Designer Hillary Cohen Creates Focal Points From Every Angle

It began with a feeling. “The first thing the client mentioned when we began discussing this project was she wanted the apartment to be a happy home,” shares interior designer Hillary Cohen about her recent project on the Upper West Side. “She wanted lively colors and an energy that was indicative of their family. I loved that concept. We started with the feeling we wanted when you walked into the space and designed the interiors around that.”

Throughout the apartment home, bright hues reminiscent of poppies are balanced with furniture selected to elevate the space and instill it with a sense of timelessness. The vibe is peaceful yet playful, sophisticated yet welcoming, and fun – a place where organic shapes and soft textures meet with clean, angular interior architecture. “Tension between sharp and soft edges,” states Cohen, “makes a huge impact in the room, bringing a dose of energy into the home.”

Fabrics and tactile decorative touches were chosen to lend depth and personality, and to create focal points from every angle. “The home had an openness to it with lots of light,” Cohen explains. “Subtle textures added throughout gave the rooms warmth.” For a mirrored pair of sofas in the living room, Cohen selected an outdoor woven fabric for durability and an accent fabric in a herringbone pattern for an added layer of texture and color. The “striking yet subtle ombré” of the Dedar fabric selected for the living room drapes proved the designer’s favorite in the project. “The second I saw it, I knew it was going to be a focal point,” she shares. “It adds that touch of color and fun to the room without being overwhelming.”

The project now complete, Cohen reflects that one of her favorite spaces is the main living room. “My natural inclination was to use layers of subtle color, and the client really inspired me here to include brighter tones,” she recalls. “I’m so happy they did. The end result feels timeless, and there is a flow to the room that feels very gracious.”

Photography by Rebecca McAlpin.
Styling by Kristi Hunter.
Art Consultation by Mason Lane Art Advisory.

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