Serendipity Feature & Design Market Honoree

I’m so pleased to have an entryway I designed featured in the April 2016 issue of Serendipity Magazine!

I’m so pleased to have an entryway I designed featured in the April 2016 issue of Serendipity Magazine!  This entry was designed for a home in New Canaan, CT, and was inspired by the client’s love of antiques.

Amy Aidinis Hirsch Interior Design LLC 2Also in this issue is an invitation to a cocktail reception celebrating the 4th annual Serendipity 2016 Design Market Digest.  This May 11 event will take place from 6:30 to 8:30 P.M. and will feature industry experts, including two Market Honorees.  I am very happy to be one of this year’s Honorees along with architect Douglas VanderHorn.  The cocktail reception will be held at Lillian August in Greenwich.  You can RSVP to events@ungerpublishing.com.  I hope to see many of you there!

Amy Aidinis Hirsch Interior Design LLC 3

Kitchen Organization

The key to a great looking kitchen is organization.

The key to a great looking kitchen is organization.  In order to have uncluttered counters and tabletops, your storage solutions must be smart, suited your lifestyle, and designed to avoid wasting space.

kitchen storage

A kitchen takes about 12 to 14 weeks to build.  It’s important to consider how the space will be used so the design includes strategic storage solutions.  Think about where you cook, how you clean, and where you can store specific items.  How close to the range do you want spices, oils, and utensils?  Which kitchen items do you need close at hand, and which do you only use rarely?  When designing a kitchen, I look for storage and organization solutions that work for each client’s needs.

spice storagebulthaup

Part of designing a kitchen involves editing out superfluous items.  It’s more difficult to be organized if you have too much of everything.  Do you need five wine openers?  Focus on the basics, not on overabundance.  I also plan for the client’s storage needs in terms of dinnerware.  Today’s plates are big, sometimes 12 or 13 inches in diameter.  Typical kitchen cabinets may not work for oversize dishes, so I find a 14 inch clearance is ideal.  I also love it when the insides of cabinets and drawers are finished.  They should look beautiful when you open them!

porcelanosabulthaup drawer system

If you plan to renovate your kitchen or are building a home, think beyond the surface beauty of kitchen design and explore organization solutions that will allow you to truly enjoy the space.  Think about how you use your kitchen — are you a baker, an entertainer, an accomplished home chef?  Thoughtful design is essential!

hobson woodworks incheartwood kitchens baking drawer

 

 

Custom Rugs

About half of the rugs I install for clients are custom, which really allows us to hone in on the color, style, construction, texture, and pattern of the piece.

I love custom rugs.  About half of the rugs I install for clients are custom, which really allows us to hone in on the color, style, construction, texture, and pattern of the piece.  If I see a rug that I feel isn’t quite right for a client, I can adjust the color or keep the pattern but change the construction.  The beauty of a custom design is that we can design a rug around a particular room.

Amy Aidinis Hirsch Interior Design LLC 1 Amy Aidinis Hirsch Interior Design LLC 4

Sometimes I will see a big rug that’s perfect for a client but needs to be tailored down to fit a space.  Or, I’ll really like the border of a rug so will keep that element but leave the rest of the piece open.

Amy Aidinis Hirsch Interior Design LLC 2Amy Aidinis Hirsch Interior Design LLC 5

When designing a custom rug, you have to aware of geometry and how the pattern will lay out over the entire surface of the finished rug.  You also have to take into consideration the amount of traffic a rug will endure.  For family room, I would create a hand tufted, completely indestructible wool rug.  Another rug might consist of linen and silk with a traditional sumac construction and an integrated weave of high and low pile.  A custom design results in a rug designed to look, and live, perfectly in a space.

Amy Aidinis Hirsch Interior Design LLC

 

At Home in Fairfield County: Get Fresh

At Home in Fairfield County Magazine asked forty designers, including me, to pick tried and true colors for a fresh spring look.

At Home in Fairfield County Magazine asked twenty designers, including me, to pick tried and true colors for a fresh spring look.  My choices are Steep Cliff Gray and French Lilac from Benjamin Moore.  Pick up a copy of the March/April issue to see all of the top color choices!

Amy Aidinis Hirsch At Home Color

Play Rooms

A play room helps keep the rest of your home, including your child’s bedroom, free of toys.

Many parents choose to dedicate one room in the home as a child’s playroom.  This is a great way to keep the clutter of toys to a minimum.  It also lets you maintain the child’s bedroom as a place to rest and spend quiet time.  In other words, a play room helps keep the rest of your home, including your child’s bedroom, free of toys.

Design by Wynne Taylor Ford
Design by Wynne Taylor Ford
By Sara Bederman Design
By Sara Bederman Design

Because the primary purpose of a playroom is to give a child a place to have fun inside, the room should be whimsical and inviting.  Think vibrant color, ample light, and plenty of space to move around.  The playroom must have enough room for little bodies to burn off excess energy.  It should include plenty of storage for toys, books, and craft supplies.  The nature of a playroom means fabrics should be durable and easy to clean.  Adding furnishings that are comfortable for parents as well as kids makes the playroom a spot where the whole family can have fun together.

Whimsical playroom design by Amy Aidinis Hirsch Interior Design LLC.
Whimsical playroom design by Amy Aidinis Hirsch Interior Design LLC.
Playroom by Amy Aidinis Hirsch Interior Design LLC.
Playroom by Amy Aidinis Hirsch Interior Design LLC.

As kids get older, the nature of playtime changes.  A playroom that grows with your child is ideal.  Storage needs may change from places for toys to places for video games and board games.  Older kids prefer to socialize rather than just play, so the playroom will eventually become more of a hangout room.  Plan ahead for an entertainment system that easily transitions from movie time for toddlers to gaming time for teens.  When choosing a location for the playroom, keep in mind you’ll want a balance between supervision and privacy.  You should be able to hear your child playing without having to hover around the playroom.

By Robeson Design
By Robeson Design
Design by Oliver Burns
Design by Oliver Burns

What would your ideal playroom look like?

 

Swings

Few things evoke the carefree feelings of childhood like a swing.

Few things evoke the carefree feelings of childhood like a swing.  There’s something about kicking up your feet and defying gravity that brings out your inner child.  Even gently rocking back and forth on a swing can be so relaxing.  There are some great ways to incorporate a swing into your home, inside or out.

Indoor swing by Studio 80 Interior Design.
Indoor swing by Studio 80 Interior Design.
Design by Kelly Hoppen
Design by Kelly Hoppen
Open space with swing designed by Alexander Gorlin.
Open space with swing designed by Alexander Gorlin.
Swing table designed by Christopher Duffy
Swing table designed by Christopher Duffy

Not all swings are playthings.  I love the idea of a big swing as a piece of outdoor furniture.  With comfortable, weather proof cushions, an outdoor swing is a great alternative to a traditional chaise or your typical porch swing.

Photo by Lorne Bridgman
Photo by Lorne Bridgman

erin martin design 2

Indoor swings can take so many forms.  You really can take this idea and adapt to almost any interior, modern or rustic.  With a cozy throw or a custom pillow, a swing becomes the perfect spot to relax.

Design by Stephen Samuelson.
Design by Stephen Samuelson.
By Erin Martin Design
By Erin Martin Design
Swing chair by Broste Copenhagen
Swing chair by Broste Copenhagen
Photo by Paula Arcklin
Photo by Paula Arcklin

What kind of swing would you love to have in your home?

 

Cover photo via RedAgape Blog