sources Archives - Amy Hirsch

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!

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.

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NY Now

Inspiration from Clients