If you follow my Facebook page, then you already know I've had the privilege of chatting with Savannah's elite designers. Kicking off the design series Q&A is Anne Hagerty of Anne Hagerty Interiors. A peek into her portfolio and you'll see it's no wonder why her show room on Savannah's Broughton St. is a popular place. To me, her designs are fresh and sophisticated. It was a pleasure interviewing Anne and getting her insight on interior design.
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| Anne Hagerty Interiors |
How did you get into interior design?
I didn't know the profession existed when I was growing up. I studied Art History and Classics in college (Boston University) and interned at the Museum of Fine arts. After college I worked for a contemporary art gallery in Boston, which allowed me to have a lot of interaction with architects and interior designs. Being exposed to the profession first hand is when I decided to do my graduate work in Interior Design at SCAD. I feel very fortunate to have found a career I enjoy so much.
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| Portfolio: SCAD High Point Exhibition Design 2009 |
What's the biggest challenge you face as a designer?
Besides
the headaches of back ordered fabric and paperwork to keep organized
for each job (laughing here)? One of my challenges that I truly enjoy
is helping our clients find their own unique voice and style. There is
so much information about design available to the public today – through
blogs, HGTV, internet shopping. It can be overwhelming and a lot of
our clients get lost in the sea of information. It’s challenging and
enjoyable to help them navigate through that and come out with a
finished project that is truly personal and well designed.
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| Anne Hagerty Interiors |
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| Anne Hagerty Interiors |
Describe your personal style at home.
Minimal, breezy, understated. I grew up in coastal Massachusetts in a nineteenth century
shaker style house, so home to me is an environment with clean lines,
balanced proportions and textures to achieve warmth and interest.
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| Anne Hagerty Interiors Portfolio |
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| Anne Hagerty Interiors Portfolio |
Do you have a go-to paint color?
Benjamin Moore’s ‘White Dove’.
It looks great in all lights, on walls, trim or cabinets. Maybe it’s
the New England in me, but I also can’t resist Benjamin Moore’s ‘Puritan
Gray’ as well.
What's an easy way for someone to freshen up a space?
We
do a lot of kitchen “refreshes” where we paint cabinets, install new
countertops and a backsplash, change out a light fixture and update
window treatments. For other rooms, I recommend looking at how you
really live in the space, it’s amazing how many people live with seating
arrangements that don’t really work for them. Move your sofa and
chairs around. Add a new rug, light fixture, window treatments and a
coat of paint. There you have it, a new space!
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| Anne Hagerty Interiors Portfolio |
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| Anne Hagerty Interiors Portfolio |
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| Anne Hagerty Interiors Portfolio |
What's been your most memorable project?
Every
project is special in its own way. While the larger scale commercial
projects are exciting, the small renovations in people’s homes are
rewarding, because we can see that just a few updates can really change
the way someone lives in their home. And I always love working with
clients on new construction – we are working on a great house with
clients in Bluffton, SC now. It’s always fun to see a totally new
environment come to life and how excited the clients get experiencing it
for the first time.
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| Anne Hagerty Interiors Portfolio |
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| Anne Hagerty Interiors Portfolio |
What would you say is timeless in design?
Timeless is not themed. When everything in a room is an antique or everything is Modern, it can feel stuck in time.
Blending antique furniture, contemporary art, and classic architectural
elements never goes out of style. The Europeans know how to do this so
well – just look how the architecture in Paris or Copenhagen (some of my favorite cities) has evolved over the centuries. Timeless is beautiful design, no matter the century or decade…why not pair your grandmother’s art and antiques with a Saarinen chair and Henningsen artichoke lamp?
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| Anne Hagerty Interiors Portfolio |
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| Anne Hagerty Interiors Portfolio |
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| Anne Hagerty Interiors Portfolio |
Any advice to give those just starting their career in design, or that are aspiring to get into the field?
Do
your homework. Whether you go to design school or are self-educated,
it’s important to be knowledgeable about many aspects of design. Space
planning, lighting, building materials, fabrics and furniture. While
you don’t need a degree in architecture to be an interior designer, it
is our job to communicate with architects, engineers, contractors and
tradespeople, so understanding their roles and where you fit in is
important. And don’t be afraid to work hard – this job is not glamorous.
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| Anne Hagerty Interiors Portfolio |
How has the city of Savannah influenced your work?
I love Savannah for it’s beauty as well as the characters who live here. It’s taught me to embrace a little more decadence and formality in design, but in a lighthearted way.
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| Visit Savannah |
What can customers look forward to from your online shop? (So exciting by the way!)
We
are really excited to offer an online shop on our website. It will
feature the furniture, art and accessories we have in our showroom as
well as other pieces we love. The convenience of shopping online is
crucial for our busy lives today, so to be able to offer a curated look
will hopefully save a lot of people a lot of time to find what they are
looking for.
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| Anne Hagerty Interiors |
If you are local, be sure to stop in and say hello at Anne Hagerty Interiors, 421 E. Broughton St, Savannah, GA 31401. For more inspiration from Anne, check out Anne Hagerty Interiors instagram and Facebook page, as well as the blog. Thank you so much, Anne, for sharing your knowledge and expertise!
