With so much competition in the interior design industry, it’s important for designers to differentiate themselves by creating a unique and refreshing style, story and aesthetic. Here is our list of 10 U.S. designers whom we believe will make a big splash this year.
Allison Hennessy, New York, NY
Allison Hennessy Interior Design, http://www.allisonhennessy.com/
A family apartment in Manhattan’s Upper East Side, a contemporary bachelor pad in Gramercy, an old Colonial Revival in Greenwich, a New England farm house in Connecticut…these are just a few of the projects that New York based interior designer, Allison Hennessy, is currently working on. This well-rounded Florida native had the pleasure of working with well known designers like Meg Braff and Susan Lapelle. She also assisted Phoebe Howard in launching the Atlanta showroom, Mrs. Howard. Allison describes her aesthetic as classic with a focus on comfort, elegance and timelessness. Her work has been featured in publications such as Traditional Home, where she was named a Top 10 “NewTrad” in 2012.
Allison Hennessy runs the very successful interior design blog “MannerOfStyle” in which she shares insight into her craft as well as the sources of her daily inspiration.
Amy Manor, Red Bank NJ
Amy Manor Design, http://www.amymanor.com
Amy Manor recently opened Amy Manor Interior Design, The Showroom at 12 W. Front Street in Red Bank, New Jersey. Located in the heart of the downtown area, the space has created a buzz throughout the design community. While Manor has been designing for years, it was not until recently that she broke off to start her own firm. Her clients, both residential and commercial, are located predominately in Monmouth County, NJ and New York City. Manor has also worked on a portfolio of vacation homes, most recently finishing a project in Kiawah Island, S.C. Her work represents a wide range of styles. Manor notes, “My style is really a reflection of my clients, their personalities and lifestyles, and is where I get my inspiration. It is about taking all that in and creating spaces that will look just as beautiful today as they will in twenty years. ”
Amy is currently working on a number of residential projects in NJ and NY that will be featured in Architectural Digest and Traditional Home. Some of those projects are renovations from the devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy. In addition, she is designing a wine tasting room, launching her own pillow line and, as we all should do from time to time, traveling to Milan for inspiration!
Annsley McAleer, Boston, MA
Annsley Interiors, http://annsleyinteriors.com/
Annsley McAleer, a Boston based interior designer and principal of Annsley Interiors, is famous for her “optimistic” style – a combination of upbeat traditional with a twist of fresh color palettes. This Tennessee and Texas native attributes her creative influence to her Southern upbringing as well as her career development in the Northeast. Annsley opened her Boston firm in 2004 and since then she’s been honored by Domino 10: “Decorators on the Verge” and Traditional Home Magazine’s “20 Young Designers We’ve Got Our Eye On.” Her work has been featured in many local and national magazine publications.
Annsley just completed an apartment in Boston’s swank Beacon Hill that, as she says, “…was a lot of fun because of the amazing high ceilings and the art collection already owned by the client. The pops of red in the Living Room are all inspired by the art.” Another project in works is a sophisticated Bed & Breakfast in the center of Nantucket. The project is due to be completed in June of 2013, just in time for Nantucket’s high social season.
Christopher Kennedy, Palm Springs, CA
Christopher Kennedy Design, http://christopherkennedy.com
It only takes three little words to fan the flames of a special relationship. Which is precisely what the principal of Christopher Kennedy Design asks of his clients. He asks for three adjectives to describe how they would like their homes to look—and then the fun begins. Kennedy, a California native, is partial to fresh colors, strong shapes, and punches of geometric pow. A love of (and degree in) architecture is behind each of his projects, whether it be a sprawling contemporary estate, a tiny hideaway, or Kennedy’s own lines of furniture, case goods, and lighting. The tie that binds all of this? A certain glamorous drama, informed by the young designer’s home base in Palm Springs.
Christopher is currently working on a modern farmhouse project in Washington State and a loft in Manhattan. His previous work has been featured in Luxe, Dwell, and the Los Angeles Times, to name just a few.
Holly Hollingsworth Phillips, Charlotte, NC
The English Room, http://www.theenglishroom.biz
From the ultra-modern to the traditional, interior designer Holly Phillips of The English Room creates beautiful spaces that meet the individual needs of each client. Holly brings a love of art and antiques to her work that heavily influences her fresh take on classic Southern style. She loves creating interiors that balance the client’s needs and wishes while respecting the budget and never sacrificing the desired aesthetic result.
Holly’s exposure to interior design came early when her mother Nancy, also an interior designer, took her on a buying trip to Europe at the age of 12. After developing her craft in New York, London and Atlanta, Holly moved back to Charlotte to join forces with her mother at the English Room. Today Holly works on projects throughout the country while her work is being featured in Southern Accents, Southern Living, Charlotte Magazine, Charlotte Urban Home, Southpark Magazine and Better Homes and Gardens Windows and Walls.
