy for many years to come. I’m planning a room he can grow in, for the rest of his childhood and into his teens and early adulthood. For that to happen, the bedroom has to contain elements that will appeal to the young boy as well as the person he will grow into. I started with a palette of colors and patterns that are masculine without being too adult.

amy aidinis hirsch greenwich ct interior design — Sophisticated rather than juvenile.

For the walls, I chose a paper from Phillip Jeffries that I’d been wanting to use for a long time!

phillip jeffries rivets wallpaper — Rivets in Copper on Elephant Manila Hemp

The furnishings and accessories also fit the idea of creating a handsome room for this young man. With leather accents, plaid, and other boyish touches, the furniture had to be solid and strong without overpowering the space.

noir desk — Sutton Desk from Noir Furniture

restoration hardware iron bed — French Academie Iron Bed from Restoration Hardware

red hill side table — Redhill Side Table from Noir

steam punk table lamp — Steam Punk table lamp by Jamie Young

Another nice accent I used in this room is this leather braid for the window treatments.

braided trim accent — Samuel and Sons Woven Italian Leather Braid

I can’t wait to see all of these elements come together to create a fantastic room!

Favorite Things: Night Tables

A night table is a personal space whose use and appearance depends on your habits.

A night table is a piece of furniture whose use and appearance depends on your habits. For example, my own night table has so much stuff on it! It’s usually covered with magazines that I never quite seem to finish reading. For you, the night table might be a place to store things, display things, or simply keep certain items within easy reach. The style of your night table can also be a reflection of the rest of the bedroom, using different materials to create an overall mood. The night table can be sexy with a glossy coat of lacquer or serene when layered with an ottoman. Or, it can be a simple, understated table! Here are some examples of great night tables in a variety of styles.

1. Astro Bedside Table by Oly. This table presents a lighter feeling when storage isn’t required.

2. Custom St. Tropez Nightstand with marble top.

3. Julien Chichester night table I installed in a client’s bedroom.

4. Jet Setter side tables by Room Service

5. Weems Table by David Iatesta

6. A custom night table for a client.

7. Eve Table from Dering Hall: I love the combination of nail heads, wood, and fabric.

8. Frances 2-Drawer Side Table from Bungalow 5

9. DL Marie Side Table from Profiles: Old world glam inspired.

10. Another custom night table for one of my clients.

11. VH Jeffrey Side Table from Profiles

12. Olin table from Dering Hall

Greenwich Shopping

Here in Greenwich, we are fortunate to have some really amazing places to shop.

One of the things I love about having my office in Greenwich is the great shopping. Greenwich has become something of a shopping mecca for designers with some fantastic storefronts. It’s so nice to have the option of shopping right here and supporting the community that supports my own business. Along the center of town and down a couple of side streets, you can find these places that aren’t always your typical, mainstream store. Here are some of my favorites:

Greenwich Tile: This is my go-to source for tile in any size. Vita, the owner, is creative and innovative. Greenwich Tile isn’t just a supply house; they love design and will mix materials to create an energizing, unique palette. You can visit them at 402 W Putnam Ave or call (203) 869-4773.

greenwich tile 2 — One of my favorite designs from Greenwich Tile.

greenwich tile 3 — For a master bathroom in progress.

Mark Inc.: I’ve known Mark for a while now and he is such a great guy. He does custom mohair rugs in hundreds of designs. The level of capability that goes into his products in unbelievable! The classical thinking behind his rugs is evident. I love that you can even see progress photos of your rugs on the loom! Mark Inc. is located at 34 E Putnam Ave.

mark inc carpet — Mark Inc hand knotted wool rug.

mark inc carpet 2 — Hand knotted hemp rug from Mark Inc.

Exquisite Surfaces: Amazing source for flooring, including salvaged and reclaimed options. Visit them at 11 E Putnam Ave.

exquisite surfaces 2 — I love these strong graphic tiles from Exquisite Surfaces.

C. Parker Gallery: The gallery’s storefront opens at 17 E Putnam Ave with the holiday season, but this year has remained open. With an extensive collection of impressionist paintings, the gallery is a wonderful source of art close to home. I love the concept of C. Parker Gallery; they host events, are available for private consultations, and install purchased artwork.

c parker gallery 2 — A client’s home with a painting from C. Parker Gallery.

greenwich interior designer amy aidinis hirsch — Another painting from C. Parker Gallery in a living room I designed.

Trovare Home: They have a great knack for mixing vintage items and reproductions with modern pieces. The accessories are great, and you can really tell the owner has a clever eye. Trovare Home, at 245 E Putnam Ave, also has good sized abstract art that’s well priced. The store consists of such charming vignettes that you want to scoop them up and install them just the way they are.

trovare greenwich 2 — One of the many unique finds at Trovare Home.

