Hillary Cohen is the principal and founder of HCO Interiors, a full-service interior design firm serving the tri-state area. Since 2015, HCO Interiors has been known for its custom designs and renovations, creating layered, thoughtful interiors that calm, inspire and allow clients to live the most beautiful versions of their lives. By combining a sophisticated palette of colors, streamlined designs and practical solutions, Hillary believes a properly designed interior can elevate the way you live. With over fifteen years of experience, Hillary has worked alongside top 100 and ELLE Decor A-List designers to the likes of Roman and Williams, Sills Huniford and Huniford Design Studio. There, she cultivated her own design point-of-view and extensive pedigree before founding her own firm. Discover Hillary’s elevated, everyday interiors in today’s Designer Friday.
This entryway centers around a vivid blue artwork that draws the eye, while subtle textures, sculptural accents and warm lighting complete the look.
Andrew Joseph: What inspired you to become a designer?
Hillary Cohen: The freedom to create a lifestyle and all the creativity that is involved in that. As a kid, I would constantly rearrange my own room trying to create a certain vibe that matched my constantly changing preferences. I loved the sense of empowerment I got from having a room that felt beautiful or interesting to me. It really was an expression of my personality and then I realized how fun it could be (and inspiring) to do this for other people. I love getting to know my clients and finding ways that their home can enhance their lives. If I’ve done my job, then it also gives them a sense of inspiration and empowerment in their every day.
AJ: What is the most important element in a successful interior design?
HC: The most successful projects, to me, have one element in common — a clear point of view that is cohesive throughout the entire home. When the architecture and interiors are so interwoven and combined in a thoughtful way, that can only be achieved with true collaboration — trust from a client and a beautiful aesthetic direction from the designer.
The brass accents, walnut vanity and soft green tile each bring their own personality in this bathroom, but together they create a quietly confident space that feels tailored and timeless.
AJ: How do you stay creative and inspired?
HC: This is actually a more challenging task than one would think. As a business owner, it can be really easy to get consumed with the day-to-day operational items that need to be taken care of. I have to actively block out time for creativity otherwise it gets put aside for more urgent items. I do a few things on a regular basis — I subscribe to lots of different magazines and try to spend the first 15 minutes of any office day reading and getting inspired by what is happening in the design world. I also try to dedicate a day every other week that I spend sourcing out of the office and off of the computer. This keeps me active in my local community and it helps to keep me inspired.
AJ: Can you tell us about a specific moment in your career that made you feel accomplished?
HC: This may feel cliche, but a recent project was featured in a national publication for the first time — the fall issue of aspire design and home! This has been a goal of mine and to actually see my work in print was a surreal feeling. To know that thousands of people will see something I created was really rewarding.
Soft green walls ground this room, while bold accents keep it playful, fresh and unexpected.
AJ: How do you incorporate client feedback into your designs?
HC: I want my designs to reflect the personality of my clients so feedback is a vital part of our process. At the same time, I’m not doing my job if I allow clients to make a wrong move by selecting something that won’t work — they hire us for a reason. It’s a delicate balance, but I try to create a safe space and time in the project for feedback so that we are really listening to their preferences and at the same time it does not end up diluting the overall vision or goal for the design. It can be a tricky balance and the final decision is theirs to make, but I will always push back if I feel that the decision is not right for the project.
AJ: What would your dream project or dream client be right now?
HC: I would love to work on a ground-up home where we are directing the architectural aesthetic and have complete control over the interiors. I’ve been a part of similar projects in my past professional life but to be able to create an atmosphere and home from scratch sounds like the most challenging and rewarding project I could work on.
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