Elizabeth Bolognino, New York, NY
Elizabeth Bolognino Interiors, http://elizabethbolognino.com
Elizabeth Bolognino, a New York City based interior designer, offers her clients a wealth of experience and aesthetic influenced by her education and previous career choices. This allied member of ASID, with a Masters degree in Interior Design from Pratt Institute, developed her style while designing residential and hospitality interiors at Yabu Pushelberg. Her next career stop gave her an opportunity to work with the renowned Alfredo Paredes while designing flagship stores for Ralph Lauren in the US and around the world. Today Elizabeth is pushing creative boundaries, while always giving a respectable nod to tradition. She often designs bespoke furniture pieces, specifically tailored to the environment she creates. Her interiors read clean and sophisticated while maintaining a livable, relaxed feeling.
Elizabeth’s current projects include a residence for a Grammy award winning songwriter/producer on Riverside Drive with 360-degree views of the city and a Tribeca loft with Million Dollar Contractor Stephen Fanuka that will be featured on his DIY Network show. Elizabeth was also invited to design a table at DIFFA’s 2013 Dining by Design embracing the concept of “Layered Minimalism.”
Emily Mughannam, Sausalito, CA
EM Design Interiors, http://www.emdesigninteriors.com
Bay Area based interior designer, Emily Mughannam found love for decorating at an early age. This Colorado native looks for inspiration in environmental surroundings whether they’re coming from the urban feel of the city or the vast open spaces of the countryside. In 2007, Emily launched EM Design Interiors, where she offers anything from coaching and consultation to full inception-to-completion interior design service. Emily shared with us her current project of a 4,000 square foot residence situated in the Berkeley hills. “I have been working with the clients for the past year on furniture design and decoration for multiple rooms in their home. We’ve focused primary on the living room, master bedroom, media room, and guest rooms. The client is very spunky and fun, willing to try new things and allow me to push their design limits beyond what they are used to. ”
“Trying to keep with using many of the client’s existing furniture pieces, we re-upholstered some keepers but also added a few fun new pieces in the living room. One of them being custom neon green lucite shelves built into her niche and a wild patterned Hickory side chair. Colors are modernized but still keep with the client’s love of purple and fuchsia.”
“The master bedroom is all about pattern. The bed was about mixing fun and fabulous patterns in shades of purple, green and grey.”
Margaret Kirkland, Atlanta, GA
Margaret Kirkland Interiors, http://margaretkirklandinteriors.com/
Margaret Kirkland Interiors is a full service residential design firm based in Atlanta, GA. Prior to setting out on her own Margaret Kirkland, the principle, worked for Atlanta and New York design firms that exposed her to an interesting array of domestic and international projects. Today when working with clients, Margaret seeks inspiration in the home’s architecture as well as the client’s personality. Her favorite part of exploration is looking for old treasures in a client’s storage unit to be repurposed and revitalized.
Margaret Kirkland was awarded the Atlanta Decorative Center’s “Rising Star” Award for Interior Design, as well as earned a nod from House Beautiful magazine as a “Next Wave” designer. Kirkland is currently working on two projects in historic neighborhoods in Atlanta, Georgia and Birmingham, Michigan where she’s redesigning large residences for two young families.
Mark D. Sikes, West Hollywood, CA
Mark D. Sikes, http://interiordesign.markdsikes.com/
The first thing that Mark D. Sikes mentions when talking about his strongest influence are his parents. Growing up in in the Midwest and the South, Mark’s father instilled him in a strong sense of integrity and self-confidence while his mother introduced him to beauty and style. His background in merchandising, store design and marketing laid the foundation for his successful interior design and retail consulting business. Mark’s style can be defined as All-American classic with a touch of modern and European influences. As his favorite project, Sikes likes to name his own Hollywood Hills home that made the cover of a 2012 issue of House Beautiful. In addition to his interior design business, Mark is utilizing his vast experience in retail development to provide expertise in retail consulting.
In 2011, Mark started a blog, http://markdsikes.com, where he shares his insightful commentary on the worlds of fashion, style and interior design.
photo credit: Lonny Magazine
photo credit: Lonny Magazine
Megan Winters, Chicago, IL
Megan Winters Design, http://meganwinters.com/
Megan Winters’ story is as impressive as it is compelling. After finishing her post graduate studies at the age of 28, Megan started a high-end printing company that grew into a global packaging powerhouse. During her business’s warehouse renovation she created a beautiful, functional space that first gained attention from family and friends, and then from business associates. Megan realized that her creative talents could be utilized in other ways so in 2009, Megan Winters Design was born.
Bringing her Haute Couture for Your Home signature to every project, Megan has become renowned and beloved for her fearless use of color, sophisticated interiors and furnishings. Megan likes to mix vintage finds with modern-glam to reflect her easy elegance attitude towards design. In Fall 2011 Megan opened a design showroom and retail space in historic Lake Forest, Illinois – Megan Winters Atelier and Maison. Megan’s works is being featured in Luxe, Elle Décor and Chicago Home + Garden and she will be working on the Traditional Home Show House during High Point Market.
We’d love to hear from you! Tell us what you think about our 2013 List of Designers to Look For.