Room: With a showroom in NYC as well, Room is a great addition to Greenwich shopping. They feature custom crafted pieces by a variety of artisans and designers, but what I really like is their lighting. I was once working on a project here in Greenwich with a short lead time. Their bocce lamps were perfect — like jewelry for a room. Everything is customizable too, making their pieces suitable for almost any decor. You can find Room at 36 E. Putnam Ave.

room greenwich copy — Hanging bocce lighting from Room.

What kind of local shopping do you like to do?

Landscape Design Books

The arrival of spring and (hopefully!) warmer temperatures often inspires people to start thinking about gardening and landscaping.

The arrival of spring and (hopefully!) warmer temperatures often inspires people to start thinking about gardening and landscaping. I believe the outside of a home always has to relate to the inside — ideally, the interior designer and landscape architect will speak to each other to ensure the interior and exterior layouts relate to each other. Even though they are the domains of two different artists, the interior and exterior should be respectful to each other. I’m always aware of exterior elements when designing someone’s interior.

Landscape architecture books are a great source of inspiration when planning your exterior, whether you prefer a serene escape or a gathering place for friends and family. I highly recommend these six books as inspiration!

1. The Private Oasis: The Landscape Architecture of Edmund Hollander Design by Phillip Langdon

2. In the Garden by Stacy Bass

3. The Vertical Garden: From Nature to the City by Patrick Blanc

4. Landprints: The Landscape Design of Bernard Trainor by Susan Heeger and Bernard Trainor

5. Private Paradise: Contemporary American Gardens by Charlotte M. Frieze

6. The Landscape Designs of Doyle Herman Design Associates by Kathryn Herman and James Doyle. This one hasn’t been released yet, but it’s on my much-anticipated summer reading list!

Do you have any favorite landscape design books?

Color Obsession: Antwerp Blue

With so many different shades of blue, it can be bright, serene, bold, subtle, or dramatic.

Blue is a safe color that a lot of people gravitate toward. With so many different shades of blue, it can be bright, serene, bold, subtle, or dramatic. You can drench a room in blue or use it as a strong accent color. In fashion, blue looks good on almost anyone and pairs well with a lot of other hues. What do you think of blue?

1. Blue Living Room via Home Ideas Mag

2. Blue Agate from Concetto

3. Piscine Balenciaga

4. Bluestone

5. Custom chair in a client’s home.

6. Christian Louboutin Lady Highness

7. Quadrille Fabrics, image via House Beautiful

8. June Short Pleated Peplum Dress by Alice and Olivia

9. Ornate blue door, image via W5RAn

Morello Italian Bistro

I recently had dinner at Morello Italian Bistro on Greenwich Ave in Greenwich for a friend’s birthday and was reminded why it’s one of my favorite local restaurants!

I remember the firs time I visited the building now occupied by Morello. The dome ceiling has a big brick pattern that I loved looking at. The beautiful atmosphere is still the same. Morello has a really cool bar and the set up of the restaurant is great. It’s just the kind of place where you can relax, feel catered to, and know you are about to take in an outstanding meal!

One menu item I just love is the Butternut Squash Ravioli. It is so light and healthy tasting with the best flavors. Some of my other favorite menu items are Baked Mac & Cheese and Chicken Breast Piccata, but you really can’t go wrong. Morello’s food is always fresh and very well prepared. For dessert, you must try the Bomboloni. These fresh doughnuts with orange-vanilla cream and chocolate sauce are to die for!

To see Morello’s full menu, plan a visit, or make reservations, visit their website. You can also find them on Facebook to keep updated on special events!

Ben Ham Images

I was first introduced to Ben Ham’s photography when three large pieces of his work were installed in a client’s double story entry.

I was first introduced to Ben Ham‘s photography when three large pieces of his work were installed in a client’s double story entry. Ben himself traveled from South Carolina to supervise the installation and I am so glad I had the chance to meet him. Not only is his work stunning, but he is such a likeable and down to earth guy. It’s amazing to meet an artist who is clearly not only gifted, but really loves his craft.

My clients found Ben’s work while visiting South Carolina and fell in love with a series of photos of Live Oaks in sepia tones. They hung three enormous pieces in their entry. The frames on these large scale photos are so thick, each one weighs over 100 pounds.

ben ham photography 8 — Observers in Time: Live oaks draped in Spanish moss.

Ben now lives in Hilton Head, South Carolina, but often travels out West to explore and search for compositions. His highly collected work includes subjects like South Carolina’s Low Country, the Rockies, the Southwest, and the Pacific Coast. His art has been featured in numerous magazines, events, and shows and been added to private collections around the world. I feel so honored to now have a signed copy of his book Vanishing Light.

I love the dramatic landscapes Ben chooses as his subjects and the amount of patience it must take to create such artwork. Ben’s photographs aren’t digital; they’re taken with a wooden field camera and printed on black and white sheet film. The patience and passion that go into these breathtaking, large scale images is incredible. He seems to capture the light at just the right time.