There is nothing Greenwich, CT, designer Amy Aidinis Hirsch loves more than helping her interior design clients step out of their comfort zone and do something bold, and these days, she is getting to do it more often. “I think that people are definitely getting out of the simple gray box for sure,” says Hirsch, who is experienced with both traditional and modern design and likes to blend the two when the occasion arises. “I think my clients want to be surrounded by things that are just unconventional in many ways.”
Color palettes, pattern play, scale and placement are great ways to take traditional techniques and turn them on edge to create a space that delights and surprises those who walk in. “My job is to find out who my clients are and where they want to live. I think people are bolder than they think they are. They are just hesitant,” says Hirsch.
Design with a Voice
Recently, Hirsch helped her Greenwich, CT, client transform an elevated spec house with all white walls into a bold and beautiful space with organic sensibility. With each room, she incorporated traditional elements and neutral colors but in a way that looks modern, fresh and uniquely their own. The dining room is drenched in a soft lilac mixed with blue. A modern and linear dark walnut table is paired with velvety mid-century modern two-tone Ava dining chairs made in Portugal from 1stdibs, and a playful mobile-like chandelier from Ochre. A cozy sitting room has two different wallpapers: Le Petites Histories is a whimsical nature-inspired wall panel from Elitis, and the other, from Mark Alexander in earthy neutrals with a geometric “stitch” Network pattern in heath. The room is finished with a hand-knotted angora mohair rug from JD Staron and soft Bowy sofa in vino from Cassina. “She can have her coffee or tea there or go and listen to music or read a book,” says Hirsch. “It’s a multifaceted space.”
A Cohesive Plan
When designing each room with so much personality, Hirsch says, it’s important to weave one continuous thread through the home to provide continuity. Here, that thread was the use of lots of cotton velvets with saturated hues. Simple neutral black, white and gray adorns the hallway to give a bit of quiet space between each experience as you walk from room to room. But the hallway is not without its own personality. A graphic wallpaper by Jill Malek and cluster of bell lamp pendants in three sizes made of recycled vegetable paper add just the right amount of interest. “We were able to ground the house with those transitional spaces that just allow you to pass through,” says Hirsch. “If we would have had color in the hallway it would definitely defeat what was happening in the other spaces.”
A Quiet Statement
In the bedrooms Hirsch takes a quieter approach with softer colors but still blends patterns and textures to add interest. The Fancy Nancy wallpaper by Studio Moses in the primary bedroom goes up onto an angled ceiling. “This room is large—almost too large,” says Hirsch, so we wanted a quieter palette.” Keeping a room quiet, doesn’t mean you can’t make a statement. A collection of plants in the corner brings literal life to the space and balance out the volume of the room. Pattern play is big in the space, but no pattern outshines the wallpaper, which is the star here. Soft textured seating and pillows, and an upholstered boucle and oak bed from Amber Shoppe cozy up the bedroom. A warm wood-tone Aquidneck nightstand from Lawson Fenning grounds the grays. “A lot of bold design is making sure you put the right fabrics and the right choices together,” says Hirsch. “I think a lot of people think color and pattern when they think about going bold, but it can be anything out of the ordinary.”
Literary Interpretation
Sometimes, the clients’ interests are so specific, that an outside the box just seems like the logical choice. For her client on the coast who wanted her dining room to reflect the macabre of the sea, Hirsch designed a custom hand-painted mural of a shipwreck on canvas with celebrated artist Patrick Ganino. A round wood dining table that was the client’s own is paired with dark blue mohair high-back chairs with nailhead detailing. Refinished wide-plank wood floors original to the home and custom window treatments made in oxblood boiled wool fabric from Claremont Fabrics round out the space. A brass Garrison chandelier from Urban Electric with a modern feel gives nod to antique oil lamps in its design. The wall mural is framed in antique beams. “My client loves Hemmingway, loves books, and she’s a book editor, and the home was an old sea captain’s home,” says Hirsch. “It’s about expressing who the client is and articulating this in the abstract. Not everyone is going to want a Moby Dick room, but this particular client is very vested in history and vested in literature, so why not. It’s kind of a cool inspiration.”
Playful Pairings
Sometimes, even something as classic as black and white can be done in a way that makes it stand out. A dramatic wallpaper, oversized chandelier and pop of color paired with a simple table to ground the space can make for a glamorous dining room sure to spark conversation at the dinner table, as Hirsch has done recently for a few of her clients. “I’m just happy people are willing to do different things right now,” says Hirsch.
“I’m happy gold is back, color is back, pattern is back, floral is back. Everything comes full circle and there will come a point when things get quieter again but it’s really nice to see. The nicest part is getting to see other artisans being bolder, fabric houses and fabric designers willing to put their designs out there—that’s what is really inspiring right now. Simple things can be beautiful, but it’s nice to have the playfulness out there.”
