New York native and Toronto-based interior designer Anne Hepfer is known for her creativity and impeccable eye. Inspired by her cosmopolitan experiences and her passion for natural environments, Anne fuses together elements from a range of periods and cultures while maintaining a style that is both distinctive and timeless. A graduate of the Parsons School of Design, Anne worked for a top New York architectural firm before starting her own design firm in 2003 and moving to her current location of Toronto. Anne has overseen projects all across the US and Canada, has won the 2021 International Property Award for “House & Home Designer Of The Year 202” and has recently authored a new book “MOOD: Interiors & Inspiration”. Learn more about this impressive designer in this week’s Designer Friday.
This whimsical, perfectly symmetrical foyer is appointed with identical pink mongolian fur stools and Venetian mirrors. Yellow orchids and a hot pink Jeff Koons Balloon Dog add pops of bright color.
Andrew Joseph: You’re the newest Crayola color. What color are you and why?
Anne Hepfer: I’d be Ultramarine blue—it’s the color of my front door and the color I chose for the cover of my first book, MOOD. Originally produced by the ancient Egyptians by grinding down lapis lazuli, Ultramarine made its way to Europe centuries later, when Renaissance painters coveted the rare pigment. In the 1960s, artist Vyves Klein developed ultramarine into International Kelin Blue, so intense in color it made his work iconic. To my eye, there’s a soulful spirituality about this particular blue. And even though expressions like, “she’s got the blues” or “moody blues” signify feelings of sadness or melancholy, I find this saturated hue to be uplifting, happy, and mesmerizing. The ball’s in your court, Crayola!
AJ: Describe your design style as if you were explaining it to someone who cannot see.
AH: I create uniquely customized homes for each of our clients, which is why not one of our projects is the same. Every piece is perfectly scaled, situated, and suited to fit your comfort level. If you crave coziness, I’d fill your rooms with velvets, mohairs, cashmeres and suedes. If you lean toward fresh and Zen, I’d select cooling linens, cottons, and silks. A big part of my philosophy is to produce rooms that appeal to all the senses, so scents and sounds play into our decisions as well. Design should be an experience.
AJ: What is something you hope to see trending in design in the future?
AH: We’ve developed a mass-market culture where furnishings are affordable and accessible, but ultimately disposable. I hope to see a pendulum shift where we’ll be more conscious about what we throw away and more likely to hold on to what we value. This is just one important way we can be kinder to Mother Earth. I’m a big believer that if you must buy something new, buy the best quality you can afford so your pieces will have history and meaning for future generations. After all, antiques and family hand-me-downs are the very things that tell eclectic stories within a home.
This colorful dining room displays how Anne Hepfer uses interiors as a creative canvas. The white and gray malachite wallpaper adds a busy-yet-subtle backdrop to the bright green King Louis dining chairs. Dramatic purple flowers and a grand chandelier adds elegance to the room and plays with the contemporary and vintage juxtaposition.
AJ: Style (or design) icon?
AH: Impossible to pick just one! Billy Baldwin, Hubert de Givenchy, David Hicks, Albert Hadley…
AJ: What are you most proud of?
AH: Besides mothering two sets of twins—ages 12 and 16—I’m proud of the business I’ve built, and the many invaluable relationships I treasure.
AJ: What’s inspiring you in life (in the industry) right now?
AH: Travel is my biggest inspiration and always has been. Each time I return home from a trip, I’m changed. The people I meet, the landscapes and architecture I admire, and the crafts and culture I absorb expand my mind and fill my soul with gratitude and love.
AJ: Where is the first place you want to travel now that everything is opening up?
AH: Japan is top of my list. Our family trip has been postponed three times because of the pandemic, and it’s given me even more time to read and study guide books and collect design sources and contacts from friends and colleagues. I’m really looking forward to visiting the sites and meeting many artisans.
Vivid colors and geometric shapes bring this fun living room to life. The mirrors throughout the room, including an obelisk mirrored cabinet, reflect light which makes the space feel brighter and bigger.
AJ: What’s a new hobby/skill that you have learned recently?
AH: I learned how to put a book together and navigate the publishing process. There is a lot to know and I’m still learning, but I’m so thrilled to share that MOOD will be published by Gibbs Smith this fall. The journey’s been so fun, and I can’t wait to share it with fellow lovers of design, travel, and food.
AJ: What’s your favorite cocktail?
AH: Lately I’m enjoying homemade ginger and turmeric tea with lemon and “Hepfer Honey” or “Hepfer Maple Syrup,” which we’ve been producing on weekends with our kids. As the weather warms up, I’m planning to spike it with gin or vodka and serve over ice.
AJ: Has your mindset changed in 2022? In what ways?
AH: After being cooped up for two years during COVID, I’m dreaming big, yet diving deep. I’m focusing on taking our projects to the next level through sourcing one-of-a-kind pieces and bespoke design. My mind is exploding with ideas, and I’ve been working on a line of furnishings and fabrics. Now I just have to get out and create.
About the Designer | Known for her keen artistry and impeccable eye, Anne Hepfer draws inspiration from her repertoire of cosmopolitan experiences and her passion for the natural environment, fusing elements from a range of periods and cultures while maintaining a style that is both distinctive and timeless. What sets Anne apart is her rare ability to see project potential from conception down to the last brass tack. Her knowledge of furniture design, fabrication and finishing is an exceptional benefit to her clients as it offers exceptional customization and creativity.
In 2003, she launched her own design firm in Manhattan prior to moving to Toronto, where she now oversees a design team that manages residential projects for clients throughout North America including Toronto, the Muskoka Lakes, New York City, Atlanta, Vail, Greenwich, Palm Beach, Miami, Vero Beach, and San Francisco. Named as one of the Top 25 Designers by Canadian House & Home Magazine, Anne’s work has been featured in numerous publications. The Chanel dressing room she created for the 2009 Junior League Toronto Showhouse was viewed by thousands, helping to raise funds for a number of community causes. In 2014 and 2015, Anne was honored by the prestigious International Property Awards for “Best Interior Design Private Residence” and in 2021, Anne was chosen as “House & Home Designer Of The Year 2021.” She served for 2 years as At-Large Director on the board of the American Society of Interior Designers New York / Canada East Organization.
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